windshield mount issue for californians

If it helps- Most Garmins come with a plactic disk with goo that attached to the dash, THEN you suction your mount to it.... I live in MD and use it - puts my unit(s) in a better viewing position anyway... and makes it harder for thieves to scan in parking lots for telltale suction rings....

P

Front side windows are not allowed either. Here a link to the actual Vehicle Code:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm

in the People's Republic of California

Regards, Ted

Personally I think it's a rediculous law. I see nothing dangerous about a gps that sits at the same height or higher than the rear view mirror. You should see my work truck dashboard lol I have it piled high mainly cuz I like to keep my work gloves warm plus I need more room in my truck. I feel as long as you can see where you're going it isn't a problem. My gps doesn't distract me at all however it is very small. The huge ones that are built in to the dashboard are much more distracting in my opinion because you have to look away from the road to view them. Try riding a motorcycle and you'll find cell phones are much more dangerous yet tolerated.

Just my 2 cents worth,

Ray

Remember, it's not just California that has this corny law, it's also Minnesota (must speak that name with Hulk Hogan accent)...

I agree it's nutty...

you should see the garbage in front of a combat aviator on his dash and screen LOL! And that has a cslightly higher risk factor to it...

P

Ah, but you don't have to worry about a red light camera getting you!!!!

We live in CA and mounted the suction cup at the lower left of the windshield, behind the Garmin. The Garmin itself and the bottom of the suction mount are actually resting on the dash. I can see the suction disk, but my wife who is 5' tall only see's the Garmin, which of course, appears to be resting on the dash. Even the dash mount in our car would raise the garmin up to mid-windshield.

Just remember, in Cali it's against the law to have any suction cup devices on the windshield. I don't think they actively enforce that though.

Yep, think they enforce that about as much as front license plates.

I use the dashboard disk for mounting. However, many of my friends use the windshield mount in a variety of areas of California. None of them have ever been cited for the windshield mount. I know many who have received the "No Front Plate" ticket, especially in Alameda and Davis but none who have had the windshield mount so far. I am sure it will only be a matter of time before cash strapped municipalities will decide to start tapping this new source of additional revenue and the windshield mount ticket will be as common as a parking ticket. Until then I don't think there is much reason to worry. Remember, in the Demokratic Peoples Republik of California you will be cited for smoking tobacco but not marijuana.

I've seen on Amazon and on Ebay, vent clips. Basically clips on ur vent and then you clip on your GPS. I know I've seen in for the NUVI series and the G series(GARMIN). Depending on where your vents are, this is a good alternative. I'm going to get one just cause I think it would be nice to get it off the windshield, and my vent is in a good spot as far as the antenna should have no problem picking up the same signal it would on the windsheild. I'll keep you guys posted.

Robinh- may not have a red lite cam getting me, just missiles and rounds..

Paul

I will be in San Diego at the end of January and was also wondering about the windshield mount issue. I have a friend who is a radio station news director in San Diego. He is also an avid GPS user. He said he has not heard of this being a hot issue for law enforcement. He said the cops have so many more important issues to deal with in So. Cal. that they probably don't have the time wo worry about windshield mounted GPS. My thought was if the cops pulled you over for a driving offense and noticed a windshield mounted gps they might nail you for that too. I kind of doubt they are cruisning the streets looking for little black suction cups.

You all got me worried now. I'm writing from Ireland and intend to visit California in a couple months. Intended to bring my street pilot, rent a car and do some touring. If I use suction mount am I likely to run foul of the law? Its the only way I can connect. Don't want to get into any trouble with law in a strange country. Is the law strictly enforced or would I take my chances and use suction mount. Would appreciate some sound advice, thanks

I live in Southern California and I have my nuvi 660 mounted on the windshield. I'm passing CHP all of the time and a few times they have passed right next to me and nothing has happened. I do have it low enough to where the dashboard meets the windshield. It's such a tacky law that I don't think they are going waste the time to pull one over and hand out a citation. I take my chances.

I only started using a gps for about a month. But my brother has been using one for years and said when he uses it, he has mounted on his windshield with no problem so far.
I think the windshield restriction was intended more for radar detectors than for gps.

The purpose of a lot of these "nickle and dime" laws is to give law enforcement more options or reasons to pull you over at their discretion.

Sound like a jaded or bitter opinion? I'm not saying that this is how the law got into the books, merely saying how it's actually being used. When I talk to my best buddy (a cop) or his older brother (a cop) or their cousin (a cop) or some other friends and acquaintances of mine (cops) that's the answer they give me.

They don't have Time to deal with "non-issue" infractions like this on a day-to-day basis, but if there's nothing going on or if they have a gut reaction about something there's TONS of little items they can ding you for if they need to.

Here is the Law..(California)
CVC section 26708 a-2
No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle which obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows....

If you put a mount on the windshield or side windows it give us the Probable Cause to stop the vehicle.

Also in California it's against the Vehicle code to have any thing hanging from the rearview mirror while the vehicle is being driven on any street or highway. This even means the handicap plaques.

I agree...never heard of the P.R.O.C. I have heard Californistan though.

I actually like the beanbag mount myself, wish they had one for the Nüvi 350. Easier to transfer among vechiles.

Thanks guys, I guess I'll take a chance and use suction mount. If it does not work out lets hope I don't get the same cell as bubba.

Come and visit.

Your chances of being run over by a racing cop outweigh those of being stopped by one for using a rubber cup. Mine is mounted low in the left corner and is less obtrusive than the rear view mirror and I live in a state where you can carry a gun in the open and people keep their trash on the dash (rhymes accidentally...).

