If you drive a vehicle, you already know you are required to follow a variety of traffic laws on the roadways. However, in addition to those laws, you are also required to follow the windshield laws in Kentucky to make sure you are not issued a citation and potential fines. The below laws must be followed by all drivers in the state in order to be legal on the roadways.
Windshield requirements
All vehicles other than motorcycles and those used for husbandry are required to have a windshield that is in an upright and fixed position.
Windshield wipers that are in good working condition, operated by the driver and capable of removing rain, snow, sleet and other types of moisture are required on all vehicles.
Windshield and window glass must have safety glazing that is designed to substantially lessen the potential for shattering and flying glass if struck or broken.
Obstructions
It is illegal to drive on the roadways with any signs, coverings, posters or other materials located in or on the windshield other than those that are required by law.
Coverings on any other windows that render the glass nontransparent are not permitted.
Window tint
Kentucky does allow window tint if it meets the following requirements:
Non-reflective tint located above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line is permitted on the windshield.
Tint on the front side windows must permit over 35% of the light to pass through into the vehicle.
All other windows can have tint that allows over 18% of the light to pass into the vehicle.
Tint on the front side and back side windows cannot reflect more than 25%.
All vehicles with tinted windows must have a sticker affixed to the doorjamb on the driver’s side that states that the tint levels are within the legal limits.
Cracks and chips
Kentucky does not list specific regulations concerning cracks and chips in the windshield. However, drivers are required to follow federal regulations, which include:
Windshields cannot have damage or discoloration in the area running from within two inches of the top edge to the height of the steering wheel and within one inch of the side edges of the windshield.
Cracks that do not have any other intersecting cracks are permitted.
Chips that are smaller than ¾ of an inch and not within three inches of other cracks or chips are permitted.
It is also important to understand that it is generally up to the ticketing officer’s discretion whether a crack or area of damage hinders a driver’s view of the road.
Kentucky also has laws in place that require insurance companies to waive the deductible on windshield replacement for those who carry comprehensive coverage on their vehicles in an effort to facilitate timely replacement when necessary.
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.
