Posted by John_NorCal on 11/28/09 1:14pm
Msg #312385

Mounts for GPS and more...

I posted this over in leisure but I thought I would post it here as well as a lot of you use GPS navigation and don't necessarily go over to leisure.

I found a site that sells mounting clips for GPS's, phones, etc. Instead of having your GPS on top of your dashboard on mounted on your windshield, which is illegal in some states like CA. You can get this mounting clip an mount it by a vent instead. I bought one for my wife and it works great.

http://www.proclipusa.com/

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 11/28/09 3:36pm
Msg #312397

Thanks John

Reply by davidK/CA on 11/28/09 4:24pm
Msg #312400

Important note for CA

As usual, we do things different out on the Left Coast,,,CA specifically prohibits devices such a phones, radar detectors (prohibited completely) and GPSs from being attached to the windshield.

CA Vehicle Code: Material Obstructing or Reducing Driver's View

Sec. 26708. (a) (1) A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.
(2) A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle that obstructs or reduces the driver’s clear view through the windshield or side windows. (3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle with the driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.

However, GPS devices may be located as follows: [Sec, 26708 (b) (12)] A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver or in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver, if the system is used only for door-to-door navigation while the motor vehicle is being operated and outside of an airbag deployment zone.

So in CA you cannot stick your GPS to the windshield, but you can attach it to the dashboard. Go figure.

Reply by TRG_wy on 11/30/09 9:02am
Msg #312474

Re: Important note for CA

Radar detectors are completely legal to use in non-commercial vehicles in 49 states. Virginia and Washington DC are the only places in the United States that currently ban radar detectors. Radar detector use in commercial vehicles has been prohibited in the U.S. since 1995.

Yep, this new law is also very vague. If pushed by police, it would be illegal to even place those sun shades up to protect children from the sun and some visor sun screens would be illegal.

I was bred, born and raised out there and that state is set to self implode on itself real soon.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 11/28/09 6:09pm
Msg #312407

I bought a "friction mount" after hearing about it here on NotRot. I had a lot of trouble with my window mount falling off and it actually caused me to *ALMOST* get into a serious accident when it fell off the windshield and I instinctively tried to catch it, but at the same time I was going around a curvy road.

I immediately bought the friction mount and am in love with it!!!!!!! It sits on the dashboard and does not move! Much safer than that screwy window mount!

Reply by Alz on 11/28/09 8:34pm
Msg #312416

Thanks John...something else I really needed n/m

Reply by LKT/CA on 11/28/09 8:52pm
Msg #312417

Instead of using the suction mount on the windshield (illegal in CA), I use it over my tachometer....it fits perfectly in the spot and does not obstruct the speedometer or anything else on the instrument panel. My older car instrument panel is plastic so I have issues with that one but not my newer car which the instrument panel is covered by glass - suction mount works perfectly.

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 11/28/09 10:44pm
Msg #312422

I like what I have for one reason...

it's functional, easy to carry and use... and hopefully won't get stolen!

I had my gps stolen from my SUV - they broke the passenger window and took it - it was a Garmin 2620 - I had it on the floor under the passenger seat, but... it was still plugged into the lighter and that's how they knew it was there for the taking. Lesson learned.

So now I have a new Garmin NUVI 1260T that I love, and I got a carrying case that zips and also acts as a beanbag dash holder. It just sits in the left corner of my dash, and when I leave the car now, I zip it up with the lighter plug and put it in the console between the seats. Really easy and convenient.

You can view it here: http://www.amazon.com/BRACKETRON-UFM-300-BX-GPS-NAV-PACK/dp/B001UQFMFQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1259469454&sr=8-2-fkmr1

Reply by LKT/CA on 11/28/09 10:54pm
Msg #312424

Re: I like what I have for one reason...

I bought an insulated lunch bag and keep my GPS and a/c cord in that - kept out of direct sunlight but yet it may be in plain site.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 11/29/09 6:53am
Msg #312427

Re: I like what I have for one reason...

I agree with both Barbara and LKT - I have a case for my Garmin and I take it with me into every appointment. I ALWAYS unplug the cord, put it and the friction mount inside a zipped bag and put the bag under my seat. So the head unit is with always me, and the cord/mount stay in the car out of site.

When I'm home I put the GPS in the zippered bag and keep the whole thing in the house.

Reply by Notarysigner on 11/29/09 10:20am
Msg #312436

Re: I like what I have for one reason...

I leave mine in the ashtray of my console, when I leave the car I close the ashtray. I don't need to look at it, I just listen to it.

Reply by MW/VA on 11/29/09 12:09pm
Msg #312438

Thanks, John. I've been looking for one of those!