Got pulled over on I-40... for having my V1 on the windshield
 

Cruising toward Amarillo, TX for Christmas with my wife's family. Speed limit is 75 most of the trip. It's a 12 hour drive one way, so pushing just a bit over can cut off an hour of road time. Kept it pretty close to the limit when I saw a few state troopers with folks pulled over. V1 is kindly pointing them out well in advance. After a stretch of no threats, I kick up the cruise control a couple of notches.

Came over a rise, plenty of traffic around me, and there were two AZ troopers sitting in a ditch. I was running about 82 or so at the time... V1 doesn't make a sound, but one of the troopers starts to roll. I coast down to 75 and put the V1 in the back seat.

Didn't take long for him to catch up. He sat in my blind spot for a bit before lighting me up. I pulled well off the road, opened all the windows and put the keys on the dash. Very young trooper comes up. First thing he says is, "Thanks for pulling so far off the road." Playing the police/military card, I tell him that I was a police dispatcher in the Navy and my officers hated it when drivers left their butts hanging out in traffic. He asks for license, registration and insurance. I tell him the registration and insurance are under the passenger's seat in a black owner's manual binder that kind of look like a gun case. He says, "Thanks for the head's up."

Trooper then tells me that the reason for the stop was that, when I went by him, I had something attached to the windshield. At this point, he's being super friendly, so I just tell him it was a radar detector. Figure best to keep it honest. He states that studies have shown that a device on a windshield can make an 18 wheeler invisible at some number of feet. I tell him I'd never heard that while thinking that, at its former location, the only way an 18 wheeler could hide behind the V1 was if the truck were a mile and a half away and beneath the surface of the earth if all the angles are taken into consideration. After running me through the computer and writing up a warning, he returned my documents and we were on our way.

Be warned, if you're travelling through AZ:
B. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not operate a motor vehicle with an object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed or applied on the windshield or side or rear windows or with an object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed or applied in or on the motor vehicle in a manner that obstructs or reduces a driver's clear view through the windshield or side or rear windows.

My feeling is that this is just a technicality used to pull people over to check them out. Once he saw the dog and the kid in the back seat, he probably wished he'd picked another car.

Strangely enough, I feel somewhat good about the fact that we have Law enforcement officers that are that observant, yet also polite enough to deal with, and willing to let you off for not really doing anything wrong. I'd like to think that in a real situation, that officer would be just as on top of it.

As of course you were. Which is why you got off with a warning. He gets his quota, and you get to walk.

So a windshield mounted GPS would have the same problem ? I only ask because it seems like every radar detector and GPS comes with the now standard windshield mount suction cup. I wonder if you have it mounted low on the windshield right above the dash would that pass ?

I see folks with GPS units mounted directly in front of there face, or very close to it all the time. Idiots! They should get pulled over.
Ive never seen a radar detector anyplace but to the edge of the windshield (near dash or visor). The cop must have been having a slow day.

out if curiosity whereon the car does dis radar/lidar mount?

fwiw ive found the larger the jurisdiction the more professional the leo

Here is the relevant CA law Vehicle Code:

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm

It is a "fix it" ticket.....there is no fine.

According to the California vehicle code, they have an exemption that could be interpreted as a radar detector, even though it only communicates one way.

(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost portion of the interior of a windshield within an area that is not greater than five inches square, if the device provides either of the following:
(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle equipped with the device.
(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public or private roads or facilities.


(12) A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver or in a five-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver and outside of an airbag deployment zone, if the system is used only for door-to-door navigation while the motor vehicle is being operated.

[QUOTE=LeeH;7831736]
Be warned, if you're travelling through AZ:
B. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not operate a motor vehicle with an object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed or applied on the windshield or side or rear windows or with an object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed or applied in or on the motor vehicle in a manner that obstructs or reduces a driver's clear view through the windshield or side or rear windows.QUOTE]

So based on this description you could get a ticket for an inspection sticker!

