My Garmin GPS & California Windshield Law (Los Angeles: rental car, rental)

[caroldixit]

I plan to fly into Los Angeles next week & will drive a rental car everywhere:

1. Where can I mount the GPS unit on the windshield?

2. At times I use a friction mat - a cushion type thingy - which holds my GPS snugly on the * dash *. Can I use that in California?

Thanks
Carol

[EscapeCalifornia]

You can't legally mount it anywhere on the windshield but I see it all the time, even in fleets like airport shuttles. The dash should be OK provided you get a car with one flat enough.

[00molavi]

Check the DMV site. I think they changed the law and if it is not obstructing view it should be fine. As far as I recall the law says it should be mounted on the driver side corner of the windshield, or the other end. I have not heard of anybody getting tickets for it. Check # 12 in the link;

V C Section 26708 Material Obstructing or Reducing Driver x2019 s View

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by caroldixit

I plan to fly into Los Angeles next week & will drive a rental car everywhere:

1. Where can I mount the GPS unit on the windshield?

2. At times I use a friction mat - a cushion type thingy - which holds my GPS snugly on the * dash *. Can I use that in California?

Thanks
Carol

You should be fine if you put it on the dash. I have one mounted on my dash, and have never had a problem even though I drive quite a bit and have often been side-by-side next to police cars. It's very conspicuous, but it doesn't obstruct my view in any way.

Add my lower-right windshield toll decal to the mix, and it's a bit busy up there, but it's no trouble legally.

[caroldixit]

Thanks for the inputs - knew I could count on this forum !

On a related topic, are "Right Turns" & "Left Yields" allowed at traffic lights in California?

[Justin Time]

Originally Posted by caroldixit

Thanks for the inputs - knew I could count on this forum !

On a related topic, are "Right Turns" & "Left Yields" allowed at traffic lights in California?

You may make right turns on a red WHEN SAFE TO DO SO and when NOT PROHIBITED. Look for signs.
Left turns ON GREEN always yield to oncomming traffic. Usually you'll have your little green turn arrow.