Geraldton cops targeting screens/GPS on dash

Same rules apply in the bush, if you are on public tracks!

Mr Head ,

I run around WA every year for a couple of months with a big Magellan MAP GPS in the centre of the top of the dash on my 100 TD . I even got a speeding fine on the laser gun and the cop booking me did not remark on the GPS .

Must be a couple of locals , keen to fill up the book .

I am sure they are quite within their rights to book you for it . I don't run around Sydney with it on , because I think it probably could entice the over zealous to action .

Cheers ,

Willie .

I asked the coppers at a motor show once what the deal was with putting a navman type of unit on the dash. They said it couldn't be placed in area where it will obstruct your vision or get in the way if you crash (such as right in front of the passenger etc). It also couldn't be in a place that would interfere with the airbags.

Doesn't really give you much room to place it. I have never been questioned over my placement by the cops though. Mine is suction capped to the windscreen in about the centre line of the vehicle. It does obstruct my vision though.

revhead307

From what i am let to believe under the Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Rules 2002 A television receiver or visual display unit must not be installed in a vehicle so any part of the image on the screen is visible to the driver from the normal driving position.

A television receiver, or visual display unit, and its associated equipment in a vehicle must be securely mounted in a position that

(a) does not obscure the driver's view of the road; and

(b) does not impede the movement of a person in the vehicle.

I think the reversing screens on the new cars are exempt.

Hope this has helped

Skarm

I have a Lilleput 7" screen where the rearvision mirror used to be. When it's turned off, it is the rearvision mirror. Only giveaway is the speaker holes on the back of the unit.
Works well too.

Do what I do.

Give the damn map to the wife, and berate HER, when YOU do something wrong!

Wolfie

What about all the gismos that they have on their dash, such as radar speed readout and their new video cameras mounted front and back!

The cops argument would probably hold no water!
They have to prove the GPS obstructs vision.
A simple letter explaining that you are going to contest the fine etc and you will being requesting evidence and notes etc would propably see the whole thing dropped.
This is of course if your not being a complete nounce and have a 17" monitor on your dash.
It would be unlikely they'd want to make it a test case based on a 3 to 5 inch PDA screen.

What Tim said plus how about every taxi in WA? Every bus? they all seem to have top of dash mounted displays.

The cops had dash mounted radar readouts from their roof mounted 'rocket launchers' last time I looked too.

Bloody power crazed country wallopers......rod wallopers more like it.

The law is quite simple (and for, once logical) - if it obstructs your vision of the road it is illegal.

4WD owners are luckier than sedan drivers. Have look at the bonnet from your normal driving position - if you place any object on the dash so it only obstructs your view of the bonnet - it is not obstruction your vision for driving.

In the lower seating position of a sedan, you have very little space between dash-top and bonnet-edge.

I've seen some navigation displays attached to the windscreen at eye height !!! How on earth would they see and avoid a pedestrian obscured behind it - hopefully that's what Police are stopping.

Mike

The key word here is Obstructoin!!!!!! It's not aloud to Obstruct the Driver! Put it lower!