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I wasn't questioning weather a hit-and-run was illegal, but the minor fender bender seemed to be used to stop someone who was obviously not the driver. beige is not yellow, yellow is not beige, it is not 'close enough'

(yes, I know, I'm a sewist, I work in color, I'm a "color perfectionist" according to the Mister)

minor fender bender = major apb??? really???

tornado wrote:Not to hijack the thread, but to get it back to a discussion of a previously mentioned odd stop...

VMI77 wrote:he pulled me over because he thought I had a GPS attached to my windshield

Whoa, wait. Where in Texas is that illegal?

OK, now I've looked around and found the state law, and it says:

TRANSPORTATION CODE / TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC / SUBTITLE C. RULES OF THE ROAD / CHAPTER 547. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT / SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS wrote:Sec. 547.613. RESTRICTIONS ON WINDOWS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person commits an offense that is a misdemeanor:
(1) if the person operates a motor vehicle that has an object or material that is placed on or attached to the windshield or side or rear window and that obstructs or reduces the operator's clear view

I thought general consensus was that windshield mounts that didn't block your view were legal in Texas. I've used them low, keeping the GPS (or more recently, the phone) near the dashboard.

So I suppose the LEO thought VMI77 had a GPS attached to the windshield that was obstructing or reducing the driver's clear view.

well, I added "my comments" really I did....maybe my puppy deleted them...ok, I'll type them again....

I'm surprised the windshield mounted GPS is illegal? if the cops tickets those things everytime they saw them they'd never be on the side of the road, radaring me...and they'd never be in the middle of the road blocking my view, talking on the phone or doing whatever the heck they do in Selma when they aren't ticketing people. Personally, I have a great 'sand bag' mount for my gps that sits on the dash. That way I can use it it whichever car I'm in. The windshield mount just doesn't work in TX heat.

I have always said there are two types of LEOS, those who want to help people and bullies with badges. this is a fine example of the latter. I'm really dissapointed, I tend to expect more from our DPS. but, I'm not surprised. plan for the worst, hope for the best.