Dangling things from the rear-view mirror is, for most, an act of private expression, like getting a tattoo or wearing a certain style. But strictly speaking, is it lawful to do so? The regulation is unclear, and changes from area to area. But you can get stopped for it on rare instances.
Is it acceptable?
There are a variety of objects people like to hang from the rear view mirror, including graduation tassels in various colors, bridal garters, handcuffs and even a baby's shoe. There are a lot of people who just want to put an air freshener there. There are plenty of items to hang and enough automobiles to hang them.
Unless there is an extreme violation, ordinances in areas against objects that obstruct the view of the driver are mostly ignored. These ordinances are taken seriously by some and ignored much of the time.
Law enforcement has been using the laws to pull people over without an excuse, which is a problem for some. Leaving everything up to a police officer could be dangerous.
Prove objects were harmful
Is it acceptable?
There are a variety of objects people like to hang from the rear view mirror, including graduation tassels in various colors, bridal garters, handcuffs and even a baby's shoe. There are a lot of people who just want to put an air freshener there. There are plenty of items to hang and enough automobiles to hang them.
Unless there is an extreme violation, ordinances in areas against objects that obstruct the view of the driver are mostly ignored. These ordinances are taken seriously by some and ignored much of the time.
Law enforcement has been using the laws to pull people over without an excuse, which is a problem for some. Leaving everything up to a police officer could be dangerous.
Prove objects were harmful
The United States Supreme Court ruled in August, 2010 four-to-three that law enforcement needs to be certain that a dangling knickknack is truly an impediment to a driver's vision before making a traffic stop for it. The ruling upheld a previous Appellate Court decision to dismiss 2006 charges against Gregory Cyrus, a motorist who was also cited for drunk driving, driving without a license and operating an automobile with an obstructed view. The so-called obstruction was a small cross on a beaded chain. Because it was cited as the cause of pulling Cyrus over, all other charges were also dismissed.
This is the exact violation Cyrus got:
"No article, device, sticker or ornament shall be attached or affixed to or hung on or in any motor vehicle in such a manner or location as to interfere with the operator's unobstructed view of the highway or to distract the attention of the operator."
Struck down for being obscure
A Michigan Appellate Court decided to uphold a law comparable to this even though an Oakland county Circuit Judge Daniel O'Brien struck it down because it was obscure.
The three-judge panel concluded:
"The statute uses commonly understood, definite terms that place ordinary citizens on notice of prohibited conduct."
Heroin was found off one male who was seen tossing a syringe out of the window, although the statue was overturned for him with an air freshener hanging from his mirror.
People getting stopped
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton defended the decision: "It is a valid statute, enacted with safety in mind, and you can be pulled over for it. I think most officers would exercise discretion and just inform you to remove the object ... but it is a civil infraction and a legitimate reason to pull you over."
Not that I have anything to hide, but I plan on taking the
This is the exact violation Cyrus got:
"No article, device, sticker or ornament shall be attached or affixed to or hung on or in any motor vehicle in such a manner or location as to interfere with the operator's unobstructed view of the highway or to distract the attention of the operator."
Struck down for being obscure
A Michigan Appellate Court decided to uphold a law comparable to this even though an Oakland county Circuit Judge Daniel O'Brien struck it down because it was obscure.
The three-judge panel concluded:
"The statute uses commonly understood, definite terms that place ordinary citizens on notice of prohibited conduct."
Heroin was found off one male who was seen tossing a syringe out of the window, although the statue was overturned for him with an air freshener hanging from his mirror.
People getting stopped
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton defended the decision: "It is a valid statute, enacted with safety in mind, and you can be pulled over for it. I think most officers would exercise discretion and just inform you to remove the object ... but it is a civil infraction and a legitimate reason to pull you over."
Not that I have anything to hide, but I plan on taking the
"No article, device, sticker or ornament shall be attached or affixed to or hung on or in any motor vehicle in such a manner or location as to interfere with the operator's unobstructed view of the highway or to distract the attention of the operator."
Struck down for being obscure
A Michigan Appellate Court decided to uphold a law comparable to this even though an Oakland county Circuit Judge Daniel O'Brien struck it down because it was obscure.
The three-judge panel concluded:
"The statute uses commonly understood, definite terms that place ordinary citizens on notice of prohibited conduct."
Heroin was found off one male who was seen tossing a syringe out of the window, although the statue was overturned for him with an air freshener hanging from his mirror.
People getting stopped
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton defended the decision: "It is a valid statute, enacted with safety in mind, and you can be pulled over for it. I think most officers would exercise discretion and just inform you to remove the object ... but it is a civil infraction and a legitimate reason to pull you over."
Not that I have anything to hide, but I plan on taking the air freshener down as soon as I get out of work today. You do not have to follow suit, but why give police an excuse to pull you over whenever you have done nothing wrong?
About the Author:
Struck down for being obscure
A Michigan Appellate Court decided to uphold a law comparable to this even though an Oakland county Circuit Judge Daniel O'Brien struck it down because it was obscure.
The three-judge panel concluded:
"The statute uses commonly understood, definite terms that place ordinary citizens on notice of prohibited conduct."
Heroin was found off one male who was seen tossing a syringe out of the window, although the statue was overturned for him with an air freshener hanging from his mirror.
People getting stopped
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Paul Walton defended the decision: "It is a valid statute, enacted with safety in mind, and you can be pulled over for it. I think most officers would exercise discretion and just inform you to remove the object ... but it is a civil infraction and a legitimate reason to pull you over."
Not that I have anything to hide, but I plan on taking the air freshener down as soon as I get out of work today. You do not have to follow suit, but why give police an excuse to pull you over whenever you have done nothing wrong?
About the Author:
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