leaderboard left
leaderboard right
content topleft content topright
GPS Forums HomeSearchMembers    Register 
 ProfileLog in to check your private messagesLog in 

Where to mount GPS unit / Windshield laws

Post new topic   Reply to topic    GPS Review Forums Forum Index -> GPS Discussions
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Find great deals on garmin nuvi at Shopzilla.com!
boomerang



Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 23

PostWhere to mount GPS unit / Windshield laws  Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:48 am    Reply to topic Reply with quote

Pennsylvania
DOT: 175.67
For cars and light trucks, nothing can obscure the view through the windshield.

Same laws for New Jersey and Delaware, both just minutes away.

If a windshield or dash mount that only blocked a view of my car's hood, would that still be against the law? Or perhaps arguable in court if ticketed?

Where am I supposed to mount a gps unit?

Thanks,

Andy

Moderator: Move to the GPS Discussions forum. Sorry!
Back to top
View user's profile
Mark29



Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 374
Location: NJ

PostRe: Where to mount GPS unit / Windshield laws  Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:09 pm    Reply to topic Reply with quote

boomerang wrote:
Pennsylvania
DOT: 175.67
For cars and light trucks, nothing can obscure the view through the windshield.

Same laws for New Jersey and Delaware, both just minutes away.

If a windshield or dash mount that only blocked a view of my car's hood, would that still be against the law? Or perhaps arguable in court if ticketed?

Where am I supposed to mount a gps unit?

Thanks,

Andy

Moderator: Move to the GPS Discussions forum. Sorry!


I'm in NJ, and as far as I know the police are not pulling people over for having a windshield mounted gps. I see a lot of cars with these. Such a law would also apply to things hanging from the mirror, but I'm not aware of a crackdown there either. I've not heard of this in PA either.

Regardless, I have a vent mount for my and my wife's gps - mainly because it makes the unit more accessible, easier to view, and easier to mount/unmount.

Mark
Back to top
View user's profile
patruns
+
+


Joined: 04 Jul 2007
Posts: 2067
Location: Long Island

Post  Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:15 pm    Reply to topic Reply with quote

I am also in NJ and I am unaware of any crackdown on windshield mounted GPS units. I think the term "unobstructed" is in the DMV laws of about every state. The key is in the interpretation. California flat out states nothing can be mounted to the windshield, though I think that is about to change. I do not thing that a GPS devices are the target, rather radar detectors.................
Back to top
View user's profile
boomerang



Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 23

Post  Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:29 pm    Reply to topic Reply with quote

Don't know the radar detector laws but that sounds like a fair explanation for the blanket no windshield attachments.

I've never had a radar detector in my 35 years of driving, nor a speeding ticket.

When I was recently in Kansas City, I was surprised to see Speed Max/Min Limit signs.

SPEED
70 mph MAX
55 mph MIN

with various min and max speeds at open or congested road interchanges, etc.

How civilized!

Best,

Andy
Back to top
View user's profile
boomerang



Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 23

PostRe: Where to mount GPS unit / Windshield laws  Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:00 am    Reply to topic Reply with quote

Mark29 wrote:
boomerang wrote:
Pennsylvania
DOT: 175.67
For cars and light trucks, nothing can obscure the view through the windshield.

Same laws for New Jersey and Delaware, both just minutes away.

If a windshield or dash mount that only blocked a view of my car's hood, would that still be against the law? Or perhaps arguable in court if ticketed?

Where am I supposed to mount a gps unit?

Thanks,

Andy

Moderator: Move to the GPS Discussions forum. Sorry!


I'm in NJ, and as far as I know the police are not pulling people over for having a windshield mounted gps. I see a lot of cars with these. Such a law would also apply to things hanging from the mirror, but I'm not aware of a crackdown there either. I've not heard of this in PA either.

Regardless, I have a vent mount for my and my wife's gps - mainly because it makes the unit more accessible, easier to view, and easier to mount/unmount.

Mark


I'd be interested in the vent mount.

Andy
Back to top
View user's profile
Mark29



Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 374
Location: NJ

PostRe: Where to mount GPS unit / Windshield laws  Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:19 am    Reply to topic Reply with quote

boomerang wrote:

I'd be interested in the vent mount.

Andy


I got mine here.

Mark
Back to top
View user's profile
cz9h3d



Joined: 31 May 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Michigan

PostRe: Where to mount GPS unit / Windshield laws  Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:27 am    Reply to topic Reply with quote

Mark29 wrote:
boomerang wrote:

I'd be interested in the vent mount.

Andy


I got mine here.

