How To Tell If You Will Be Cited For Your Damaged Windshield

A lot of people don't know it, but it is possible for you to get cited by law enforcement if you have a cracked or chipped windshield. Of course, this does depend on the laws in your state. If you get online and look up the laws regarding windshield damage in your state and take a close look at your windshield damage, you can help determine if you should be concerned about getting pulled over and ticketed until you are able to have your windshield repaired or replaced:

Determine the Size of the Crack or Chip

First of all, you will need to take a look at the size of the crack or chip. A fully shattered windshield is obviously incredibly dangerous and can cause you to get a ticket in many states. Large cracks or chips can also be enough to cause you to get a ticket. However, for very small imperfections, you may not have to worry about being cited. In many states, you can look up the laws to find out about the allowed measurements for windshield damage.

Look at the Placement

Another thing that you have to look at when assessing your windshield damage is the placement of the damage. If there is a huge crack or chip right in the line of vision from the driver's seat, your vehicle is probably very dangerous to drive. Additionally, law enforcement could see it as a danger to other drivers because of the fact that it can limit your visibility. If the crack or chip is located on the passenger side of your windshield, however, you may not have to worry about it getting in the way of your line of vision or causing you to get a ticket, depending on your state's laws.

Even though many states have laws in place that allow law enforcement officers to issue citations to those who are driving around with a damaged windshield, this does not necessarily mean that you will be ticketed. If you look up your state's laws about this, you can help determine if this is something that you have to be worried about. Even if you do not have to worry about actually getting cited for your damaged windshield, however, you still should not ignore the situation. Instead, you should consider talking to an auto glass repair company. Then, you can determine if your windshield can be repaired without being completely replaced, or you can find out about a replacement.