Suction mount on window. Best place?

terrylamps

Hi, can someone please advice me of the best place i can attach the suction mount for my dashboard camera on the windscreen without getting into trouble legally for it obstructing my view?

Ideally it needs to be in the bottom /top centre of the window for the best overall view of the road ahead or at least on the drivers side for ease of attaching it to the window. So far i have tested it at the bottom right/left of the window, but it picks up alot of bonnet that way (though it still gets the job done placed in there) and i'm not sure it would work at the top centre of the window, just behind the rear view mirror, as i'll have the power cable just hanging down the middle of the window which is not ideal and probably illegal.

I know the rule about the wiper sweep but for obvious reasons the camera lens needs to be in the wiper sweep area incase its raining.

The mount and camera are 5" tall and wide.

I have looked at the beanbag type holders that you place on your dashboard but to attach the suction mount onto that i would need to extend the arm fully on the mount to have the camera facing the right way, this would end up 5" high plus the height of the beanbag.

Any suggestions?

nickcc

As you suggest any obstruction within the sweep of the wipers is probably committing an offence, I would have thought that if you could place the camera as far over to the passenger side as possible, thereby not obstructing your vision, the police wouldn't be too concerned (as long as you remember to remove the camera before the annual mot or you will probably get a fail). I see that this position is not ideal but can't see any other alternative.

terrylamps

Thanks nickcc.

I know about removing it before the mot. I was hoping you'd say bottom right would be ok as that's where most people have their sat navs, as its a pain to keep attaching it to the far left passenger side everytime i get out of the car (I don't leave it in there).

nickcc

My sat nav sits in the lower middle of the screen, never had any problems with the law but you can't offer advice based on luck. All the best

terrylamps

I may just try it there and if i see a copper out and about i may ask him and hope he advises me and doesn't just fine me :rotfl:

fishpond

Try speaking to the MOT tester in your local garage.

Beachview_2

I've seen a few cars about with the sat nav on the little triangle window beside the windscreen. Though I can't say if that would be any good to you or not, its just an observation of what some others have done.

I was looking to get a sat nav a while back, I was comparing them on the Halfords website and they had a photo of a man with the sat nav stuck on the windscreen in front of his face. That turned me right off as I had already thinking it might be an obstruction.

Also think about where the wires will be trailing, such as over the heater vents.

In the end I didn't bother getting a suck-on sat nav, I got a built in Toyota Touch and Go one instead fitted by the dealer. Yes it was a more expensive option, but I'm very happy with it.

terrylamps

Asking the mot tester is a good idea. If it's good enough to pass its mot with it stuck to the window then it must be legally placed.

I don't have a little triangle window on my car, it's just one window so that wouldn't work for me. good idea though. They do seem to show photo's of them stuck in the most stupid places that can't possibly be legal.

Fred_Bear_2

I fitted my Roadhawk camera behind the mirror in my C3 Picasso and ran the cable under the trim around the windscreen and down the side. Removing the memory card is a bit awkward, but 16GB lasts a long time before it needs clearing.

Strider590

Get as much of the mount up behind the mirror as possible.....

forgotmyname

Up by the mirror ow down in the bottom corner when it does not obstruct your view.

Unlike the idiot i saw the other day with a 7" tablet in the middle of the windscreen. I would like to be the witness when they have an accident.
They couldnt see anything because their vision was seriously obscured.

My MOT guy even removed the airfreshener from my rear view mirror.