Are Suction Cup Windshield Mounts Legal In Your State?
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   17 years
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From Pro-Clip AND they give credit to POI Factory! How cool is that?
https://blog.proclipusa.com/suction-cup-windshield-mounts/
Do you use suction cup windshield mounts to support your GPS or smartphone while driving? Did you know these mounts are illegal in many states? In fact, they are illegal in almost 70% of the United States!
Surprised? That may be because these laws aren’t always highly enforced, however, we can’t ignore them. Distracted driving is a top cause of automobile accidents. ProClip wants you to put safety first and keep both hands on the wheel. Read on to find a safe, legal mounting solution for the state(s) in which you drive.
States in Which Suction Cup Windshield Mounts Are Illegal
Alabama
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Washington, D.C.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
States with Laws that Restrict Windshield Mounting Location
There are a handful of states in which suction cup windshield mounts are legal, but the law states specific requirements on where the GPS unit or smartphone can be mounted on the windshield.
Cannot Disrupt Visibility
Drivers in the states below must ensure that there are no posters, signs or any other type of non-transparent material blocking the view of the road. Drivers cannot have anything attached or affixed to the windshield that prevents them from seeing clearly through the glass.
Alaska
Arizona
Colorado
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Maine
Nevada
Placement on the Windshield
In the states below, GPS systems, toll payment systems and other safety monitoring equipment are permitted only when mounted as close to the bottom of the windshield as possible. Certain qualifications of these devices differ from state to state, so please check to see what your state allows.
California
Florida
Minnesota
Ohio
States In Which Suction Cup Windshield Mounts Are Legal
This leaves only a handful of states in which windshield suction cup mounts are legal, at least for now:
Massachusetts
Michigan
Missouri
New York
Tennessee
ProClip Suction Cup Mounting Solution
Our suction cup mount can easily be attached to your windshield, but the mount also comes with a 3M adhesive disk so you can attach the suction cup to your dashboard or console (shown below).
suction cup windshield mounts
If Not the Windshield, Where Can You Mount Your Device?
Dashboard and Console Mounting Solutions
An alternative to mounting on your windshield is to use a dashboard mount or console mount for your phone or GPS. However, make sure to check the laws in your state on any specific rules that may prohibit you from mounting devices in other locations.
ProClip mounts are vehicle and device specific. We design each dashboard mount to fit seamlessly into the grooves of your dashboard, so there is no need to worry about damaging your vehicle. Not only are our mounts a great legal option, they are also the safe option. Having your phone or GPS securely mounted within reach will keep you less distracted while driving. Not convinced? Just ask our customers! 86% of our customers say they are a safer driver since installing their ProClip mounting solution.
We also offer adapter plates which allow you to attach your own GPS holder to one of our vehicle-specific dashboard or console mounts. Adapter plates are an easy way to transform the suction cup mount into a legal mounting option for the states that do not allow windshield mounts.
Be an informed driver. Do you know if your state bans cell phones or texting while driving? Check out our blog on cell phone driving laws by state. Keep informed by following our driver safety topics and tips.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June of 2013. The original information was based on a report by POI factory and was revamped in October of 2015. This content has been updated again for accuracy in February of 2018.
Thanks for the Update
Unfortunately, this topic needs to be re visited frequently since state laws are constantly changing.
Again, thanks for the info.
For California
Recent law allows windshield mount on lower left driver side or lower right passenger side.
Steve - 2 Nuvi 3597
I live in PA
driven by thousands of police over the years and never once been hassled. Sounds to me like BS research from the Bean Bag Mount Manufacturers Association.
"You can't get there from here"
Here's the exact language in PA
§ 4524. Windshield obstructions and wipers.
(a) Obstruction on front windshield.--No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield which materially obstructs, obscures or impairs the driver's clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway except an inspection certificate, sticker identification sign on a mass transit vehicle or other officially required sticker and no person shall drive any motor vehicle with any ice or snow on the front windshield which materially obstructs, obscures or impairs the driver's clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway.
A GPS does not MATERIALLY obstruct the windshield.
"You can't get there from here"
Discs
I like to use the 2.5" or 2.75" flat discs that stick onto a flat surface of the dash for the suction cup mount to attach to. Most of the time this is a more comfortable reachable position which also takes it out of the road-view line of sight.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-Adhesive-Disc-for-Dashboard-Moun...
It seems the reality is
I've driven in just about every state in the lower 48, been stopped at various checkpoints, been stopped for a few other things (no tickets) never once a peep from anyone about the GPS.
I've always had mine in the lower left corner of the wind screen, although, I've seen several LE vehicles with GPS's in the center of the windscreen and even some in the upper left corner... so I don't quite know what to think about these seemingly nonsense laws.
I'm much more concerned about the GPS becoming a projectile than anything else.
Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!
Thanks Strephon Alkhalikoi
We need to give a call out to member Strephon Alkhalikoi for his POI Factory FAQ Laws | Windshield Law and the GPS Receiver.
Thanks for maintaining this popular FAQ Strephon!
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon
Maintaining? Oh yeah!
I actually do have to go through it again when I have a little more time and see what, if anything, has changed as well as fix any broken links that might be encountered. The states love to update their pages.
That said, keep in mind that getting dinged for a suction cup is a secondary enforcement issue. This means that the suction cup cannot be used as the main reason for LEOs to pull you over. As I mention in the FAQ, this focuses on the LETTER of the law; your personal experience may vary. For example, I work in Rhode Island and keep the Garmin mount on the windshield despite my Garmin no longer being my primary GPS. Rhode Island is one of the states where the letter of the law says "no". I haven't had any issues.
"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job." --Douglas Adams
Probably Not an Issue
With all the problems and concerns facing our Law Enforcement agencies today, i doubt that this is very high on their lists. Good information though!
Confetti is illegal in Alabama. Cursing while driving is illegal in Maryland. I wouldn't worry too much about a GPS that doesn't block the view of a driver, or interfere with driving a car. Check out the police reports, are folks being cited for GPS units in their cars? Ironically, the only state I've heard of this (maybe) being an issue is California, and that state is off this list.
Cursing while driving in MD
Actually, cursing while driving apparently is only illegal in Rockville, MD. But still...
https://www.geico.com/more/driving/auto/car-safety-insurance...
This is ridiculous! Law
This is ridiculous!
Law should be changed/updated
Hey thanks for this
Hey thanks for this information. I LOVE proclip products. I use them in every car I have. I never use suction cup type holders, but their non windshield holders are great. Good to know if I ever actually buy the windshield products.
Everything ....
Actually, cursing while driving apparently is only illegal in Rockville, MD. But still...
https://www.geico.com/more/driving/auto/car-safety-insurance...
.... is illegal in Rockville, Maryland.
Thanks....
This is very useful information.
RKF (Brookeville, MD) Garmin Nuvi 660, 360 & Street Pilot
Interesting
I've always improvised my own way of mounting my GPS away from the window or top of the dash.
Still interesting to know as I live in Florida one of the legal states for suction cup mounts.