Arizona cops really are too much. Twice I got pulled over when I lived there. Once was when I was driving my MkII VW Golf and I was going under the speed limit by 5mph because my friend was behind me in his slow old VW bug loaded up with camping gear. I had one windshield wiper because I like the mono-wiper effect and that is why the cop pulled me over. I talked my way out of that, Sciroccos in the 70s had them from the factory, several Mercedes including 190s and W124s, etc. The cop said to me, "Well I gotta get you for something." Couldn't just let me ride off in the sunset, nope. He pulls out a window tint measuring device. I didn't have limo tint or my front windshield blacked out or anything like that. The box didn't register correctly to his liking so he hits the device on the side and puts it on my window to remeasure. Now this is just ridiculous. I was supposedly 5% over the "limit" whatever that magic number was. He gave me a non-ticket, it was an open-ended citation or something with no due-date to fix my window tint. Didn't go on my record, blah, blah, I filed it in the circular cabinet.

I understand cops deal with people all-day playing dumb, "Oh I didn't know that was against the law," but really these guys need to be going after people texting or talking on the phone. Don't tell me you haven't been passed multiple times by people looking down in their lap as they whizz by.

I've lived in Arizona the majority of my life. I've had more good experiences with cops than bad. Even when I deserved (and got) a ticket, they were perfectly professional and friendly. The only one that was "questionable" was when a cop pulled me over many, many years ago because my tint was too dark, and then gave me a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt. He was right on both cases...but still :)

This is why I use the visor clip for mounting my V1.

Ironic that this officer quotes stats and is worried about about the dangers of long distance visual blockage from a small device attached to your windshield in a state (AZ) that has NO text messaging or cell phone ban.

Assuming my reference is correct:
State Distracted Driving Driving Laws

Sure...text all you want behind the wheel but be darn sure you don't block that 18 wheeler at 3/4 of a mile with your little GPS or RD on the glass in front of you. LOL!!!

AZ cops are good guys...never got a ticket I didn't deserve.
So I walk straight because I hate getting tickets...and I HATE traffic school!

True dat! It is obvious to me that law enforcement is constantly looking for ways to get into our wallet... I mean violate our rights... I mean protect s from nefarious evil doers... yeah, that is the ticket!

That is a big ten four good buddy!

Funny, I've NEVER had a good experience w/ cops in AZ. And I am unfailingly polite and do not try to BS them.

My wife once got pulled over for "following too closely" ... on a crowded exit ramp off I10. After the cop finished giving her a warning he told her "don't do it again or I'll have to shoot you."

I call BS. Either that, or he was being playful...like when I tell my son I'm gonna punch him in the nose. Obviously, I'm not going to punch a 6-year-old in the face...and he knows it.

That's the story your wife told you? ;)

1. If they want to pull you over, they will. That's it.

2. There's plenty ridiculous laws to support #1 and 'create' probable cause, and needling through them for detail is wasted time.

Yeah, this guy was great. Couldn't ask for a better experience. He was very conversational, non threatening, friendly. I was impressed with how he handled the stop.

Could be interpreted?? Not by any reasonable measure which is what you would need to beat a "fix it" ticket in court. A radar detector would never meet the exceptions list in 11A or 11B or anywhere else in that section of the vehicle code.

If you click the link and read he full statute, there are exclusions for certain stickers - although AZ does not have inspection stickers.

I wondered how they define "Safety monitoring/driver feedback equipment" as there is an exclusion. However, my V1 was not in the specified acceptable location:

12. Safety monitoring equipment and driver feedback if mounted in either of the following locations:

(a) Immediately behind, slightly above or slightly below the rearview mirror.

(b) Where the rearview mirror would commonly be positioned if the motor vehicle is without a windshield mounted rearview mirror.

The bottom line is that the cop was correct and almost anything mounted on your windshield or hanging from your mirror is illegal due to some "obstructing view" statute. These laws are not enforced uniformly at all and it's not uncommon to see vehicles with all kinds of obstructions in the driver's line of sight.

I'm a little surprised that the cop fired-up his cruiser and went after you in a state where radar detectors are legal and you were not speeding. Where exactly did you have it mounted? Was it smack dab in the middle of your W/S? That is a big obstruction and deserves a ticket, not a warning. I've seen people with zero common sense mount them in the middle of a W/S in a 911 or other low car where it could completely swallow a pedestrian walking 10 feet in front of you.

