Pennsylvania Windshield Crack Laws - Cracked Windshield Laws

Pennsylvania Cracked Windshield Laws

Pennsylvania cracked winshield usage is governed by the state's Code. All relevant laws, rules and regulations pertaining to cracked windshields and windows in Pennsylvania are provided below. Make sure to examine the regulations carefully and repair your window cracks or replace cracked windows.

Obstructed windshields, cracked windshields, windshield replacement and other laws and regulations are different for every state. Cracked windshield laws in Pennsylvania prohibit driving vehicles where driver’s view of the road is obstructed.

Can I drive with a cracked windshield in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania laws have detailed restrictions on the size and type of cracks allowed on windshields:

Glass with shatters or exposed sharp edges is not allowed.
Any cracks or chips must not be directly in driver’s vision.
Any large cracks or discoloration which interferes with clear view of the road is illegal on all windows.
Areas of etching other than those required are not permitted.

PA state laws also prohibit driving while having impaired or obstructed view of the road. No stickers or other objects may be attached to car windshields which prevent clear view of the road.

Pennsylvania vehicle laws (§ 175.2) also define acute area of the windshield as the center of the critical area on the driver’s side of the vehicle directly in the driver’s normal line of vision—8 1/2 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches high. All cracks within this area can be considered illegal.

Other laws and regulations:

Obstructed windshield regulations: No sign, poster, or other non-transparent material is allowed on windshield which can impair driver’s view of the road.
Replacement windshields: Replacement windshield glass must be of the same kind and quality, and any repairs should restore vehicle to its original state.
Windshield wipers: Vehicles must be equipped with windshield wipers in good working conditions. Cracks which prevent wipers from operating correctly may be illegal.

Federal cracked windshield regulations

Federal regulations require drivers to have a clear vision of the road. Windshield cracks or chips smaller than ¾-inch in diameter are permitted if they are not located within 3″ of another crack.

Any cracks or chips or other damage which can potentially obstruct clear view of the road must not be within critical vision area, defined as area directly above the steering wheel, two inches from the top and one inch from sides.

State of Pennsylvania Info

Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a US state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, and the Great Lakes region. The state borders Delaware to the southeast, Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, Lake Erie and Ontario, Canada to the northwest, New York to the north and New Jersey to the east. Pennsylvania is the 33rd most extensive, the 6th most populous, and the 9th most densely populated of the 50 United States. The state's four most populous cities are Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and Erie.

Capital: Harrisburg

Population: 12,763,536

Area: 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km2)

Cities ▼

Cities in Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Allentown, Lancaster, Centralia, State College, Erie, Bethlehem, Reading, King of Prussia, York, West Chester, Gettysburg, Altoona, Easton, Carlisle, New Hope, Johnstown, Doylestown, Manheim, Latrobe, Paint, Pottstown, Greensburg, Bensalem Township, Phoenixville, Norristown, Jim Thorpe, Hazleton, Chambersburg, Malvern, Upper Darby, Media, Lititz, Lansdale, Downingtown, Green Tree, Emporium, Pottsville, Conshohocken, Wayne, New Castle, Coatesville, Cranberry Township, Washington, Chester, Quakertown, Monroeville, Lebanon

Counties ▼

Counties in Pennsylvania: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming, York

Cracked Windshield Laws

Cracked windshield laws in United States