Mounted laptop visibility

Joined
Nov 19, 2012
Messages
32
Location
Jonesboro Arkansas
I have read through most of the forums and haven't found the exact answer to my question, even though it has been addressed indirectly on several occasions. I just built a new rig for my laptop and am rather happy with the results. It is sturdy and cost less than $25 to build. It does, however, sit high enough that the computer may be clearly seen outside the vehicle. I understand that some laws are open to interpretation on the matter. Assuming that I am not going to be sending emails while I am driving, what is your guys take on this? Most of the time on long hauls the lid should be down. Has anyone been pulled over while chasing for having the computer open and visible to the driver?
 
It's rarely an issue. The vast majority of the time, the officer is going to be looking for other things (speeding or a cell phone in the hand), or will be focused on something else (the severe weather). It does become an issue if you get caught doing something else like speeding, or get into a wreck. Then the officer is going to be looking for things to cite you for or reasons why you might have been distracted. Be cordial and polite, but don't incriminate yourself by answering leading or trick questions (do you know why I pulled you over?). In many (most?) states, it's legal to have a mounted screen with navigation software that faces the driver. Just tell the officer that it's your GPS device and it's hands free while driving if it becomes and issue. During the day it's not going to be that visible. Remember to dim your screen as low as it goes at night and use a high contrast display with a black background if possible. That minimizes the glare the screen produces. Do shut the lid when you don't need it or if you do get pulled over.
 
anti-glare/privacy screens such as those from 3M are also fantastic assets for dimming a screen and reducing the amount of light transmitted. i have one on my macbook pro and it works great. fyi put the reflective side on the screen and dull side facing you...i messed up first time i had it on but now its on right.

they run about $40.00 but worth every dime. especially great if you are at airport or on a plane, train or bus sitting next to someone and they try to look at your screen...all they can see is black and some minor shapes but no pics, details or text. unless they are directly behind you...they wont be able to see what you are doing.
 
A little off track, I know there's been a few car wrecks with chases from time to time with chasers. Anyone ever had a airbag deploy with a laptop mounted in front or near and airbag? Been a little paranoid about how the laptop was situated in my car. Curious what people may do to mitigate this concern, or am I the only one... Many other times I'm riding in the passenger seat, and have been worried about what would happen with the laptop on my lab between me and the airbag.
 
A little off track, I know there's been a few car wrecks with chases from time to time with chasers. Anyone ever had a airbag deploy with a laptop mounted in front or near and airbag? Been a little paranoid about how the laptop was situated in my car. Curious what people may do to mitigate this concern, or am I the only one... Many other times I'm riding in the passenger seat, and have been worried about what would happen with the laptop on my lab between me and the airbag.

It's more of an issue if you have a passenger - many mounts will just swing to the side when the air bag pops out (at least that's how they're designed). When you have a passenger you have to do things differently. We opted to use a netbook instead, and keep it dead center over the console, and as low as possible.
 
Basically just what Skip said. I don't usually use a laptop mount but I've only had problems in Indiana and Ohio with it (Ohio Highway Patrol is just a stickler for anything though). Most officers out on the Plains won't pull you over for it unless you're clearly looking at the screen while driving and they notice it.
 
I've also been very concerned with airbags as well. So much so, that my wife and I tried really hard to fins a way to disable the airbag when chasing together. On most cars, this is very difficult to do. RAM Mount has a video of their mount staying put when an airbag deploys, but my RAM mount can be moved even when fully tightened down, so I fear that it could be pushed into someone's body if/when the airbag deploys.

Bryan
 
Don't many vehicles have the option to turn the passenger airbag off? Maybe its a feature of vehicles past.

Its not a popular solution since fuel economy is everyones #1 priority when selecting a vehicle, but I drive a large 4x4 with enough interior room that the laptop sits nicely in the middle. Perhaps something to consider when vehicle shopping.
 
Don't many vehicles have the option to turn the passenger airbag off? Maybe its a feature of vehicles past.

No, that was only under certain circumstances, and only in the early days of airbags. Basically you could only get an on/off switch installed in a vehicle that had 1st or 2nd generation airbags (prior to 2003-ish) and had no back seat (ie: a 2 seater or a pickup truck) in order to install a child seat safely (some vehicles meeting this criteria came from the factory with the switches). It could also be installed in a passenger vehicle with a back seat if there was a medical reason for an adult.

Newer vehicles have the 'smart' airbags that automatically disable the passenger airbag if there is between 20 and 50 lbs in the passenger seat. So if there is no one in the passenger seat, you can disable it by putting a bag of gear or something there. If there is, and they weigh over 50lbs, there is no way to disable it.

It is sturdy and cost less than $25 to build. It does, however, sit high enough that the computer may be clearly seen outside the vehicle. I understand that some laws are open to interpretation on the matter.

Is it the one made of black pipe? If so could you simply use a shorter pipe or different angles to lower it? Or would it interfere with the vehicle?
 
Judging from tests like this, the danger would seem to be with a laptop pushed back against the dash or close to it. That would be a concern for someone in the passenger seat using the laptop in a straight ahead position. As long as it's on the side of the deployment zone, it appears there is not much movement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JicAaFA8BOM
 
Matt,
This is it. It sits pretty much where I want it, but it is just a little too visible from the rear. I definitely need to watch it at night.




Dan,
Thanks for the video link, very enlightening.
 
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