Windshield Laws in Missouri
If you drive on the roads of Missouri, you already know that you must follow a lot of traffic rules in order to do so safely and legally. In addition to these regulations, motorists are also required to ensure that their vehicles meet windshield safety standards. In Missouri, failure to follow the windshield laws below will not only result in possible fines if you get pulled over by law enforcement, but your vehicle may also fail the mandatory inspection that vehicles must pass before registration.
windshield requirements
Missouri has the following windshield and device requirements:
All vehicles must have windshields that are properly secured and in an upright position.
All vehicles must have working windshield wipers with blades that are not broken or otherwise damaged. In addition, the wiper arms must ensure full contact with the windshield surface.
Windshields and windows on all vehicles manufactured after 1936 must be made of safety glazing, or safety glass that is manufactured in such a way as to drastically reduce the chance of the glass shattering or breaking on impact or in an accident.
Obstacles
Vehicles must be free of posters, signage, or other opaque materials on windshields or other windows that obstruct the driver's view.
Only necessary inspection stickers and certificates may be affixed to the windshield.
Window tinting
Missouri allows window tinting that meets the following requirements:
Windshield tinting must be non-reflective and only allowed above the manufacturer's AS-1 line.
Tinted front side windows must provide more than 35% light transmission.
Reflective tinting on front and rear side windows cannot reflect more than 35%
Chips, cracks and defects
Missouri also requires all vehicle windshields to provide a clear view of the roadway and intersecting carriageways. For cracks, chips and other defects, the following rules apply:
Windshields must not have broken areas, missing parts or sharp edges.
Any breaks of a star type, that is, those in which the point of impact is surrounded by divergent cracks, are not allowed.
Crescent-shaped chips and targets on the glass that are within three inches of another damage area and within the driver's line of sight are not allowed.
Any crack, chip, or discoloration within four inches of the bottom of the windshield and within the wiper area of the driver's field of vision is not permitted.
Any chips, bull's eye or crescent over two inches in diameter are not allowed on the windshield.
Cracks longer than three inches are not allowed in the windshield wiper movement area.
Violations
Failure to comply with the above laws will result in fines, which are determined by the county, and the vehicle fails to pass inspection for registration.
If you need to inspect your windshield or your wipers aren't working properly, a certified technician like one of AvtoTachki can help you get back on the road safely and quickly so you're driving within the law.
