Mounting navigation devices

Some drivers struggle to watch where they are going while, at the same time, looking at a device telling them which route to take.

Rep. Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar) admits he has taken his eyes off the road to look down at a global positioning system. He sponsors HF85, which would allow GPS or other navigation systems to be mounted or located near the bottom-most portion of a windshield.

Approved Jan. 29 by the House Public Safety Policy and Oversight Committee, the bill now awaits action by the House Transportation Finance and Policy Division. A companion, SF323, sponsored by Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm), awaits action by the Senate Transportation Committee.

State law currently allows rearview mirrors, sun visors and electronic toll collection devices be mounted on a vehicle’s windshield, but many drivers illegally have their GPS unit attached as well.

“Take a gander as you’re driving home or as you’re commuting and notice how many GPS units are out there now, and how many you see either on the dash or on the lower part of the windshield mounted,” Juhnke said.

Rep. Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder) successfully amended the bill to require the mounting be on lowest part of the windshield.

“It’s a good thing,” Juhnke said. “I don’t have to ask for directions anymore. Not that I did ever anyway.”