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

[The Real Bev]

Don't forget what I said upthread: even a full URL can lead to bad
things

Like this one: http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Like this one: http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/

Excellent example.

 

[Phantom]

So it would seem that you are all bots and not actual people.. awesome.

 

[jgar the jorrible]

You needn't trust - it's trivially easy to verify.

Of course, what you get is an expanded URL, just like the one you would
have seen in the absence of a tiny URL. But you still have to figure
out whether to trust the long version.

Basically, your remark was silly...

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

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

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‽

So stick to tinyURL, install some heavy duty AV software, and buy or
make a tinfoil hat.[1]

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

jg

[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

 

[jgar the jorrible]

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‽

So stick to tinyURL, install some heavy duty AV software, and buy or
make a tinfoil hat.[1]

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

[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

'sOK, glad to be stimulating, Shirley. Copper mesh works better, btw.

jg

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

On 4/20/2012, John David Galt posted:
Example: here's the tinyURL of your long link:
No one in his right mind trusts URL shorteners, no matter who sent them.
You needn't trust - it's trivially easy to verify.
Of course, what you get is an expanded URL, just like the one you would
have seen in the absence of a tiny URL. But you still have to figure
out whether to trust the long version.
Basically, your remark was silly...
--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)
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‽

So stick to tinyURL, install some heavy duty AV software, and buy or
make a tinfoil hat.[1]

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

[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

'sOK, glad to be stimulating, Shirley. Copper mesh works better, btw.

jg

Thanks for the tip about copper mesh. I'll be signing off now to go to
Home Depot

 

[Phantom]

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...

 

[The Real Bev]

I was pulled over for a different offense and warned
about the GPS.

It's an idiotic law, that I can't find in any other state
than in the RepubliK of Kalifornia.

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

 

[Bert]

In "Hank J."

It's an idiotic law, that I can't find in any other state
than in the RepubliK of Kalifornia.

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;

 

[Anthony R. Gold]

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;

Is "near" a defined term under Minnesota law?

 

[Bert]

In "Anthony R. Gold"

Is "near" a defined term under Minnesota law?

Of course not; the laws are written by idiots, as in any other state.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

techman41973 wrote:

I was pulled over for a different offense and warned
about the GPS.

It's an idiotic law, that I can't find in any other state
than in the RepubliK of Kalifornia.

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

 

[Stephen H. Fischer]

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

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

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

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

 

[Mike Lane]

Hans-Georg Michna wrote on Nov 19, 2013:

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

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

 

[rhondacbaker]

This was very helpful. Thank you very much for posting.

 

[vnrwlk]

California changed the law on mounting a GPS unit on your windshield, butthe law still seems complicated and limits your options. (12) A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted in a seven-inch squarein the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver or in a five-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver and outside of an airbag deployment zone, if the system is used onlyfor door-to-door navigation while the motor vehicle is being operated. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm http://www.ehow.com/about_6513133_california-gps-windshield-law.html http://www.ehow.com/facts_7419344_california-law-gps-window-locations.html How many of you use a GPS device and mount it using a suction-cup windshield mount? Where on the windshield doyou mount your unit? Have you ever been warned or fined by police? Thanks

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.

 

[margokenney]

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.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

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.

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