Beware!... $105 citation for camera/mount on windshield

[Karen Trammell]

Interesting. Jeff, I never thought about GPS units. Those are often windshield mounted, so wouldn't those also be considered "illegal?"

This issue was addressed in the state of Minnesota relatively recently, as having ANYTHING mounted to your windshield, including GPS units, is illegal in that state. There was an article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune about this issue, as this is not the case in many states and Minnesota was relatively unique, as I recall. FWIW - It is not illegal in Oklahoma, and I don't believe it is in Kansas or Texas either.

 

[Brian Barnes]

This issue was addressed in the state of Minnesota relatively recently, as having ANYTHING mounted to your windshield, including GPS units, is illegal in that state. There was an article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune about this issue, as this is not the case in many states and Minnesota was relatively unique, as I recall. FWIW - It is not illegal in Oklahoma, and I don't believe it is in Kansas or Texas either.

Does that also include the rear view mirror?

 

[Jesse Risley]

But, I think you'll win it in court. Sounds like your insurance, license, plates and stuff were all current, and you weren't speeding or anything - so its likely a judge won't hang you. Its a possibility, but I think (and hope) that you'll be okay.

What incentive would a judge have to throw out the ticket? If he truly was breaking the law, then it was a legit ticket. Unfortunately, having everything else in order and being polite are still not free passes.

I'm not trying to stereotype, but state patrol agencies are generally known to more strictly enforce traffic laws/moving violations. Playing devil's advocate, it's entirely possible that the ticket would have been written if you were Grandma Moses going for Sunday coffee. Even if you could prove that being a chaser was somehow a factor in the decision to use discretion and issue a citation over a warning, at the end of the day, a legal violation can be punished to the full extent of the law.

 

[Brian Barnes]

True enough. It could go either way. I just hope that he doesn't get stuck with it if he can honestly say that it really doesn't obstruct/impair his driving vision of the highway (or intersecting highway).

Here is some food for thought, this happened in Kansas... and Garmin is a KS corporation?
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Nuvi-7...7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1240880277&sr=1-7

Perhaps they should be told the products they make are against the laws in their own state? I'll bet they have some friends where it matters... (don't think they make 'that' suction cup holder, but I do believe they do or have made them in their own product line)

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=13543

 

[Joey Ketcham]

I don't see what the problem is or on what basis the OP would be challenging the ticket in court on. If there are laws regarding windshield obstruction, than so be it. You were caught, pay the fine and move on.

There are a lot of states where it is illegal to have a display of any kind within view of the drivers, generally anywhere up front. This includes TV's, portable DVD players, and laptops.

I say just pay the $109 and move on.

 

[GlennMartin]

I have generally found officers to be positive. Last year I was approached near Joplin by a Missouri State Trooper and was told my antennas made me a suspect for running drugs..lol
I told him my purpose and then we chatted for awhile and ended up showing him the likely paths of the sups approaching. He appreciated the forecast and left. Generally they just want to know what the weather will do or how bad the storm will be is my experience. There are countless laws applied to multiple jurisdictions and each of us will have to pay a ticket at some point.

 

[JR Hehnly]

Here is some food for thought, this happened in Kansas... and Garmin is a KS corporation?
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Nuvi-7...7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1240880277&sr=1-7

The Garmin mobile GPS units come with both a suction cup window mount as well as a sticky-tape top of dash mount for those states where there are laws forbidding anything attached to to windshield.

NOTICE TO DRIVERS IN CALIFORNIA AND MINNESOTA: State law prohibits drivers in California and Minnesota from using suction mounts on their windshields while operating motor vehicles. Other Garmin dashboard or friction mounting options should be used. Garmin does not take any responsibility for any fines, penalties, or damages that may be incurred as a result of disregarding this notice. (See California Vehicle Code Section 26708(a); Minnesota Statutes 2005, Section 169.71

I wonder if they restrict the turnpike K-TAG placement. It goes on the glass. That thing could really block your view of the sky!

 

[Robert Rohloff]

I've never seen so many police officers during a chase as I did yesterday. They were pulling people over quite frequently, both state and municipalities. We were stopped for speeding in Seiling, OK by the police chief, who was pretty courteous, but I don't believe he actually had a radar confirmation on the speed.

