California law and mounting a GPS on the inside of my windshield

Discussion in 'General GPS Discussion' started by techman41973, Apr 13, 2012.

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  1. techman41973

    The Real Bev Guest

    The Real Bev, Apr 22, 2012
    #21
  2. Gene E. Bloch, Apr 23, 2012
    #22
  3. techman41973

    Phantom

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    So it would seem that you are all bots and not actual people.. awesome.
     
    Phantom, Apr 23, 2012
    #23
  4. How do you know someone won't change the redirect afterwards? Of
    course, any domain could be poisoned/redirected/sold, but isn't it
    less likely for a google than some effing LIBYAN domain‽

    For those who missed it, slashdot started displaying the domain name
    next to links in comments because of link abuse.

    jg
     
    jgar the jorrible, Apr 23, 2012
    #24
  5. So stick to tinyURL, install some heavy duty AV software, and buy or
    make a tinfoil hat.[1]
    [1] Not sure how sarcastic I am really feeling (it's non-zero), but at
    least I should thank you for the chance to generate the above remark
    :)
     
    Gene E. Bloch, Apr 23, 2012
    #25
  6. 'sOK, glad to be stimulating, Shirley. Copper mesh works better, btw.

    jg
     
    jgar the jorrible, Apr 24, 2012
    #26
  7. Thanks for the tip about copper mesh. I'll be signing off now to go to
    Home Depot :)
     
    Gene E. Bloch, Apr 24, 2012
    #27
  8. techman41973

    Phantom

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    Well if mounting a GPS on your window is out-lawed why not use a weighted dash mount adapter?

    Or one of them cup holder ones with the extendable/bendable arms...
     
    Phantom, May 3, 2012
    #28
  9. techman41973

    The Real Bev Guest

    You can put it in a 7" square on the lower corner (can't remember which
    one) of your windshield. Stupid, it blocks vision there. I'd stick it
    high up where it wouldn't get in the way of anything except low-flying
    helicopters and airplanes, but as it is I just set it on the console
    where I can't see it at all :-(


    --
    Cheers,
    Bev
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    "Why put fault tolerance in the OS, when it's already built
    into the User?" -- Steve Shaw, regarding Win95
     
    The Real Bev, Mar 6, 2013
    #29
  10. techman41973

    Bert Guest

    In "Hank J."
    Minnesota used to have one, but it was changed in 2009, adding this
    exception:

    (iv) global positioning systems or navigation systems when mounted or
    located near the bottommost portion of the windshield;
     
    Bert, Mar 7, 2013
    #30
  11. Is "near" a defined term under Minnesota law?
     
    Anthony R. Gold, Mar 7, 2013
    #31
  12. techman41973

    Bert Guest

    In "Anthony R. Gold"
    Of course not; the laws are written by idiots, as in any other state.
     
    Bert, Mar 7, 2013
    #32
  13. A remark on the sidelines---I find that mounting a GPS, or my
    smartphone these days---on the windshield is not a good idea
    anyway. I now always mount such a device in front of an air
    vent.

    Nice holders are available. They hook into the vent grid, which
    has the positive side effect that the device gets cooled when
    you open the air flow.

    Just be careful not to let hot air blow on it.

    The advantages are many. Your view is not blocked. You don't
    have the device in front of a very bright background, which
    would often make it difficult to read. It is closer to your eyes
    and hands and thus easier to see and reach. It does not fall
    off, like suction cups sometimes do, particularly in
    temperatures below freezing, possibly with traces of ice on the
    windshield. You don't have an additional, dangling power cable
    in front of part of the windshield. Etc.

    Hans-Georg
     
    Hans-Georg Michna, Apr 23, 2013
    #33
  14. Hi,

    There may be still laws on the books that every vehicle must have a person
    walking ahead with a red flag so as to not spook the horses.

    Silly? Not ~ two centuries ago. Why was the subway invented? New York City
    had a monumental horse waste problem on the streets.

    Laws, they are what they are and we must all obey.

    My van conversion shop owner mounted the alternate GPS mount to a vent with
    screws to a board behind. A much better position.

    My back up camera monitor is mounted on the rear view mirror and works
    poorly, the bright sun behind makes it hard to read.

    Yes, the CA law saying no attaching anything to the windshield that blocks
    vision is on the books and you must obey. Don't worry, the vehicles will
    drive themselves soon.

    SHF
     
    Stephen H. Fischer, Nov 19, 2013
    #34
  15. It is not a direct answer to the question, but on the sidelines
    I have to agree very much. I have tested various GPS positions,
    and windshield suction cup mounts have a whole range of
    disadvantages, like blocking the view, being in front of a too
    bright background, being too far away, falling off from time to
    time, particularly at freezing temperatures, not cooling the
    device like mounts in front of air vents, keeping the device in
    direct sunlight, etc., etc.

    Hans-Georg
     
    Hans-Georg Michna, Nov 19, 2013
    #35
  16. techman41973

    Mike Lane Guest

    Hans-Georg Michna wrote on Nov 19, 2013:
    I've used a Garmin 'bean-bag' type of mount for years. I find it ideal -
    totally reliable, easily moved, leaves no tell-tale marks on the windscreen
    http://tinyurl.com/o35r3qc
     
    Mike Lane, Nov 19, 2013
    #36
  17. techman41973

    rhondacbaker Guest

    This was very helpful. Thank you very much for posting.
     
    rhondacbaker, Nov 26, 2013
    #37
  18. techman41973

    vnrwlk Guest

    I was stopped by a police officer on a motorcycle while making a right turnon an intersection where a sign said "No Right Turn On Red". While he wasabout to right a citation against me he noticed my GPS was on the far lower left hand corner of my windshield. He told me that was illegal. I told him under California law that was considered legal and it was not obstracting anything. He told me I must remove it but just a warning. Well I fought the ticket he wrote against me for making a "No Right Turn On Red" via Trial by Written Declaration and won. Needless to say from the time he wrote the ticket and the time I got my money was total of nine months. I still mount my GPS on the lower left hand side of the windshield.
     
    vnrwlk, Dec 7, 2013
    #38
  19. techman41973

    margokenney Guest

    Doesn't mounting it on your air vent tend to break the air vent eventually? I have an old Mercedes that I want to keep in pristine shape, and I'm afraid to break a fin on the vent if I mount a phone on it.
    If you know a mounting kit that seems like it would not hurt the air vent, I'd love to know which brand, model, and where to buy one.
    Thanks.
     
    margokenney, Jan 26, 2014
    #39
  20. I have been using air vent holders for a long time in at least
    half a dozen different types of car and have never had any
    severe problem with them. I have never broken an air vent.

    That said, there are a few potential problems. Some air vent
    holders are a bit difficult to remove. If the clamps are tight,
    trying to pull them out could break the air vent. I use one type
    where I have to spread the clamps with a screwdriver to pull it
    off without breaking anything.

    Another problem is hot air, but that's a problem for the
    smartphone, not for the air vent. If I cannot or do not want to
    prevent hot air coming from the vent, I have to use a holder
    that hangs low, so at worst only a small part of the phone gets
    heated.

    Fortunately smartphones are fairly resistant to heat. As long as
    the phone can be touched without burning your fingers, it may
    automatically take defensive measures against the heat, the
    worst being an emergency shutdown, but it is unlikely to break.

    Hans-Georg
     
    Hans-Georg Michna, Jan 27, 2014
    #40
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