sleepybobcat

I have given up on trying to hook up video via my
RX300's navigation screen. Instead, I bought a
Panasonice DVD player with a built-in 7" LCD monitor.
The picture is great and I've attached it to the top
center of the dash, just above the nav screen. I did this
with velcro, which means I can take it off whenever I
want. This position allows the front passenger and
both rear passengers to view the screen. The sound
comes out of the headphone jack, to a cassette-style
adapter into the tape deck. Sounds pretty decent.

However, this means the driver will be able to see
the screen while the vehicle is in motion. Will this
violate any traffice codes in any of the states?
Checked with troopers in NJ, MD and VA. They said as
long as the screen isn't "permanantly" installed and
the driver doesn't watch it, they won't bother me with
it... I do not watch it while driving, not even while
stopped for a few seconds at the red light. (in fact,
I'm the kind of person who does not even pick-up/
make phone calls in a moving car) What are the rules
in other states?

Bob

gs3_4me

I know that out here you can't be running and video/movie that is in front of the driver... top console location would probably be okay. But, if I were to drive with a DVD player sitting on my dash and a cop were to see it while I was behind the while driving, I would be surely pulled over on the spot.

Mean Gene

Bob - Here in Louisiana the rule's mostly the same - the monitor can't be in a position in the driver's line of sight. Most troopers I know ( & I do the ride along program alot ) say that's how U can have a passenger's side visor monitor - it's not DIRECTLY in the driver's view. However, in this day & age of stupid lawsuits, it's not really a good idea to make a habit of keeping it in the center of the dash ( maybe angle it toward the passenger a little? ). One of the reasons that Cajun cops are lenient on those things is that alot of the new headunits require a flip-out screen like the Alpine & they know that U can't even control the radio w/o the screen being displayed. Plus, so many new cars have a navigation system requiring a screen. Still, my buddies tell me it's like a radar detector - if U're pulled over, remove & hide it! Might just keep ya from getting sued as well!! Good advice!

sleepybobcat

Mean Gene,

You mean radar detectors are illegal in Louisiana
as well? I live in Virginia and it's very ILLEGAL here
so I've never used one in my life... troops out here
routinely use "radar-detector detectors" to spot
drivers who are stupid enough to have one on their
dashboard. In fact, many road coming into Virginia
don't even have "Welcome to Virginia" signs... many
have "Radar detectors illega" to inform you of your
arrival in Virginia...

On the other hand, it is perfectly legal
to put a gun on the dashboard here in Virginia,
according to my trooper friend. Hmmm.... kind of makes
you wonder, doesn't it?

Back to my original question.. if it's legal to use
radar detector in the state/county/city you're driving
in, why would you need to remove/hid it when you're
pulled over?(for speeding or otherwise)


Bob

Mean Gene

Bob - Didn't mean to lead ya to think radar detectors R illegal here in Cajun country! Not much IS illegal here anyway - kinda behind the rest of the country but don't make us mad or we'll raise the oil prices again!!:eek: No, the advice about hiding the detector is based on the trooper's knowing it's a cat & mouse game ( speeding ). They figure that if ya have a detector, then U must be using it with the intent to speed. They also figure that if ya can afford a detector, then U can afford a ticket!! U just have a better chance of talking your way out of a ticket if the trooper doesn't KNOW U have one, that's all. Guess who makes the majority of the radar guns used in the US - the same manufacturers of radar DETECTORS ( BEL; Cincy Microwave; etc . They get paid on both sides of the speeding fence!! Now about the guns - ask Percy about the optional "gun rack" for GS models sold in Louisiana!! :eek:

sleepybobcat

cool... gun rack for GS, and I thought my boss'
Hummer was the only vehicle that offered a
gun rack.(for machine guns)

I wonder who makes the "radar-detector detector" ???
Not the same makers of radar detectors and speed
radars again, is it?

Recently I noticed two new cameras being set up
on my daily commute route. They are for taking pictures
of speeding cars, installed by Smokie the Bear...
um, I meant the National Park Police on the parkway.
I can just imagine this: you get home from a trip
on the parkway, a few days later an envelope arrives
and it say "souvenir photo enclosed" :eek: , you open it
and there's a donation slip(speeding ticket). At the
bottom, next to Smokie the Bear's picture, it says
"only you can prevent a forest fire, so don't burn
rubber(tire rubber, that is)..... "