Windshield Mounted Devices

[pearlpro]

GPS navi on windshield may be illegal in your state


Many companies sell gizmos that let you mount your hand-held GPS device or smartphone to your windshield so it's at eye level -- you see them everywhere.

But that may actually be illegal in your state -- or in a state you are passing through on vacation this summer -- and you could wind up with a fat ticket.

A user at the POI Factory, a website for GPS users, recently collected each state's laws on windshield visibility, and Cars.com has turned it into this color-coded map below that illustrates whether your state allows windshield mounts.


CAPTIONSource: POI Factory
Green indicates yes on windshield mounts. Yellow means yes, but only in specific, limited space on the glass. Red is a flat no.

The categories on the map are non-legal opinions, and are conservative, aiming to avoid the hassle of being pulled over by a cop taking the strictest view of the law. See the full post at POI Factory here to get the full details, including links to each state's vehicle code regarding windshields.

 

[cheri1122]

Great info for those who stay in 'their' state, but for the rest of us, a beanbag holder on the dash is legal everywhere. [Assuming the screen isn't so large it obstructs your vision.]

 

[ATeam]

From the FMCSA regs for commercial vehicles:

(e) Prohibition on obstructions to the driver's field of view—

(1) Devices mounted at the top of the windshield. Antennas, transponders, and similar devices must not be mounted more than 152 mm (6 inches) below the upper edge of the windshield. These devices must be located outside the area swept by the windshield wipers, and outside the driver's sight lines to the road and highway signs and signals.

(2) Decals and stickers mounted on the windshield. Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspection decals, and stickers and/or decals required under Federal or State laws may be placed at the bottom or sides of the windshield provided such decals or stickers do not extend more than 115 mm (41/2 inches) from the bottom of the windshield and are located outside the area swept by the windshield wipers, and outside the driver's sight lines to the road and highway signs or signals.

Full page

To comply with this regulation, Diane and I mount our transponders in the upper right corner of the windshield and our GPS unit on the dash, not on the glass.

 

[layoutshooter]

When I was using a standalone GPS unit I was mounting high on the drivers side 'wing window'. When I had it one on the passenger side it was mounted low on the passenger side 'wing window',

 

[CharlesD]

It seems to me that the safest thing to do would be to mount the GPS where you don't have to divert your eyes in order to see it, but what do I know?

 

[xiggi]

It seems to me that the safest thing to do would be to mount the GPS where you don't have to divert your eyes in order to see it, but what do I know?

I tried that, the duct tape kept pulling my hair out.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using EO Forums

 

[OntarioVanMan]

From the FMCSA regs for commercial vehicles:

(e) Prohibition on obstructions to the driver's field of view—

(1) Devices mounted at the top of the windshield. Antennas, transponders, and similar devices must not be mounted more than 152 mm (6 inches) below the upper edge of the windshield. These devices must be located outside the area swept by the windshield wipers, and outside the driver's sight lines to the road and highway signs and signals.

(2) Decals and stickers mounted on the windshield. Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspection decals, and stickers and/or decals required under Federal or State laws may be placed at the bottom or sides of the windshield provided such decals or stickers do not extend more than 115 mm (41/2 inches) from the bottom of the windshield and are located outside the area swept by the windshield wipers, and outside the driver's sight lines to the road and highway signs or signals.

Full page

To comply with this regulation, Diane and I mount our transponders in the upper right corner of the windshield and our GPS unit on the dash, not on the glass.

Phil....I once got a warning from a Mn trooper ...had a radar detector on it....while a detector is not illegal anything on the dashboard is....he instructed me to move it....

 

[moose]

Phil,
IF i remember correct Turtle once posted a link to the Minnesota statue, where it read that in the state of M.N no windshield mounted of any kind, anywhere .
since your truck (& mine) is registered in Minnesota, then we cannot do that.

again, states regs. cannot exceed federal regs. for CMV unless the CMV is registered in that state, & ONLY while operating in that state.
one GOOD example is the Minnesota annual inspection sticker.
while the truck is registered in Minnesota, it's needs an annual M.N inspection sticker, while in the state. but if a M.N base truck never visit the state, no sticker is needed.
go figure.

 

[Turtle]

Minnesota recently amended their statute (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.71) to allow GPS to be mounted or located near the bottommost portion of the windshield, camera and other feedback devices just above or just below the rear view mirror, toll transponders, and inspection stickers and other types of stickers when the stickers are required by law.

 

[chefdennis]

Seen my dash and windshield lately!?!?

 

[vanman10x2]

Chef, Ditto that! Lol

Sent from my BlackBerry 8530 using Tapatalk

 

[Turtle]

Nothing like a finely honed white trailer trash dash.

 

[scottm4211]

Nothing like a finely honed white trailer trash dash.

Would that include a non working gps unit up on blocks?

 

[Turtle]

Along with its user manual sloshing from side to side with every turn.

 

[Rocketman]

I'll have you people know that none of the things you mention are found on ny dash.....no room for 'em.

 

[chefdennis]

LOL, i just bought another windshield mount for my new smart phone Today...thougth about this thread and laughed as i did!! ....Thats 2 cell phone mounts, 1 gps, 1 MiFi, 1 7 inch backup camara screen, 1 15 in laptop screen and all the necessary cords, 5 baseball caps and 1 cowboy hat and an Rand McNally atlas either on the dash or on the windshield and in my line of vison!!! ...Not to mention the Frig and micro wave that is sitting where the pass seat use to be that is tall enough to block the rear part of the pass window...

 

[scottm4211]

Dennis what kind of phone did you end up getting?

 

[chefdennis]

Razor Maxx...oh and i forget the XM Radio that is dash mounted too....

 

[scottm4211]

Nice phone.

 

[Turtle]

LOL, i just bought another windshield mount for my new smart phone Today...thougth about this thread and laughed as i did!! ....Thats 2 cell phone mounts, 1 gps, 1 MiFi, 1 7 inch backup camara screen, 1 15 in laptop screen and all the necessary cords, 5 baseball caps and 1 cowboy hat and an Rand McNally atlas either on the dash or on the windshield and in my line of vison!!! ...Not to mention the Frig and micro wave that is sitting where the pass seat use to be that is tall enough to block the rear part of the pass window...

And the hits just keepoooooon comin'.
Thank you for setting the Gold Standard for newbies and others who are aspiring to be professional drivers.