Windshield mounted GPS illegal in WA?

[netcoyote]

I've been gearing up for a road trip and recently bought a GPS and dash cam for the trip. Both came with suction cup mounts for the windshield. I recently found some information that tells me that the windshield mount is illegal in many states, one of them is WA. I checked the RCW and found this:

RCW 46.37.410
Windshields required, exception — Must be unobstructed and equipped with wipers.

(1) All motor vehicles operated on the public highways of this state shall be equipped with a front windshield manufactured of safety glazing materials for use in motor vehicles in accordance with RCW 46.37.430, except, however, on such vehicles not so equipped or where windshields are not in use, the operators of such vehicles shall wear glasses, goggles, or face shields pursuant to RCW 46.37.530(1)(b).

    (2) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows of such vehicle which obstructs the driver's clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway.

So, I can't see how a suction cup mounted GPS is functionally any different than the glued on rear view mirror on my Jeep, but I'm not interested in getting into a peeing contest with a LEO over the weasel wording in this RCW.

Has anybody else looked into this? Anybody got pulled over for this or issued any tickets?

Just for the record, there seems to also be restrictions on this in Idaho, Montana and Oregon which are states I planned to travel in.

[bigtex]

People get pulled over all the time for this, tickets? Eh it'll usually result in a ticket if you give them attitude.

How many of your trucks have tires extending past the wheel well without mudflaps? Another traffic violation in most states including WA

[Jonathan_S]

How many of your trucks have tires extending past the wheel well without mudflaps? Another traffic violation in most states including WA

Mean cops.  I mean it's my right to destroy my ball joints with overpriced aluminum spacers   

[lokidog]

IMO, the pertinent part of this is this part of the sentence:  which obstructs the driver's clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway.

I would think if you keep it low, close to the dash, and can demonstrate, if needed, that it does not restrict your view, you should not have a problem.  Now, if you are 5'2" or shorter, then the steering wheel probably falls into the view restricting category....   

Broken windshields or rockchips in your field of view are also illegal, I believe, but I sure see a lot of them driving around.   

[Mike450r]

If it doesn't obstruct vision it is not a problem

[AWS]

I doubt the LEO would care much as the state requires the big yellow tag(Discovery Pass) to hang off the mirror to drive on public roads in state forests.

They make a nice sand bag mount that lays on the dash that works pretty good.  Instead of changing chips I have a  GPS with my Pacific NW chip on the dash and a GPS with my 10 Western states chip mounted on the window.

[mossy8352]

I moved mine to the dash just under any usable windshield view not because it was unsafe but because my suction cup kept letting go o the glass (especially on rough roads). Mine is mounted to the dash and holds my phone/gps solidly in place (while still being removable) if I want. I have to wonder why there is any difference between a GPS and the mirror if mounted at the same height as there is no vision restriction related to safely driving a vehicle at least not anymore than the rear view mirror is causing.

[pianoman9701]

It's why you're not supposed to hang the Discover Pass while you're driving.

[bigtex]

It's why you're not supposed to hang the Discover Pass while you're driving.

It's basically not required to be used while driving anymore. The law was changed a couple years ago to state that if your driving on WDFW or DNR lands the only time you need to have it displayed while driving is if the road is blocked by a gate, not many roads fall under that category.

It is still required while driving in State Parks.

[Bob33]

I predict the use of cell phones in motor vehicles will be banned within 10 years. The way it’s going, I figure that in 20 years the only people authorized to drive will be government approved “designated drivers.”

Forty years ago families drove across the country with kids rolling around in the back of a station wagon. Now you can’t sneeze without breaking the law.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Also, the State Parks Season pass, which is white vinyl and required to be mounted on the lower left side of the windshield, must not be considered to obstruct the driver's clear view.  I do remember my girlfriend in high school getting pulled over and verbally warned for the obstructed view due to all the crap hanging from her rear view mirror - but I think it was just a pretext to see if their were any MIPs.

