Post by: netcoyote on April 10, 2015, 10:52:53 AM
Quote
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.
Post by: bigtex on April 10, 2015, 11:00:08 AM
How many of your trucks have tires extending past the wheel well without mudflaps? Another traffic violation in most states including WA
Post by: Jonathan_S on April 10, 2015, 11:05:20 AM
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 :chuckle:
Post by: lokidog on April 10, 2015, 11:17:53 AM
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.... :chuckle:
Broken windshields or rockchips in your field of view are also illegal, I believe, but I sure see a lot of them driving around. :dunno:
Post by: Mike450r on April 10, 2015, 11:18:35 AM
Post by: AWS on April 10, 2015, 11:20:29 AM
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.
Post by: mossy8352 on April 10, 2015, 11:21:19 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on April 10, 2015, 11:31:21 AM
Post by: bigtex on April 10, 2015, 11:52:23 AM
It's why you're not supposed to hang the Discover Pass while you're driving.:yeah:
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.
Post by: Bob33 on April 10, 2015, 11:56:32 AM
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.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on April 10, 2015, 12:00:08 PM
Post by: netcoyote on April 10, 2015, 12:07:05 PM
.... but I think it was just a pretext to see if their were any MIPs.
MIP's ? :dunno:
Post by: ghosthunter on April 10, 2015, 12:08:44 PM
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.
Post by: JimmyHoffa on April 10, 2015, 12:09:04 PM
minor in possession.... but I think it was just a pretext to see if their were any MIPs.
MIP's ? :dunno:
Post by: JimmyHoffa on April 10, 2015, 12:12:10 PM
WowYeah, 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. :dunno:
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.
Post by: stevemiller on April 10, 2015, 12:20:11 PM
Post by: netcoyote on April 10, 2015, 01:41:28 PM
If its not obstructing your view your legal,Period. :bash: 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.
Post by: Bean Counter on April 10, 2015, 01:48:48 PM
Post by: Bronson on April 10, 2015, 02:16:36 PM
Post by: Eli346 on April 10, 2015, 02:59:01 PM
Post by: Humptulips on April 10, 2015, 03:28:13 PM
If its not obstructing your view your legal,Period. :bash: 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.
Post by: stevemiller on April 10, 2015, 06:06:32 PM
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. :chuckle: 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.If its not obstructing your view your legal,Period. :bash: 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.
Post by: bigtex on April 10, 2015, 06:26:43 PM
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...
Post by: Bob33 on April 10, 2015, 06:31:28 PM
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."
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on April 10, 2015, 06:33:13 PM
Post by: bobcat on April 10, 2015, 06:40:06 PM
Post by: stevemiller on April 10, 2015, 06:42:49 PM
Post by: Bob33 on April 10, 2015, 06:49:57 PM
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 (http://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.”
Post by: stevemiller on April 10, 2015, 06:53:04 PM
Post by: Ghost Hunter on April 12, 2015, 07:19:53 AM
Post by: netcoyote on April 12, 2015, 12:33:40 PM
Is WA. on that list?Ok then its not illegal here. :bash:
Actually WA, is on the list.
http://gpstracklog.com/2014/07/gps-windshield-mounts-illegal-half-u-s.html (http://gpstracklog.com/2014/07/gps-windshield-mounts-illegal-half-u-s.html)
Quote
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
Post by: stevemiller on April 13, 2015, 12:03:24 AM
Post by: follow maggie on April 26, 2015, 11:04:23 PM
Post by: stevemiller on April 26, 2015, 11:09:48 PM
Post by: stevemiller on April 26, 2015, 11:11:49 PM
People get pulled over all the time for this, tickets? Eh it'll usually result in a ticket if you give them attitude.Really all the time? really?
How many of your trucks have tires extending past the wheel well without mudflaps? Another traffic violation in most states including WA