When I ran a V-1 on road trips, I put it as close to the rearview mirror as possible with it still reading rearwards. This is the best tactical position and least obstructing + most invisible to cops and other motorists. You do not want to rub it in cops' faces that you have a detector as you go past them at 1mph under the limit when they know by your car and detector that you've been running much faster. That's asking for a BS stop.

Have a safe trip back!

Are you calling my wife a liar? Or me?

If you carry a gun (for a living or otherwise), you don't joke about shooting people. Would it be acceptable for an airline pilot to joke over the intercom about crashing the airplane he's flying?

I have no reason to doubt her story. If ever there was a guileless innocent, it is she.

Just givin' you a little jazz. ;)
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Good word, guileless...without guile.
Not often used by many, but captures the state well.

We have the same sort of law up here, except they use it to stop and ticket people with tinted windows. Anything other than factory they ticket, fine and order the tinting removed at once.

it's rarely used because there are so few people that it applies to unfortunately:(

Truly the truth. I use it whenever it applies but it doesn't apply much. Not to be confused with just plain dumb, which I am not implying about anyone's spouse BTW. :cool:

Next time, point to the rear view mirror and say "Gosh, officer, what about that mirror?"

Most likely he was interested in running a check for illegal immigrants or for drugs on your car, or may just bored.

It's called a pre-text stop. He just wants to check you out, and it is illegal, but that won't stop them.

I've been pulled over exactly once in AZ in six yrs. and have really deserved it many times. Beat that ticket in court though. Cop was a total robot with no personality.

We have another total BS law here that allows the cops to pull you over if your rear license plate frame in any way obscures the letters in ARIZONA on your plate. That's just about 100% of them.

The last time I was in California a cop walked up to the front of my car at a gas station. He pulled out his ticket book and I feel sure he was planning on writing a ticket for no front tag. As soon as he got to the rear he looked at the tag, looked at me, looked one more time at the tag and walked off. He never said a word to me.

They're dicks, sorry but they are. I had half dozen encounters with them when I lived in AZ for 12 years and they all had this "I know more than you (citizen)," attitude or "Do you know how fast you were going (dumbass)?"

I remember another time coming back from Sierra Vista to Tucson, broad daylight, getting into the city on I-10 a cop is off on the shoulder doing God knows what. I'm in the right lane doing exactly the speed limit. From a DEAD stop he pulls directly in front of me about 1/4 mile up ahead. Not going to slam on my brakes and there was no one in the left lane at that time. I gently graze over to the left lane and he's stomping on the gas now. Just at that time I'm getting close to him an 18-wheeler is suddenly on my ASS, I mean literally a foot behind me. I'm not going to speed to get ahead of this cop and I have a little more speed than him at this point but not much. I go past him slowly, get about 2 car lengths ahead then go in the right lane.

He pulls me over and starts screaming at me. Acting like I cut him off or something (which he did to me actually). I said WTF about that trucker that was riding my ass?? "Oh that, well, uhh, you have a right to blah, blah, blah."

I think your stop had very little to do with you, or your actions, and a lot to do with statistics. When a lime green bubble donk with dealer tint gets pulled over for having dice on the mirror, then the cop gains PC to search the vehicle because it reeks of weed and more drugs are found, the cop can claim in court that he wasn’t profiling because he’s pulled over several other cars with windshield obstructions.

I wonder what the trooper would have to say, about how I mount my V1?

I got a nice bracket and hang the V1 just below the mirror in my WRX... additionally I mount my EZ Pass in the obscured area of the glass... The V1 presents a very small visual obstacle compared to the rear view mirror..

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1388529444.jpg

I need to see a picture of what you're talking about. :D

I don't know what the exact laws are in NY, but there was a specific location for EZ Pass transponder placement when I lived in MA, and I think most states prohibit hanging anything from a rear view mirror.

LEO in CA will write tix for no front plate. Especially at LAX.

A LEO can pretty much harass you at will, but I figure why give him any more ammunition with which to give you a hard time?

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:D

I've said it before, I'm a very lucky dude. Luckier than I deserve by far.

I'm sure that she is very lovely. Happy New Year to you and everyone else here!

Got pulled over on I-40... for having my V1 on the windshield
 

I live in Oklahoma. There is nothing any cop can do about me with no front tag. There is no front tag issued in Oklahoma.