[netcoyote]

.... but I think it was just a pretext to see if their were any MIPs.

MIP's ? 

[ghosthunter]

Wow
I drive around with mine on the window all the time. Never had a officer say a word.
But I got to think the cell phone rule is more important to LE with all the accidents.
Man I could write a 100 tickets a day for cell phones in folks hand up to their heads.

[JimmyHoffa]

.... but I think it was just a pretext to see if their were any MIPs.

MIP's ? 

minor in possession

[JimmyHoffa]

Wow
I drive around with mine on the window all the time. Never had a officer say a word.
But I got to think the cell phone rule is more important to LE with all the accidents.
Man I could write a 100 tickets a day for cell phones in folks hand up to their heads.

Yeah, I wonder about that law.  Always see people talking or texting on phones.  I don't know if it could be much worse without the law.   

[stevemiller]

If its not obstructing your view your legal,Period.  The law is very clear on that.

[netcoyote]

If its not obstructing your view your legal,Period.  The law is very clear on that.

Did you read the law? It is NOT clear. It says any "nontransparent material on the windshield". That would be a GPS including the suction mount. Any LEO could make a case that anything near the dash was "obstructing the view" and it would be just your word against his. See ya in court or pay up!

This is what I call another "hassle law". Worded poorly, either through lawmaker incompetence or purposely and could be interpreted in a variety of ways and left to the discretion of the LEO. So you could "demonstrate that it wasn't an obstruction" as someone suggested all you want but if the cop was having a bad day or interpreted something you said as an insult, you get written up.

[Bean Counter]

I suppose the option is to bury it deep in the pocket of your lap, so you have to take your eyes completely off the roadway.

[Bronson]

Aren't most of those suction cups transparent?  Problem solved.  That's the part that is 'attached to your windshield'.  Semantics.....

[Eli346]

 According to the law my Discover Pass is illegal. Good, I didn't like the thing hanging up there anyway. I just put mine on the dash and hope I remember to hang it when I get out.

[Humptulips]

If its not obstructing your view your legal,Period.  The law is very clear on that.

Did you read the law? It is NOT clear. It says any "nontransparent material on the windshield". That would be a GPS including the suction mount. Any LEO could make a case that anything near the dash was "obstructing the view" and it would be just your word against his. See ya in court or pay up!

This is what I call another "hassle law". Worded poorly, either through lawmaker incompetence or purposely and could be interpreted in a variety of ways and left to the discretion of the LEO. So you could "demonstrate that it wasn't an obstruction" as someone suggested all you want but if the cop was having a bad day or interpreted something you said as an insult, you get written up.

According to that narrow interpretation your rear view mirror would be illegal also.

[stevemiller]

If its not obstructing your view your legal,Period.  The law is very clear on that.

Did you read the law? It is NOT clear. It says any "nontransparent material on the windshield". That would be a GPS including the suction mount. Any LEO could make a case that anything near the dash was "obstructing the view" and it would be just your word against his. See ya in court or pay up!

This is what I call another "hassle law". Worded poorly, either through lawmaker incompetence or purposely and could be interpreted in a variety of ways and left to the discretion of the LEO. So you could "demonstrate that it wasn't an obstruction" as someone suggested all you want but if the cop was having a bad day or interpreted something you said as an insult, you get written up.

Thats not all it said.It said more be thorough.It states that obstructs your view.I will give one example of a totally legal non transparent sticker on a wind shield.Are you ready?Military base authorizing sticker,Left side of windshield.Want another ok here,In windshield antenna.Oh it doesnt say how big it is just that it cant obstruct your view.It is clear what it is saying.Clear as glass.  A cop having a bad day did you say a cop having a bad day could give you a ticket for this.That woukld be the day,some of you including obviously bigtex think the cops are the law,they write it,enforce it,then judge it.You need to study a little more about the law before you start trying to spread this kind of garbage around.This is exactly where civil suits come from.

[bigtex]

According to the law my Discover Pass is illegal. Good, I didn't like the thing hanging up there anyway. I just put mine on the dash and hope I remember to hang it when I get out.

