Driving on the roadways in West Virginia requires motorists to understand and follow numerous traffic laws. In addition to the rules of the road, those laws also include regulations on the windshield of your vehicle. Below are the windshield laws that West Virginia motorists must follow:
Windshield requirements
West Virginia has the following requirements for the windshield and its associated devices:
All vehicles must have a windshield if originally manufactured with one.
All vehicles with windshields must have windshield wipers that are controlled by the driver and removes rain, snow and other moisture and substances to provide the driver with a clear view of the roadway.
All wiper blades on applicable vehicles must be in good condition and work properly.
All vehicles must have safety glass for the windshield (where applicable) and other windows. Safety glass is constructed with other materials to provide increased protection against shattering and flying glass, if it is broken or struck when compared with traditional plate glass.
Obstructions
West Virginia also has regulations in place to prevent motorists from driving vehicles if their view of the roadway is obstructed.
No posters, signs or other nontransparent materials that obscure or hinder the driver’s view of the roadway or intersecting roadways are permitted on the windshield, side windows or rear window.
If the rear window is obstructed, the vehicle must have one exterior mirror on each side that allows the driver to see a minimum of 200 feet to the rear.
Stickers or permits that are required by law are permitted on the windshield providing they are affixed in a way that does not hinder the driver’s view.
Window tint
In West Virginia, window tint that complies with the following is permitted:
Windshield tint cannot be reflective and must be applied only to the top five inches of the windshield or above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line, whichever occurs first between the two.
No tint on any window can be more than 20% reflective.
Tint on the front and back side windows and the rear window must allow greater than 35% light transmittance.
If the rear window is tinted, dual side mirrors are required.
Tints that are red, amber or yellow in color are not permitted on any window.
Cracks, chips and defects
West Virginia law has the following regulations in place concerning cracks, chips and defects in the windshield:
No cracks, chips, defects or repairs are permitted in the 8-1/2 by 11 inch area directly in front of the driver.
Cracks and chips larger than one and a half inches are not permitted in the area wiped by the windshield wipers.
Violations
Violations of the above laws can result in fines and failure of the vehicle to pass the required inspection for registration.
If your windshield needs to be inspected or your wipers are not working properly, a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, can help you get back on the road safely and quickly so you are driving within the laws.