I agree that in some cases being a storm chaser might arguably be a factor in the decision making process between a ticket or a warning.
__________________
Jesse Risley - K9JLR

The chief of Seiling stopped me just outside of town to the west as the second tornado warned storm passed. He just wanted to let me know one of my antenna was knocked down, said he tried ham but did not get a reponse and wanted me to know. Also I observed about 10-12 chasers heading north thru town about 55-60 mph in a 35 mph zone........

 

[cedwards]

I wonder if they restrict the turnpike K-TAG placement. It goes on the glass. That thing could really block your view of the sky!

That is why My pikepass is placed in the lower corner of the windshield along with the GPS. I am tall enough that they do not obstruct any view of the sky or road. They only block a view of part of my hood.

I don't like the suction cup video mounts because they block too much of my view. I want as little as possible blocking any possible view of the storms.

 

[John Begler]

Something that might help your case in fighting the ticket it to check out the KHP cars and photograph any obstructions that block the officers view. Just an idea...

 

[Ric Burney]

This issue was addressed in the state of Minnesota relatively recently, as having ANYTHING mounted to your windshield, including GPS units, is illegal in that state. There was an article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune about this issue, as this is not the case in many states and Minnesota was relatively unique, as I recall. FWIW - It is not illegal in Oklahoma, and I don't believe it is in Kansas or Texas either.

Relevent portion taken from the Texas transportation code:
Sec. 547.613. RESTRICTIONS ON WINDOWS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person commits an offense that is a misdemeanor:

(1) if the person operates a motor vehicle that has an object or material that is placed on or attached to the windshield or side or rear window and that obstructs or reduces the operator's clear view;

And for mobile TV,or video monitors:

Sec. 547.611. USE OF CERTAIN VIDEO EQUIPMENT AND TELEVISION RECEIVERS. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with video receiving equipment, including a television, a digital video disc player, a videocassette player, or similar equipment, only if the equipment is located so that the video display is not visible from the operator's seat unless the vehicle's transmission is in park or the vehicle's parking brake is applied.

(b) A motor vehicle specially designed as a mobile unit used by a licensed television station may have video receiving equipment located so that the video display is visible from the operator's side, but the receiver may be used only when the vehicle is stopped.

 

[Scott Weberpal]

Something that might help your case in fighting the ticket it to check out the KHP cars and photograph any obstructions that block the officers view. Just an idea...

Police vehicles are exempt from many laws that civilian vehicles must abide by. It's like trying to get out of a speeding ticket because you bought a little radar gun and clocked a cop going over the speed limit.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Something that might help your case in fighting the ticket it to check out the KHP cars and photograph any obstructions that block the officers view. Just an idea...

Yeah, good luck on that. Do that and let us know how that turns out.

 

[fplowman]

To a certain point Joey is correct. However if it becomes a really principled thing, you could find some patrol cars say, eating breakfast or what have you and take some pics and show up to court with that and make your case interesting.

I think conventional wisdom is to pay it and move on as time and resources are valuable to fight it. $105 in the mail vs. 5 + hours driving and court time. etc.... You have to weigh your options and take the path of least resistance.

On the other hand other folks are idealists. So, which ever path you choose.

ETA: I have the Cinetools mount as well. Why not deploy it when you start your chase instead of when your on the road to your destination ( which Im guilty of )? This would have solved the problem in this situation. Maybe I'll learn from your lesson. That would be "ideal" lol

Yeah, good luck on that. Do that and let us know how that turns out.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

I got stopped on Sunday near Snyder OK. I was in really no hurry south as that storm was struggling. It was a 4 lane highway and I'd just decided to go around a truck. Even on the interstate I will always speed up rather than sit there next to them for a day, going half a mile an hour faster. So just as I get around I see a cop coming the other way, which of course flips around.

He asked if I was chasing as I had the laptop open next to me and I said yes. He then asked if I just do it for myself or something and I said yeah. He then says, "Well I got you at 72 and it's 65 through here." He then asked for my license and said that he would quickly give me a written warning and get me on my way so I could get to the storm. I forget exactly how he worded all that, but surely the nicest cop I've ever been stopped by. He actually seemed to literally want to hurry with it so I could get to the storm, and he did.

So far my cop experiences while chasing have been much better than those times not chasing. I'm sure it's only a matter of time.

Glad this was posted as I'd just been looking into mounting systems. It'd be interesting to know how many states are fine with mounting things to your windshield.