Most of our cops are in Iraq to make the streets safer, so you may never see one anyway.

The law was passed in Sacramento as a slap at those who use radar detectors, which pre-date the GPS by eons. When enough drivers use our devices, those ridiculous laws shall pass.

There was a time when you couldn't operate a "motorized, wheeled carriage" unless you had a flagger running ahead to warn horses.

If you are looking for an alternative check out www.proclipusa.com.

I bought a mount from them. It works great, easy install.

msumy,
Can you give any more specific information on the web site you mentioned? There are a ton of mounts listed, would help if u could narrow the search. Thanks Pacman

If you go to the site, you enter your vehicle type and select Garmin Nuvi as the device. You will be presented with many options on mounting the Nuvi. The mounts all use the OEM ball joint mount that came with the Nuvi.

You can view each mounting solution and even view the installation instructions before you purchase so you can see exactly how it is going to work.

Example: I own a VW Passat. proclipusa offered a mount that inserted into an unused button space on my dash. It installation required no drilling, gluing or permanent installation. The package included the all the tools necessary to remove the spacer cover. I just snapped the mount in place and attached the OEM Nuvi mount. I can send pictures if you would like. Just let me know, or if I find out how to post pics, I can do that too.

Doesn't this mean, it is ok to mount a small 4" GPS on the windshield near the driver?

Irha,

That's exactly what it means. As long as the GPS is near the windshield pillar (as close as you can get considering most windshields have a curve that prevents suction cup use).

That, or just use a beanbag which can go virtually anywhere on your dash, is easily removable to hide the GPS and doesn't leave a telltale ring on the windshield that tells thieves "GPS inside."

Cheers

You may not get stopped for your windshield suction cup in CA or MN but if you get stopped for something else, your chances of getting a citation for the windshield suction cup have greatly improve. Your choice! Remember the actual status states anything that obstructs the drivers view. That would legally include anything on the dash. Your attitude to the officer has a lot to do with citations written.

Although I don't live in Cali (or the US for that matter) I prefer not to leave "steal my GPS" rings on the windshield. I tried the deshboard with my previous GPS (nuvi 250)but with the curved dash top of the truck it came unstuck after a few days. I recently built an adapter for my new nuvi 760 to work in the cupholder, though... see http://www.poi-factory.com/node/20184.

As the subject says, the law was repealed toward the end of 2008, and is no longer in effect in California.

While it was not a strictly enforced law, it was a reason to pull you over, and if necessary a reason to stop your car to check for drugs and/or driving under the influence.

Here in Missouri, we have no such laws, but do have tinting laws. I have a GPS, radar detector, and a handicap tag in my car. The only thing not in my window while driving is my "cripple card" (hope I didn't step on any toes).

So, check the laws, I think you will find California ended this ridiculous offense.

Some people don't use common sense and I guess that requires laws to be written and enforced. Yesterday, I saw a guy with a GPS mounted in the far upper left corner of his windshield with the cord draped over his rearview mirror. Between the GPS, mirror and looking at the sagging cord I'm sure he couldn't see very well but he sure knew where he was going. People do dangerous things and subject other people to life and death situations.

I don't like all these laws either but I remember when I got hit in the rear by a lady driving while she was eating a bowl of fruit loops.

I looked through the windshield of a police cruiser in the lane next to me at a stop light. There was so much equipment blocking the windshield that I wonder how safely they are driving. There aught to be a law...

Re: Is it legal in Califaornia to attach suction mount to the front "SIDE" window?

I do realize that we cannot attach a suction mount to the front windshield.

Please advise: Thanks

Did you read the reply at the top of this thread? Second reply (by JM) answered your question.

That's good news. I travel to CA and rent cars frequently (was there this week). I use a winshield mount and place it low so it only blocks my view of the hood.

Make me want to drive there using my GPS. Only problem is that I'll get lost getting out.

Garmin vent mount with springs is the way to go: http://www.amazon.com/IG-A03-i-Trek-Mount-Garmin-265WT/dp/B0...

the Bean bag is so handy..and can be moved from vehicle to vehicle..

You have about the same probability of getting ticketed for talking on your cellphone while driving. N-I-L.

The stock windshield mount that comes with the Garmin broke on me after about a year. It was actually a strange experience: I came back to my car to discover that the Garmin had fallen off the windshield. At first, I thought a change in weather might have hampered the suction of the mount, so I I simply re-set it. That lasted about a day when it plopped off right in front of my eyes! Finally bothered to inspect it and discovered that the rubber of the suction cup had ripped and started to pull away from the mount. I guess it became too fatigued from use.

Anyway...bought the stock bean bag and have used it ever since. Was useful when I used it in California on a trip (no issues with breaking the law there), plus I don't have to worry about would-be thieves noticing the suction cup mark and then breaking into my car in an attempt to steal the Garmin.

The Windshield mount law was changed in California about 1 year ago.

CVC 26708.12) A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver or in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver and outside of an airbag deployment zone, if the system is used only for door-to-door navigation while the motor vehicle is being operated.

joemac

In California it is legal to mount the GPS unit where ever you wish on your windscreen!

In the excerpt from Cal. Vehicle code 26708, above, the word "MAY" is used in describing the corner mount locations.

Here's a link to Cal Vehicle Code Section 1-32, which are the general "Rules of Construction" for the vehicle code
http://law.justia.com/california/codes/veh/1-32.html

Note paragraph 15 in that link.

15. "Shall" is mandatory and "may" is permissive.

Since "MAY" is used to define the corner mount locations, they are advisory and are in NO WAY mandatory locations when mounting your GPS on the windscreen.