Windshield mounts illegal in 28 states?
June 15, 2012 By Rich Owings 6 Comments
In a surprising (and questionable) bit of gumshoe work, a POI Factory contributor has concluded that windshield mounts are illegal in 28 states and six Canadian provinces.
According to the article, windshield mounting is against the law in the states shown in red, and limited placement is allowed in specific windshield zones in the states in yellow. Green should mean you’re good to go, but I’d take it all with a grain of salt. The commenters on one site linking to the post found quite a few errors and/or misinterpretations. If you have questions, I’d advise you to follow the links below and read the law for yourself.
As for me, I prefer friction/dashboard mounts
. While they can still be placed in such a way as to block your view, technically they aren’t attached!
June 15, 2012 By Rich Owings 6 Comments
In a surprising (and questionable) bit of gumshoe work, a POI Factory contributor has concluded that windshield mounts are illegal in 28 states and six Canadian provinces.According to the article, windshield mounting is against the law in the states shown in red, and limited placement is allowed in specific windshield zones in the states in yellow. Green should mean you’re good to go, but I’d take it all with a grain of salt. The commenters on one site linking to the post found quite a few errors and/or misinterpretations. If you have questions, I’d advise you to follow the links below and read the law for yourself.
As for me, I prefer friction/dashboard mounts
Key
Yes - GPS receivers can be mounted on the windshield. This is either through being specifically mentioned as being exempt from a regulation, or through the law not specifically mentioning GPS receivers at all while mentioning other items as being prohibited. See the appropriate law for details.
Yes (Limited) - As “Yes” above, but the law limits the location where the receiver may be mounted, usually at the bottom of the windshield in a 5″ square on the driver’s side or a 7″ square on the passenger’s side. See the appropriate law for details.
No - GPS receivers may not be mounted on the windshield. This is generally because of a mention of “non-transparent material” not being allowed on the windshield. A GPS mount would fall under this definition. See the appropriate law for details.
United States
Alabama: No, 32-5-215
Alaska: Yes, 28.35.161
Arizona: Yes (Limited), 28-959.01
Arkansas: No, 27-37-302
California: Yes (Limited), 26708
Colorado: Yes, 42-4-201
Connecticut: No[1], 14-99f
Delaware: No, 21-4309
District of Columbia: No[2], 50-1731.04
Florida: Yes, 316.2952
Georgia: No, 40-8-73
Hawaii: Yes (Limited), 291-21.5
Idaho: No, 49-943
Illinois: Yes, 625 ILCS 5
Indiana: Yes (Limited)[3], 9-19-19-3
Iowa: No, 321.438
Kansas: No, 8-1741
Kentucky: No, 189.110
Louisiana: No, 361.1
Maine: Yes[4], 1916
Maryland: Yes (Limited)[5], 21-1104
Massachusetts: Yes, I-XIV-90-9D
Michigan: Yes, 257.708b
Minnesota: Yes (Limited)[6], 169.71
Mississippi: Yes, 63-7-59
Missouri: Yes, 307.173
Montana: No, 61-9-405
Nebraska: No, 60-6,256
Nevada: Yes (Limited)[7], 484D.435
New Hampshire: Yes, 266:58a
New Jersey: No, 39:3-74
New Mexico: No, 66-3.846
New York: Yes, 375
North Carolina: Yes, 20-127
North Dakota: No, 39-21-39
Ohio: Yes[8], 4513.24
Oklahoma: No, 47-12-404
Oregon: No, 815.240
Pennsylvania: No, 4524
Rhode Island: No, 31-23-16
South Carolina: No, 56-5-5000
South Dakota: No, 32-15-5
Tennessee: Yes, 55-4-249
Texas: No, 547.613
Utah: Yes (Limited)[9], 41-6a-1635
Vermont: Yes, 1242
Virginia: No, 46.2-1054
Washington: No, 46.37.410
West Virginia: No, 17C-15-36
Wisconsin: No, 346.88(3)
Wyoming: No, 31-5-955
Canada
Alberta: Yes, 115.3(1)
British Columbia: No, 7.05(4)
Manitoba: Yes, 57(3)
New Brunswick: No, 238(1)
Newfoundland and Labrador: Yes, 32
Northwest Territories: Yes, 58
Nova Scotia: No, 184(4)
Nunavut: Yes, 58
Ontario: No, 73(1)
Prince Edward Island: No, 138(1)
Québec: No, III-5-59
Saskatchewan: Yes, 64
Yukon: Yes, 24
Notes
[1] Connecticut has a litmus test, stating that there must be a more than hypothetical possibility of the item blocking the field of vision.
