Do You Know Your State's Windshield Law?

Many companies sell gizmos that let you mount your hand-held GPS device or smartphone to your windshield, but if your state prohibits the placement of devices, you could wind up with a ticket. A user at the POI Factory website recently collected each state's statutes on windshield visibility, and we've turned it into a color-coded map.

Comments

Interesting. I live in a red state and see people with their GPS mounted to the windshield all the time!

Thanks for posting this. I actually had no idea about this being against the law in some states. Here in Florida I'm glad to see it isn't, which may explain why I've not been ticketed with my smartphone attached to the windshield.

I'll definitely have to keep this in mind when traveling though.

I read the referenced law for SC and don't see anything in it that would prohibit using a GPS as long as the driver can otherwise see out. The law refers to posters and such.

I live in a green state, but use a beanbag dashboard mount. Road maintenance in my state is so bad that the stinking windshield mounts keep falling down anyhow.

I'm in Md which is red on the map but i have never heard of any enforcement. I think it should be illegal for anything to be hanging or mounted in your line of sight. And you people with the handicapped placards are the worst offenders, read the instructions it says remove before driving!

That isn't really true in Nebraska.. it is ONLY if it blocks the view of the road:

Nebraska:
Section 60-6,256
Objects placed or hung to obstruct or interfere with view of operator; unlawful; penalty.

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle with any object placed or hung in or upon such vehicle, except required or permitted equipment of the vehicle, in such a manner as to obstruct or interfere with the view of the operator through the windshield or to prevent the operator from having a clear and full view of the road and condition of traffic behind such vehicle. Any sticker or identification authorized or required by the federal government or any agency thereof or the State of Nebraska or any political subdivision thereof may be placed upon the windshield without violating the provisions of this section. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class V misdemeanor.

The map is incorrect, which may be part of the problem. In IL "No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any objects placed or suspended between the driver and the front windshield" yet IL is Green. Other states seem to be similarly miscoded. Perhaps a more careful reading of the relevant code was in order.

New Jersey is roughly the same as Nebraska:

"No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster, sticker or other non-transparent material upon the front windshield, wings, deflectors, side shields, corner lights adjoining windshield or front side windows of such vehicle other than a certificate or other article required to be so displayed by statute or by regulations of the commissioner.

No person shall drive any vehicle so constructed, equipped or loaded as to unduly interfere with the driver's vision to the front and to the sides."

So someone's seriously going to tell me the State of New Jersey is about to start prohibiting rearview mirrors, EZ-pass transponders and GPS units? I really don't think so...

In Arkansas the law states :

27-37-304. Obstruction of interior prohibited.

(a) (1) (A) It is unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle which has any substance or material except rearview mirrors and decals required by law attached to the windshield at any point more than four and one-half inches (41/2'') above the bottom of the windshield if the substance or material obstructs the operator's view or the safe operation of the vehicle.

So in theory, if the GPS or whatever, is not placed more than 4 1/2 inches from the bottom of the windshield and if not obstruct the way, it's OK. I wonder ho I can attach my GPS so low :)

Wow, I have never read such an inaccurate article. Did you guys even read the state laws when you made the map? It seems like you've got a lot of states painted red that should not be.

Seems stupid that there even has to be laws for something that should be so common sense. You would think people would understand that you shouldn't have things in your line of site as you are driving down the road in an object that weighs thousands of pounds.

I just got in an accident, and I wish to start driving asap. My insurance will only pay for the other vehicles damages, not mine. I just need to know how much your steering wheel and wind shield replacements cost, I can try to fix my right turn signal myself.