Screenshot: California Highway PatrolSomeone had the brilliant idea of putting a Starlink satellite dish under their car's hood. Now they are paying the price.AdvertisementAccording to a Facebook posting from the agency, a California Highway Patrol officer ticketed an individual who was driving a Toyota Prius with what appeared to be a Starlink antenna attached.Sir, I pulled you over today because of the visual obstruction on your hood. According to CHP Antelope Valleys' Facebook page, the officer stated that it did not block your view. The driver then assured them that he only makes right turns.According to CNBC, the driver was given a ticket for moving violations. He claimed that he was using the antenna for wifi.CHP Antelope Valley stated on Facebook that it is illegal to mount a satellite dish onto the hood of your car, blocking your view. This is under section 26708 (a)(2) California Vehicle Code. It is also illegal to hang anything from your rearview mirror, mount a GPS device or cell phone in an unsafe location on your windshield, display a handicap placard, or mount it in a prohibited area while your vehicle is moving under this section. Safety is the main concern.Starlink, SpaceX's high-speed internet service for fast growth, relies on more 1,500 satellites orbiting Earth. The network has exceeded 69,000 users in 12 countries since its beta launch in February. CEO Elon Musk stated that the company hopes to reach roughly 500,000 users next year.Although it is not confirmed, the driver could have been inspired by Musk's naivety. The Verge reports that Musk said once in 2020's earnings call that Starlink terminals were so small, about the size of a pizza, that technically you could just buy one and stick it to your car.AdvertisementHowever, just because you are able to does not mean that you should. Later, he retracted his tweets, pointing out that the terminals were not intended to be mounted on cars but instead for larger vehicles like trucks and aircraft to connect to the satellite network. SpaceX requested permission from the Federal Communications Commission in order to connect its terminals with moving vehicles.You can also try tethering or investing in a mobile hotspot if you are really in need of wifi.
