Can you be ticketed for hanging things from the rearview mirror in PA? What the law says
Hanging an air freshener or parking placard from your rearview mirror might improve your commute, but could it get you in trouble with the law?
The legalities of displaying items from your vehicle’s rearview mirror vary from state to state. Drivers in the Keystone State might wonder if the practice is legal and if it could result in any unwanted pullovers or traffic tickets.
Here’s what Pennsylvania drivers should know about hanging items from their rearview mirror.
Is it legal to hang items from your rearview mirror in Pennsylvania?
Sometimes, but it’s not always so simple.
According to Pennsylvania law, items hung from the rearview mirror are illegal only when they create a substantial distraction for drivers.
“No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material hung from the inside rearview mirror or otherwise hung, placed or attached in such a position as to materially obstruct, obscure or impair the driver’s vision through the front windshield or any manner as to constitute a safety hazard,” Pennsylvania law reads under 75 Pa. C.S. § 4524.
Defining such a distraction is largely subjective, leaving room for law enforcement officials to judge.
To avoid added risk of trouble with the law, drivers might consider removing items hung from their rearview mirror — including air fresheners, parking placards and decorations — while they’re on the road. You can always attach them back to the mirror when your vehicle is parked.
Pennsylvania drivers are similarly barred from obstructing their view with signs, posters or non-transparent materials on their front windshields and side and rear windows. This also includes non-certified sun-screening devices, such as removable window shades. Tinted windows are legal if they are the correct type and specification installed by a given vehicle’s manufacturer, Pennsylvania law reads.
The commonwealth’s obstruction regulations do not apply to mobile video recording equipment in vehicles used exclusively for “official police purposes,” according to the law.
Driving safely in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation offers a number of guides and brochures covering safety tips for drivers, all available online at no cost.
Simply put, PennDOT encourages drivers to “Start SMART” and “Stay SMART” — a pair of acronyms offering straightforward roadway safety tips.
Start SMART
- S — Seat belt on, seat adjusted
- M — Mirrors adjusted and clear
- A — Air conditioning, heating and defrost panels on
- R — Radio and audio panel set
- T — Thoroughly check the area for traffic, people and objects
Stay SMART
- S — Watch your speed
- M — Frequently check your mirrors
- A — Avoid distractions
- R — Remember the rules of the road
- T — Give yourself enough time to reach your destination
Visit penndot.pa.gov/TravelInPA/Safety/TrafficSafetyAndDriverTopics/Pages/default.aspx to learn more about pedestrian safety, driving in the fall and winter, assisting young and old motorists, avoiding distracted driving and more. Other training materials include animations highlighting safe driving in several situations, including zipper merges.
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