169.71 WINDSHIELD.
Subdivision 1. Prohibitions generally; exceptions. (a) A person shall not drive or operate
any motor vehicle with:
(1) a windshield cracked or discolored to an extent to limit or obstruct proper vision;
(2) any objects suspended between the driver and the windshield, other than sun visors and
rearview mirrors and electronic toll collection devices; or
(3) any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, sidewings,
or side or rear windows of the vehicle, other than a certificate or other paper required to be so
displayed by law or authorized by the state director of the Division of Emergency Management or
the commissioner of public safety.
(b) Paragraph (a), clauses (2) and (3), do not apply to law enforcement vehicles.
(c) Paragraph (a), clause (2), does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles.
Subd. 2. Windshield wiper. The windshield on every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a
device for cleaning rain, snow or other moisture from the windshield, which device shall be so
constructed as to be controlled or operated by the driver of the vehicle.
Subd. 3. Defrosting requirement. No person shall drive any motor vehicle with the
windshield or front side windows covered with steam or frost to such an extent as to prevent
proper vision.
Subd. 4. Glazing material; prohibitions and exceptions. (a) No person shall drive or
operate any motor vehicle required to be registered in the state of Minnesota upon any street
or highway under the following conditions:
(1) when the windshield is composed of, covered by, or treated with any material which
has the effect of making the windshield more reflective or in any other way reducing light
transmittance through the windshield;
(2) when any window on the vehicle is composed of, covered by, or treated with any material
that has a highly reflective or mirrored appearance;
(3) when any side window or rear window is composed of or treated with any material so
as to obstruct or substantially reduce the driver's clear view through the window or has a light
transmittance of less than 50 percent plus or minus three percent in the visible light range or a
luminous reflectance of more than 20 percent plus or minus three percent; or
(4) when any material has been applied after August 1, 1985, to any motor vehicle window
without an accompanying permanent marking which indicates the percent of transmittance and
the percent of reflectance afforded by the material. The marking must be in a manner so as not to
obscure vision and be readable when installed on the vehicle.
(b) This subdivision does not apply to glazing materials which:
(1) have not been modified since the original installation, nor to original replacement
windows and windshields, that were originally installed or replaced in conformance with Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205;
(2) are required to satisfy prescription or medical needs of the driver of the vehicle or a
passenger if the driver or passenger is in possession of the prescription or a physician's statement
of medical need; or
(3) are applied to:
(i) the rear windows of a pickup truck as defined in section 168.011, subdivision 29;
(ii) the rear windows or the side windows on either side behind the driver's seat of a van as
defined in section 168.011, subdivision 28;
(iii) the side and rear windows of a vehicle used to transport human remains by a funeral
establishment holding a license under section 149A.50; or
(iv) the side and rear windows of a limousine as defined in section 168.011, subdivision 35.