Windshield mounted GPS illegal in WA?

[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.