I Bought a Dashcam...

[Ben]

...and I apparently can't use it in most of the country.

Amazon had a killer lightning deal on a dashcam a couple of weeks ago, so I splurged. My intent is to use it on road trips, because I always seem to run into cool or funny stuff that I can't capture with my phonecam because I'm driving. Also I figure it will be good for capturing scenery on out of the way roads. Then also, in case of an accident, video could be beneficial.

I just got around to hooking it up this week, and it works great. Living in CA, it just occurred to me that I should look up the legality of using it. Turns out CA is a state where I don't have to worry (other than voice recording), but apparently in 36 states,  I can't mount the dang thing on my windshield (applies to multiple devices with suction mounts). I can't believe states like ID and UT are stricter on this than CA.

The way I mounted it with my windshield configuration, it goes directly behind (from my side) the rear view mirror so that I can barely see it from the driver's seat, so zero obstruction of my view. Yet apparently these 36 states say "no windshield mount" regardless of view restriction. In CA and some other states, it has to just be "under "X" percent obstruction".

Kinda bummed out about it. I suppose I can still use it when offroading in the restricted states, but I'll be missing lots of highway scenery if I want to stay legal. If any of you have better sources on legality by state, I'd appreciate a hookup to the URLs!


http://blog.proclipusa.com/are-suction-cup-windshield-mounts-legal-in-your-state/

[HeroHog]

https://www.amazon.com/Bracketron-Nav-Mat-Portable-Dash-Mount/dp/B005MQ3M52/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1

[Ben]

https://www.amazon.com/Bracketron-Nav-Mat-Portable-Dash-Mount/dp/B005MQ3M52/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1

No like. Tried those before with a Nuvi. Might be good for a car, but they don't work well with 4x4s and bumpy roads. Plus it's an obstruction in several states.

[Perd Hapley]

States In Which Windshield Mounts Are Legal

If you were keeping count, that leaves 3 states in which windshield mounts are [not regulated or banned], at least at the time of writing this article:

    Massachusetts
    Missouri
    Tennessee

[castle key]

The best dash cam videos are from Russia anyway...

[dogmush]

I would 100% ignore that and play dumb if I got pulled over.  Come to think of it, I do.

My F150 has a dash cam AND a toll device mounted up towards the top of my windshield (which is apparently illegal in FL).  And I drive through plenty of states that are on your list.

I just don't think that's a very heavily enforced law.  If you want to run the cam, run it.

[Ben]

I would 100% ignore that and play dumb if I got pulled over.  Come to think of it, I do.

My F150 has a dash cam AND a toll device mounted up towards the top of my windshield (which is apparently illegal in FL).  And I drive through plenty of states that are on your list.

I just don't think that's a very heavily enforced law.  If you want to run the cam, run it.

That was kinda where I was leaning.

From the philosophical perspective, I just hate having to roll like that. If it's a stupid law, it shouldn't be a law, versus me and 99% of cops ignoring it, but then running into the one hardass cop that decides to give me a ticket. Or even in states where you can mount it with restrictions, decides to interpret the restrictions in a hardassed way.

I hate both stupid laws and unclear laws, like those CA is known for, where they say "X" is illegal except for and then they list fifty weird exceptions, like "Tuesdays when the high temperature is below 80 degrees".

Also, I still find it strange that so many states have this law on the books. I really would have figured that the numbers would run almost opposite of that list.

[KD5NRH]

I find it more interesting that TX Transportation Code 547.613 has no exception for tolltags, and yet TXDOT's instructions for the TXTag are pretty clear that it has to be stuck on the windshield: https://www.txtag.org/en/about/basics_installing.shtml

Personally, for a dashcam, I'd rather have a ceiling mount or one that replaces the rear view mirror with a front and rear camera and display.

[grampster]

I drive the Florida turnpikes and I don't put the sticky thing on my windshield.  They also foto the license plate as you pass through the toll booth, and I've registered the plate.  Never had a problem in years.

[230RN]

With all the junk I've seen hanging from peoples' mirrors, I wonder if anyone (Colorado) enforces that "obstruction" law at all.

And. pf course every time I buy an oil change, they put a little reminder sticker for the next change on my windshield.

I agree about dipshit laws that are really only used for "moral suasion," and don't get cited except for add-on charges.  That goes along with my insane notion that for every law passed, two have to be repealed.  Maybe some of those junk laws could be repealed under this "Terry Rubric" of legislation.