Mark


I have a MountGuys vent mount for my Magellan...They are far from the sturdiest thing, but seem to do the job. I also like that the mount is lower and you can just remove your GPS unit without having to worry about a windshield mount advertising to thieves.
Back to top
View user's profile
Ken-55



Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 151
Location: Connecticut, USA

Post  Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:17 am    Reply to topic Reply with quote

ProClip . . . pricey, but works well!!!
Back to top
View user's profile
jammun



Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Posts: 54
Location: Seattle

Post  Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:03 am    Reply to topic Reply with quote

Don't forget the handy 'cup holder' mount, available for free on pretty much any car made in the last 10-15 years. Once my TomTom acquires the satellites, I pop it into a cup holder just below the dash and it holds the signal. I set the angle so it's easily visible with just a glance. Added plus is that there are no suction cup marks on the windshield so I'm not an automatic target for thieves.
Back to top
View user's profile
patruns
+
+


Joined: 04 Jul 2007
Posts: 2067
Location: Long Island

Post  Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:16 pm    Reply to topic Reply with quote

jammun wrote:
Don't forget the handy 'cup holder' mount, available for free on pretty much any car made in the last 10-15 years. Once my TomTom acquires the satellites, I pop it into a cup holder just below the dash and it holds the signal. I set the angle so it's easily visible with just a glance. Added plus is that there are no suction cup marks on the windshield so I'm not an automatic target for thieves.


Glad that works for you, but I prefer to see the GPS more or less in front of me but out of my direct vision. I remember using the Hertz NeverLost system once and the worse part for me was having to take my eyes off the road so much to look down at the unit.
Back to top
View user's profile
Mark29



Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 374
Location: NJ

Post  Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:28 pm    Reply to topic Reply with quote

jammun wrote:
Don't forget the handy 'cup holder' mount, available for free on pretty much any car made in the last 10-15 years. Once my TomTom acquires the satellites, I pop it into a cup holder just below the dash and it holds the signal. I set the angle so it's easily visible with just a glance. Added plus is that there are no suction cup marks on the windshield so I'm not an automatic target for thieves.


That wouldn't work for my TomTom 920, it won't fit horizontally and to have it be vertical would be ridiculous. As Patruns said, it's too much out of the way to look at. The $10 mount I got from MountGuys.com works fine.

Mark
Back to top
View user's profile
patruns
+
+


Joined: 04 Jul 2007
Posts: 2067
Location: Long Island

Post  Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:29 pm    Reply to topic Reply with quote

Either Mountguys or ProClip actually make a cup holder mount, but as I said, I do not like it down there............
Back to top
View user's profile
Mark29



Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 374
Location: NJ

Post  Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:51 pm    Reply to topic Reply with quote

patruns wrote:
Either Mountguys or ProClip actually make a cup holder mount, but as I said, I do not like it down there............


Yes, I've seen those mounts and I agree with you. I think jammun is talking about putting the gps in the cup holder bare - not a good solution IMO.

Mark
Back to top
View user's profile
websquad



Joined: 09 Jun 2008
Posts: 10
Location: Magellan RoadMate 1412

PostCup Holders; Bean Bags  Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:00 pm    Reply to topic Reply with quote

(1) How easy is it to remove the cup holder mount (once the GPS unit is removed) ... does it lock in place, or do you have to use some sort of tool to remove it?

(2) What about the bean bags ... Amazon.com sells several types, and I would have purchased on when I ordered my Magellan 1412 except that the shipping cost 3X the cost of the device ... bummer ... Anyway, are they any good? I have a Toyota Matrix and the dash sorta slopes down from the windshield to the passenger compartment.
Back to top
View user's profile
patruns
+
+


Joined: 04 Jul 2007
Posts: 2067
Location: Long Island

Post  Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:06 pm    Reply to topic Reply with quote

Typucally all of these mounts use the factory part that connects to the unit so they would be as easy or as hard as the stock setup to remove.
Back to top
View user's profile
Tim
Site Admin
Site Admin


Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 20948
Location: 45°, -70°

Post  Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:12 pm    Reply to topic Reply with quote

Is this the cup holder mount we are talking about?
Back to top
View user's profile
patruns
+
+


Joined: 04 Jul 2007
Posts: 2067
Location: Long Island

Post  Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:47 pm    Reply to topic Reply with quote

I remember that one! Smile Where's that cassette mount one? We should put those 2 posters together and sell homemade mounts off this site. I'll work on a trunk mount! Wink
Back to top
View user's profile
jammun



Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Posts: 54
Location: Seattle

Post  Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:14 am    Reply to topic Reply with quote

Tim wrote:
Is this the cup holder mount we are talking about?


Ha, I remember that one too! No, my car has a couple of built-in cup holders below the dash. I leave the TT ONE on its mount and just pop the mount into the cup holder, then angle the screen so it's facing up. Granted it's not directly horizontal to my line of sight (as it is when windshield mounted), but it's not too hard (nor dangerous) to take a quick glance down there to check my current location, next turn, etc. Added bonus is there is no glare that I get when windshield mounted.

I should add the caveat that this is not necessarily recommended for intense city freeway driving at 75 MPH, when that quick glance can translate to a few hundred feet of road travelled.
Back to top
View user's profile
Tim
Site Admin
Site Admin


Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 20948
Location: 45°, -70°

Post  Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:16 am    Reply to topic Reply with quote

patruns wrote:
Where's that cassette mount one?

Mounting a GPS in the Tape Cassette Slot
Back to top
View user's profile
Post new topic   Reply to topic    GPS Review Forums Forum Index -> GPS Discussions All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
content bottomleft content bottomright
mini logo twitter feed