Trans 305.32 Vent, side and rear windows.
(1) All glass used in vent, side or rear windows shall be safety glass
and shall be plainly marked to identify it as safety glass, or a
certification from the glass supplier stating that the glass is
approved safety glass shall be carried in the vehicle during operation
or vehicle inspection, or both. All glazing in the vent, side or
rear windows shall be free of sharp edges severe enough to cause
injury, cracks, etching, damage or other conditions which distort
or interfere with vision.
(2) All front side windows in the driver's compartment which need to
open for the making of arm signals shall operate so as to permit
the making of arm signals.
(3) The vent and front side windows may not have cloudiness or etching
in excess of 2 inches from any edge. The rear window may not have
cloudiness or etching in excess of 2 inches from any edge unless
the vehicle is equipped with an outside rearview mirror on the left
and right side of the driver's compartment.
(4)(a) The vent and front side windows may not have any sign, poster
or other nontransparent material upon them, other than a certificate
or sticker issued by order of a governmental agency.
(b) Tinting of the vent and front side windows is permitted as follows:
1. The windows are tinted by the manufacturer of the glazing and are
installed as part of the original manufacturing process.
2. The windows are tinted by the application of tinting film to
the inside of the glazing provided that the combination of the
glazing and tinting film permits passage through the windows
of at least 50% of the visible light striking the windows.
Tinting films permitted under this subdivision may not be
reflective.
3. The windows are tinted, upon the recommendation of a physician
or a Christian Science practitioner treating the owner, or an
immediate family member of the owner of the vehicle, by the
application of tinting film to the inside of the glazing provided
that the combination of the glazing and tinting film permits
passage through the windows of at least 35% of the visible light
striking the windows. Tinting films permitted under this
subdivision may not be reflective. A written statement from the
treating physician or Christian Science practitioner which
identifies the patient, the medical condition justifying the
recommendation, whether the condition is temporary or permanent
and the vehicle to which the recommendation applies, including
the make, model, year and vehicle identification number, shall
be carried in the vehicle at all times. Tinting film applied
under this subparagraph shall be removed when a vehicle covered
by the recommendation is sold, when the person for whom a
recommendation was made no longer resides in the household of
the owner of the vehicle or when the duration of a temporary
condition which is the basis for a recommendation has expired.
(5)(a) The rear window may not have any sign, poster or other
nontransparent material upon it, other than a certificate or
sticker issued by order of a governmental agency.
(b) Tinting of the rear window is permitted as follows:
1. The window is tinted by the manufacturer of the glazing and
is installed as part of the original manufacturing process.
2. The window is tinted by the application of tinting film to the
inside of the glazing provided that the combination of the
glazing and tinting film permits passage through the window of
at least 35% of the visible light striking the window. The
tinting films permitted under this subdivision may not be
reflective.
3. If a rear window does not transmit at least 60% of the visible
light striking the window, the vehicle shall be equipped with
an outside rearview mirror on the left and right side of the
driver's compartment.
(6) Tinting of rear side windows is permitted as follows:
(a) The windows are tinted by the manufacturer of the glazing and
are installed as part of the original manufacturing process.
(b) The windows are tinted by the application of tinting film to the
inside of the glazing provided that the combination of the glazing
and tinting film permits passage through the windows of at least
35% of the visible light striking the window. The tinting films
permitted under this subdivision may not be reflective.
(7) When measuring total light transmittance under subs. (4) (b), (5) (b)
and (6), law enforcement officers shall allow a tolerance of 3%.
History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.34 Windshields.
(1) Every motor vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1936, shall have a
windshield made of safety glass. Such glass shall be plainly marked
to identify it as safety glass or a certification from the glass
supplier stating that the glass is approved safety glass shall be
carried in the vehicle during operation or vehicle inspection, or both.
(2) The windshield shall be of sufficient size to provide adequate
protection for the driver and shall be in place when operating
on a highway.
(3) The windshield may not be excessively cracked or damaged. A
windshield is excessively cracked or damaged if:
(a) The windshield has a crack inside, or which extends inside, the
windshield critical area.
(b) The windshield has cracks which extend into any area more than
8 inches from the frame.
(c) The windshield has stone or shot damage with a diameter in excess
of 1/2 inch in the windshield critical area or in excess of
11/2 inches in diameter in any other area.
(4) The windshield may not have etching, scratches, abrasion or repairs
of any type which impair or distort vision within the windshield
critical area.
(5) The windshield may not have cloudiness or etching in excess of one
inch around the outside edge on the driver's side or in excess of 2
inches on the passenger's side.
(6) Nothing may be placed or suspended in or on the vehicle or windshield
so as to obstruct the driver's clear vision through the windshield.
There may not be any posters, stickers or other nontransparent
material, other than a certificate or sticker issued by order of a
governmental agency, located on the windshield or located between the
driver and the windshield. This subsection does not prohibit the
following:
(a) Attachment of an inside rearview mirror in accordance with
s.Trans305.26 .
(b) Windshields tinted by the manufacturer of the glazing and installed
as part of the original manufacturing process.
(c) Application of window tinting film or other nontransparent
material to the inside of the windshield if it is attached only
to that portion of the windshield which is both outside the critical
area and above the horizontal line delineated by the mark "A"
or "A." If no such mark was affixed to the windshield by its
manufacturer, no window tinting film may be attached to the
windshield.
History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; reprinted to restore dropped copy, Register, February, 1997, No. 494.