I learned this morning that we’ve been breaking the law since arriving in California.
We’ve been mounting our GPS in the middle of our windshield.
Don’t ask how but this morning I came across an article talking about how it recently became legal to mount your automobile GPS on your car windshield. A few things immediately came to mind including, (a) was it actually illegal to mount it prior to January, 1, 2009 and (b) what are the rules now?
I took a second and allowed myself to stop laughing at such a silly law that outlawed the mounting of GPS devices on the windshield. Prior to January 1st of this year it was illegal to mount the device on your windshield. Where did people put their devices back in the old days (2008, 2007, and 2006)?
The present law says we can now attach our device to the windshield but only in two spots: a 7-inch area on the passenger side or a 5-inch area on the driver’s side.
I won’t even get into the idea of mounting the device on the other side of the car but I suppose we should all rejoice in the knowledge we can now drive with our GPS devices just like 48 other states in the country. (Minnesota still does not allow this rebel like act)
Anyhow, until now our device has been in the middle of the window and truth be told I’m going to be hard pressed to move it to the required 5-inch space as dictated by law.
The LA Times ran a short piece on the topic back in August of last year and here it is.
Thinking out loud here … California reversed a law allowing GPS machine to be mounted on a windshield … California has a law not allowing property taxes to change with the times thus making the state broke …
Have a great Friday.
Wow- the “old days” huh? I had GPS in my car in 2002 as factory option ($3300!!!, – I did not have a choice as was in car I wanted) but it was way more dangerous as it was down low below stereo- talk about taking eyes of road to see something. And that must have been legal, but one on windshield was not?
Damn crazy laws- and don’t be talking on cell phone, but you can have a ton of kids yelling and screaming in the “family truckster” and that is not distracting…
I really wish there were some (viable) politicians that would push for personal responsiblity instead of legislating everything.
It actually WAS illegal to mount it on the windshield prior to 2009. My GPS came with a piece of paper stating the laws in certain states do not allow suction mounting. I have a friction mount which is really cool (and legal) and it is on the center of my dash.
It was illegal, I have a dashboard mount, so the gps just sits on the dashboard, which I really like. So your eyes still stay on the same level, don’t have go down/left/right
SkidRowDude – Ha ha, I’m guessing you had the old Motorola cell phone in a box too!
Hilary – I will have to look into the friction mount.
Liz – Again, I will look at something for the dash.
We went to Irvine this weekend and along the way we had our GPS in the middle of the windshield (we’re rebels) and I realized something. If I put it on the left the cord to power the unit will either run across my lap or across the steering wheel.