New York Window Sticker Laws
Most states have very different laws regarding the usage of stickers and other obstructive objects placed on the windshield of cars. Sticker usage is most commonly seen on company cars looking to advertise their brand or product on official vehicles, and street-racers and similar car enthusiasts who enjoy aftermarket tuning of their cars.
New York vehicle equipment laws regulate the placement of windshield stickers and other window stickers. Be sure to read the following rules before placing any stickers on car windows.
New York window sticker laws:
- Front windshield: no stickers allowed
- Front side windows: no stickers allowed
- Back side windows: no restrictions
- Rear window: no stickers allowed
Legally speaking, stickers are only permitted on back side windows. New York window tint laws allow completely black rear window (rear windshield), but you are still not permitted to place any kind of stickers on one. This includes all kinds of posters, signs, or advertisements you may want to stick.
According to New York laws on Vehicle & Traffic you are allowed to have stickers on your car’s windshield or other windows only in case they are authorized or required by DMV or other regulations:
§375 Equipment.
1. (b) The use or placing of posters or stickers on windshields or rear windows of motor vehicles other than those authorized by the commissioner, is hereby prohibited.
12-a. (a) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign or other nontransparent material other than a certificate or paper required to be displayed by law upon the front windshield or the sidewings or side windows on either side forward of or adjacent to the operator’s seat.
For example this includes window tint stickers which are required by law to be placed on all tinted windows. All other stickers not required by law or regulations are illegal on front and back windshield and front side windows.
The following New York law excerpt is worth noting as well.
30. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle with any object placed or hung in or upon the vehicle, except required or permitted equipment of the vehicle, in such a manner as to obstruct or interfere with the view of the operator through the windshield, or to prevent him from having a clear and full view of the road and condition of traffic behind such vehicle.
This essentially means you’re not even allowed to hang anything from your interior rear view mirror, as it can potentially obstruct your view of the road. That’s right, no Wunder-Baum for New Yorkers, the state where these cute tree-shaped air fresheners were invented.
Window sticker penalties
New York is a stickler when it comes to enforcing its laws, and window stickers can often be an excuse for police officers to pull you over.
Penalty for violating NY vehicle equipment laws and placing unauthorized window stickers is a $150 fine, 30 days in jail, or both.