In the January 2008 edition of The Legal Report, we mentioned California Vehicle Code _26708 as being a "Little Known Law (That's Seldom Enforced)". Specifically, we stated that: "California Vehicle Code _26708 prohibits driving a motor vehicle with any "object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows." Therefore, while enforcement may be lacking, it is nevertheless illegal to drive your car with any object, including a . . . GPS unit, affixed to your window." Apparently, at least one member of the California legislature read our Report and last February presented SB1567 to the legislature, which quickly passed and became effective on January 1, 2009. Senate Bill 1567 amends _26708 to specifically exclude GPS units from the prohibition. The law does limit where the GPS may be mounted: It must be in a 7-inch square in the lower right-hand corner of the windshield, or in a 5-inch square in the lower left-hand corner of the windshield and outside of an airbag deployment zone. So all of you that took your GPS units off your windshield last year can go ahead and put them back on!
To learn more about California GPS Mounting Laws, contact Ajalat & Ajalat, LLP at 888-268-1565