[2] DC prohibits all electronic devices unless a hands-free accessory is equipped.
[3] 4″ square, lower passenger side corner.
[4] An example of “everything which is not forbidden is allowed.” No mention in the statutes regarding anything on the window, other than reflective tinting. Thus allowed.
[5] 7″ square, lower corner, driver or passenger side not specified.
[6] Must be on the bottom of the windshield, but not limited to the corners.
[7] 6″ square, lower passenger side corner.
[8] Enacted 6/29/2011.
[9] Top edge of windshield or lower left corner, 3″ x 4″ rectangle.
Yes - GPS receivers can be mounted on the windshield. This is either through being specifically mentioned as being exempt from a regulation, or through the law not specifically mentioning GPS receivers at all while mentioning other items as being prohibited. See the appropriate law for details.
Yes (Limited) - As “Yes” above, but the law limits the location where the receiver may be mounted, usually at the bottom of the windshield in a 5″ square on the driver’s side or a 7″ square on the passenger’s side. See the appropriate law for details.
No - GPS receivers may not be mounted on the windshield. This is generally because of a mention of “non-transparent material” not being allowed on the windshield. A GPS mount would fall under this definition. See the appropriate law for details.
United States
Alabama: No, 32-5-215
Alaska: Yes, 28.35.161
Arizona: Yes (Limited), 28-959.01
Arkansas: No, 27-37-302
California: Yes (Limited), 26708
Colorado: Yes, 42-4-201
Connecticut: No[1], 14-99f
Delaware: No, 21-4309
District of Columbia: No[2], 50-1731.04
Florida: Yes, 316.2952
Georgia: No, 40-8-73
Hawaii: Yes (Limited), 291-21.5
Idaho: No, 49-943
Illinois: Yes, 625 ILCS 5
Indiana: Yes (Limited)[3], 9-19-19-3
Iowa: No, 321.438
Kansas: No, 8-1741
Kentucky: No, 189.110
Louisiana: No, 361.1
Maine: Yes[4], 1916
Maryland: Yes (Limited)[5], 21-1104
Massachusetts: Yes, I-XIV-90-9D
Michigan: Yes, 257.708b
Minnesota: Yes (Limited)[6], 169.71
Mississippi: Yes, 63-7-59
Missouri: Yes, 307.173
Montana: No, 61-9-405
Nebraska: No, 60-6,256
Nevada: Yes (Limited)[7], 484D.435
New Hampshire: Yes, 266:58a
New Jersey: No, 39:3-74
New Mexico: No, 66-3.846
New York: Yes, 375
North Carolina: Yes, 20-127
North Dakota: No, 39-21-39
Ohio: Yes[8], 4513.24
Oklahoma: No, 47-12-404
Oregon: No, 815.240
Pennsylvania: No, 4524
Rhode Island: No, 31-23-16
South Carolina: No, 56-5-5000
South Dakota: No, 32-15-5
Tennessee: Yes, 55-4-249
Texas: No, 547.613
Utah: Yes (Limited)[9], 41-6a-1635
Vermont: Yes, 1242
Virginia: No, 46.2-1054
Washington: No, 46.37.410
West Virginia: No, 17C-15-36
Wisconsin: No, 346.88(3)
Wyoming: No, 31-5-955
Canada
Alberta: Yes, 115.3(1)
British Columbia: No, 7.05(4)
Manitoba: Yes, 57(3)
New Brunswick: No, 238(1)
Newfoundland and Labrador: Yes, 32
Northwest Territories: Yes, 58
Nova Scotia: No, 184(4)
Nunavut: Yes, 58
Ontario: No, 73(1)
Prince Edward Island: No, 138(1)
Québec: No, III-5-59
Saskatchewan: Yes, 64
Yukon: Yes, 24
Notes
[1] Connecticut has a litmus test, stating that there must be a more than hypothetical possibility of the item blocking the field of vision.
[2] DC prohibits all electronic devices unless a hands-free accessory is equipped.
[3] 4″ square, lower passenger side corner.
[4] An example of “everything which is not forbidden is allowed.” No mention in the statutes regarding anything on the window, other than reflective tinting. Thus allowed.
[5] 7″ square, lower corner, driver or passenger side not specified.
[6] Must be on the bottom of the windshield, but not limited to the corners.
[7] 6″ square, lower passenger side corner.
[8] Enacted 6/29/2011.
[9] Top edge of windshield or lower left corner, 3″ x 4″ rectangle.
