http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 4:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
OK so the post is more than misleading -- it's blatantly wrong. "the California Senate will be voting on Senate Bill 1567" -- they already voted.]]>May 21st 2008 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
Now I'll be the first to admit that I don't know the ins and outs of Californian legislation, but that sure sounds like it passed...]]>May 21st 2008 12:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
There are two different bills being discussed. Maybe instead of reading the fucking article, you should've read the fucking article to the end.]]>May 21st 2008 12:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
The vote has passed the senate. The vote was for the bill number that you quoted. The bit where it says 'would legalize' refers to the fact that the assembly now has to vote on it. Title to the post is fine. My point is fine. You need to wash your mouth out with soap and water.]]>May 21st 2008 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/Jun 14th 2008 2:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
The fact of the matter is, California *probably* banned things attached to the windshield in order to make it easy to ticket people for radar detectors, but it simply doesn't matter. Every other car you see on the road has a GPS unit or radar detector suction-cupped to the windshield, and I've never, ever heard of anyone being ticketed for it. My V1 has been stuck to my windshield above my rearview mirror for the whole 6 years I've been in CA. My Nuvi 350 has been on the lower left for the past 2 or so years.

Call California a nanny state if you want, but you never get hassled about anything here. I've not been pulled over *once* in 6 years. Compare that to my home state of Washington where you can't sneeze without getting a ticket.

FWIW, it was already legal to have "materials" attached to the lower-left or lower-right corner of your windshield. It was meant for new-vehicle reg stuff on the passenger side, and likely for FastTrak toll transponders, but the way *I* read the law makes it legal to attach my Nuvi's suction cup at the very lower left anyway. Of course, the V1 is mounted in an illegal location, but return to point #1: Who cares.]]>May 21st 2008 12:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
I always just stuck it on the side window. Easier to reach too. Or use a bean bag mount...]]>May 21st 2008 1:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
There are worse places to live than here in Texas. When I think of some, I'll post it.]]>May 21st 2008 3:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
Though I'm not sure how strongly it's enforced, since I see people driving around with them all the time. Anywhere from directly below the rear view mirror (yeah, that's smart!!) to any other number of places across the front glass.]]>May 21st 2008 12:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
I live in New York and have never gotten a ticket. I think it's one of those laws that just basically never gets enforced, because it was enacted before GPS existed and the law really wasn't intended to outlaw stuff like that. It was more to outlaw things like fuzzy dice that serve no practical purpose and can seriously obstruct your view and become projectiles in an accident (ok, not so much the fuzzy dice, but people used to hang all sorts of things from their mirrors). I'm sure cops would rather you use a GPS that tells you when to turn without looking at it rather than driving with a map open in your lap distracting you, like we all used to do in the old days.
]]>May 21st 2008 1:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 1:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
There are two different bills being discussed. Maybe instead of reading the fucking article, you should've read the fucking article to the end.]]>May 21st 2008 12:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 12:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
look for section (12)


the entire SB, with amendment..

AMENDED IN SENATEMAY7, 2008
AMENDED IN SENATEAPRIL14, 2008
AMENDED IN SENATEMARCH25, 2008
SENATE BILL No. 1567
Introduced by Senator Oropeza
February22, 2008
An act to amend Section 26708 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.
legislative counsel
’s digest
SB1567, as amended, Oropeza.Windshield: GPS device.
Existing law prohibits any person, except as specified, from driving
any motor vehicle with any object or material, placed, displayed,
installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle which obstructs or
reduces the driver’s clear view through the windshield or side windows.
This bill would additionally exempt from these provisions a portable
Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted in a 7-inch
square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the
driver or in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest
to the driver, if specified conditions are met.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
1
2 SECTION 1. Section 26708 of the Vehicle Code is amended
to read:

26708. (a) (1) A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with
any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or
applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.
(2) A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object
or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or
upon the vehicle that obstructs or reduces the driver’s clear view
through the windshield or side windows.
(3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle
with the driver’s clear vision through the windshield, or side or
rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.
(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) Rearview mirrors.
(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors that are mounted
forward of the side windows and are not attached to the glass.
(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials that are displayed in a
7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest
removed from the driver, signs, stickers, or other materials that
are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the rear
window farthest removed from the driver, or signs, stickers, or
other materials that are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower
corner of the windshield nearest the driver.
(4) Side windows that are to the rear of the driver.
(5) Direction, destination, or termini signs upon a passenger
common carrier motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do
not interfere with the driver’s clear view of approaching traffic.
(6) Rear window wiper motor.
(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.
(8) The rear window or windows, if the motor vehicle is
equipped with outside mirrors on both the left- and right-hand
sides of the vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a
view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least
200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.
(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite
the driver on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and that
occupies an area not exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest
corner toward the rear of that window and that provides the driver
with a wide-angle view through the lens.
(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section
26708.2 installed on the side windows on either side of the
vehicle’s front seat, if the driver or a passenger in the front seat
96
— 2 —
SB1567
has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by
a licensed physician and surgeon certifying that the person must
be shaded from the sun due to a medical condition, or has in his
or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed
optometrist certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun
due to a visual condition. The devices authorized by this paragraph
shall not be used during darkness.
(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center
uppermost portion of the interior of a windshield within an area
that is not greater than 5 inches square, if the device provides either
of the following:
(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department
of the California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle
equipped with the device.
(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management
on public or private roads or facilities.
>>>>>>>(12) A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may
be mounted in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield
farthest removed from the driver or in a 5-inch square in the lower
corner of the windshield nearest to the driver, if the system is used
only for door-to-door navigation while the motor vehicle is being
operated and outside of an airbag deployment zone.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), transparent material may
be installed, affixed, or applied to the topmost portion of the
windshield if the following conditions apply:
(1) The bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above
the undepressed driver’s seat when measured from a point 5 inches
in front of the bottom of the backrest with the driver’s seat in its
rearmost and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level
surface.
(2) The material is not red or amber in color.
(3) There is no opaque lettering on the material and any other
lettering does not affect primary colors or distort vision through
the windshield.
(4) The material does not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into
the eyes of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles to any
greater extent than the windshield without the material.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and
transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the
96
SB1567
— 3 —
1
front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the
front seat if the following conditions are met:
(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of
88 percent.
(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205
(49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light
transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14
glazing, as specified in that federal standard.
(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the
ability of the existing window glass to block the sun’s harmful
ultraviolet A rays.
(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle,
a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the
windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this
subdivision and identifies the installing company and the material’s
manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material
was installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the
material’s manufacturer certifying that the windows with the
material installed according to manufacturer’s instructions meets
the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the material’s
manufacturer by full name and street address.
(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles,
or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed
or replaced.
O
96
— 4 —
SB1567



]]>May 21st 2008 12:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
No one is going to read all that!]]>May 21st 2008 2:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 1:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 1:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 5:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 1:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 1:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 1:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 2:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 2:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
I always thought of this as a backward way to make "radar detectors" illegal without actually making them illegal.]]>May 21st 2008 2:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 3:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 3:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 8:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/
2. WHY would you put a suction cup to let all the thieves know that you have a portable GPS to steal?? ]]>May 21st 2008 6:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/(since there's still not enough scale to make cars with built-in GPSs, after all, in-car GPS has been legal here since two or maybe three years)]]>May 21st 2008 7:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 22nd 2008 12:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 21st 2008 9:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 22nd 2008 1:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 22nd 2008 4:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 22nd 2008 8:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/california-senate-votes-to-legalize-windshield-gps-mounting/May 30th 2008 12:38PM