If you are wondering whether you can get a ticket for driving with a cracked windshield, this post should help!
Safety Tips and Laws On Cracked Windshields
Does this sound like you? “My windshield is cracked but I am going to continue to drive it as long as possible so I don’t have to spend the money to repair it right away”. Well, you are not alone, 1,000’s of people are driving with cracked windshields everyday! Although, just because you can still see through the windshield doesn’t mean it is safe to do or legal.
Safety Issues with cracked windshields in Arizona
You windshield not only provides visibility while driving but it also support the structure of your vehicle. For example: If you had a roll-over accident without a windshield, the crash could nearly crush the entire top of the car closest to your head. Even small cracks or chips are enough for your windshield to lose its structural integrity. Also, your windshield acts as a force re-distributor. If you were to get into a front end collision, your windshield causes the force to move downwards instead of straight towards you or your passengers.
Your windshield also has a built in safety feature that prevents glass from flying around if you are in an accident. Even small cracks and chips can damage this safety feature leaving you in immediate danger if you were to even get into a minor accident.
The windshield in your vehicle also holds your air bags in place. If your windshield glass is damaged, the air bags could deploy incorrectly.
“One of the purposes of your windshield is to actually provide you with additional protection should an accident occur. Aside from keeping bugs, dirt and the wind out of your eyes while driving, a windshield also acts as a barrier between you and the possibility of you flying through it”. Centennial Glass
Arizona Cracked Windshield Replacement Law
It is illegal to drive with a cracked windshield that impairs the vision of the driver according to Arizona’s cracked windshield replacement law. Know your local laws for your state about cracked windshields.
“Any crack over 1/4″ wide should be fixed or replaced. Any crack under 1/4″ is OK to drive with in Arizona. See § 393.60. This criteria applies to the driver’s side of the vehicle and does not talk about the passenger side of the windshield”.
Arizona’s windshield law states, “Set by D.O.T., state traffic laws extend beyond the minimum requirements. Every state windshield-visibility law states that windshield damage cannot impair a driver’s vision. In some states, including Arizona and Florida, the kind of damage which qualifies as visual impairment is not actually defined, but is left up to the law-enforcement officer to decide“. ICC COLLISION CENTER
How long can you drive a car with a windshield crack in Arizona?
There is no time limit on how long you can drive with a cracked windshield. A better question is, “how long can you drive a car with a cracked windshield before getting pulled over by a police officer and given a ticket?”.
Can I get a ticket for driving with a cracked windshield?
Yes you can get a ticket for driving with a cracked windshield in Arizona. The average ticket in Arizona for driving with a cracked windshield can be anywhere from $100 to $150. So, save yourself the money and get your windshield replaced right away. There are even insurance companies in Arizona that offer free windshield replacement without paying a deductible. If you are planning on buying auto insurance soon, make sure and get the windshield and glass coverage.
This is a very scary situation for any driver. Before you do replace your windshield consider the following:
How big is the chip or crack?
Very small chips and cracks aren’t a huge risk unless they impair your driving vision in any way. A windshield with a large spider crack should be replaced right away, due to the fact that it is unsafe and a bulls-eye for police officers.
Where the crack is located?
As mentioned in the previous sentence, if the crack or chip impairs your view from the driving seat, it should not be driven again until it is fixed or risk the safe safety or legal issues. With free windshield replacement in Arizona and mobile windshield replacement specialist that can come to your home or office, there is no excuse for risking your safety or costing yourself more money by not replacing your windshield.
How much does windshield replacement cost In Tempe & Phoenix, Arizona?
- Windshield replacement in Arizona will cost you anywhere from $0 to $600 dollars depending on your type of windshield and if there are any electrical components installed in them for HUD etc.
- Cracks ranging a foot or less will cost you anywhere from $10 to $65.
- Cracks ranging a foot or longer will cost you anywhere from $65 to $85.
If you live in the Tempe, AZ area and need windshield replacement services, look no further than the trusted windshield repair professionals at T&S Auto Glass.