Nobody is requiring you to hang it...

[Bob33]

According to the law my Discover Pass is illegal. Good, I didn't like the thing hanging up there anyway. I just put mine on the dash and hope I remember to hang it when I get out.

Nobody is requiring you to hang it...

"For maximum visibility, hang the pass from the rearview mirror with the license plate numbers and expiration date facing the windshield. For vehicles without a windshield, the pass must be displayed in a prominent location on the vehicle."

[Boss .300 winmag]

Plus the good to go pass would be illegal as well.

[bobcat]

There's no need to display the Discover pass while you're driving. It's not even required until you park your vehicle. Drive around all day on state land if you want, with no Discover pass. The law was changed a couple years ago so it's only needed when you're parked.

[stevemiller]

this is just another its not open season and ive got all the time in the world to think up meaningless garbage to post about.why dont you just get a facebook account.if anyone could show proof of any leo anywhere issuing a ticket to someone for this i would be very surprised.

[Bob33]

this is just another its not open season and ive got all the time in the world to think up meaningless garbage to post about.why dont you just get a facebook account.if anyone could show proof of any leo anywhere issuing a ticket to someone for this i would be very surprised.

Meaningless?
www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/08/when-driving-with-gps-is-against-the-law/index.htm

According to GPStracklog, a site devoted to the care and feeding of GPS enthusiasts, mounting your phone or PND on a windshield—including using the mount made for your device—is illegal in 28 states.

And even where windshield mounts are legal, some states are quite particular about where on the windshield they can go. For instance, in California and Hawaii, you can windshield-mount a GPS device within a 5-inch section on the driver’s side, or a 7-inch section on the passenger side. California adds the proviso that the installation not interfere with air bags. Some states are a bit vaguer than that. Minnesota statutes 169.70 and 169.72, for instance, stipulate that: “A person shall not drive or operate any motor vehicle with global positioning systems or navigation systems when mounted or located near the bottom-most portion of the windshield.”

[stevemiller]

Is WA. on that list?Ok then its not illegal here. 

[Ghost Hunter]

I display it when I park.  I won't hang it or lay it on my dash when driving.  It is distracting or impedes view in both locations.  However I will talk on my cell phone when necessary.  Hearing aids don't work well with a earpiece.

[netcoyote]

Is WA. on that list?Ok then its not illegal here. 

Actually WA, is on the list.
http://gpstracklog.com/2014/07/gps-windshield-mounts-illegal-half-u-s.html

Currently, windshield mounts are illegal in more than half of the US–no matter where you mount it on your windshield, you can get a ticket passing through these states. Additionally, many of these states have laws about screens being operational in the car where the driver can see them. Windshield mounts in the following states should be avoided:
 
Alabama
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
D.C.
Georgia
Idaho
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Montana
Nebraska
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Texas
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

[stevemiller]

ok so its on some insignificant list that some gps group put out based on the generalized rule that you cant have anything obstructing your view.key word for Washington of course is obstructing.the rcw is clear not gonna argue it,Heres more for you,reminder to change your oil (oil can henrys).cops have stuff on their dash all the time,parking stickers on windshields in king county all over the place.

[follow maggie]

Why ask a question and then argue with people who answer it. It's pretty clear that if it docent block the drivers view, it's legal. Mount it low and out of the way and you're fine. That's where mine is, and the portable satellite radio right next to it, so twit two on my windshield. I get pulled over periodically and no officer or trooper has ever said a thing to me about them.

[stevemiller]

Final point on this thread lol,Anyone that feels like bigtex or netcoyote on this subject,This state had to spend a ton of money on people like you to explain that it was also illegal to drive at night without a seatbelt lol. 

[stevemiller]

People get pulled over all the time for this, tickets? Eh it'll usually result in a ticket if you give them attitude.

How many of your trucks have tires extending past the wheel well without mudflaps? Another traffic violation in most states including WA

Really all the time? really?