Son2 got one since he started to commute to a job site.  I asked him if he had captured anything exciting, and he hadn't.  So apparently the dashcams are effective in reducing "excitement."   You know, like getting a standby generator and never having another power failure again...

I was toying with the idea of getting a dashcam, but that meant I'd have to clean my windshield.

Or at least about four square inches (25.8 cm²) of it.

Terry

[HeroHog]

http://blog.imagnetmount.com/windshield-mounting-laws-for-all-50-states-in-the-us/

Everyone does it here in Louisiana and I've never heard of them being popped for it unless it was actually a real impediment to vision or a distraction like watching Porn while driving. (I've actually seen that in a Donk)

[Hawkmoon]

Also, I still find it strange that so many states have this law on the books. I really would have figured that the numbers would run almost opposite of that list.

I suspect most of those laws far pre-date the invention of dash cams, and are written as a general restriction or prohibition of "things that block the driver's field of view." Considering that insurance companies like dash cams, because they make settling claims much easier, I think it wouldn't be difficult to get the laws revised in most of the states where dash cams are currently not allowed.

[Ben]

I suspect most of those laws far pre-date the invention of dash cams, and are written as a general restriction or prohibition of "things that block the driver's field of view." Considering that insurance companies like dash cams, because they make settling claims much easier, I think it wouldn't be difficult to get the laws revised in most of the states where dash cams are currently not allowed.

It's interesting, because I was thinking the opposite - that the laws came about because of the growth and prevalence of the first car GPS units. Early on I saw a lot of those stuck all over the winshield, including in front of the driver.

I'm with you on insurance companies liking dashcams, and would bet if there is ever any federal push on encouraging dashcams and changing laws, it will be by some congressman who gets a big check from big insurance. In looking today though, currently it appears they are not necessarily acceptable as evidence in court. Also I saw this:

In Illinois, a law was passed that makes it illegal to record law enforcement officers even while in the performance of their public official duties.

Seems like the recording feature on the dashcam would be a plus during traffic stops, given it's unobtrusive and less likely to rile a cop then breaking out your phone and holding it up.

Anyway, I'd be curious to find out which theory is correct on windshield laws, from the chicken and egg perspective. :)

[Ben]

http://blog.imagnetmount.com/windshield-mounting-laws-for-all-50-states-in-the-us/

Everyone does it here in Louisiana and I've never heard of them being popped for it unless it was actually a real impediment to vision or a distraction like watching Porn while driving. (I've actually seen that in a Donk)

Thanks for that link. Some of the links to individual states look to have changed, but Idaho, one of the "no" states and one I visit a lot has this language in their vehicle code:

No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows of the vehicle which obstructs the driver’s clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway.

Bolding is mine, but couldn't that imply that you can in fact have something on the windshield if it doesn't obstruct the driver's view? They could argue and win with GPS units and phones, since you have to mount them so you can see their information, which will pretty much always obstruct some part of the windshield (even if not in an unsafe way, but enough for a hardass cop to write a revenue request ticket.

As I mentioned earlier though, a dashcam can easily be mounted behind the rear view mirror in many vehicles, so it's not, in fact, obstructing the view at all.

[KD5NRH]

Bolding is mine, but couldn't that imply that you can in fact have something on the windshield if it doesn't obstruct the driver's view? They could argue and win with GPS units and phones, since you have to mount them so you can see their information, which will pretty much always obstruct some part of the windshield (even if not in an unsafe way, but enough for a hardass cop to write a revenue request ticket.

Lots of the windshield isn't really relevant to driving, anyway; the top 4-5" on the passenger side, for example, or the bottom few inches that only show the hood for anyone tall enough to see over the wheel and instrument cluster.

It's interesting, because I was thinking the opposite - that the laws came about because of the growth and prevalence of the first car GPS units. Early on I saw a lot of those stuck all over the winshield, including in front of the driver.

I know Texas had it back before even B/W handheld GPSs without road nav capability really caught on.  If it was any electronic device that brought it about, I'd bet on radar detectors, though I strongly suspect it was even before that, when some idiot stuck their suction cup Garfield on the windshield.

[Ben]

I know Texas had it back before even B/W handheld GPSs without road nav capability really caught on.  If it was any electronic device that brought it about, I'd bet on radar detectors, though I strongly suspect it was even before that, when some idiot stuck their suction cup Garfield on the windshield.

Well, yeah, true. I guess people were getting ticketed for fuzzy dice back in the 50's. :)