Not every state is comfortable with federal regulations for cracked windshields. Some go further. Many states are fairly objective, such as Georgia, where starbust or spider web cracks may be less than 3 inches by 3 inches. Other states are getting super specific, like Louisiana, which limits windshields to two chips, notches, crescents or stars less than half an inch in size. Missouri and Pennsylvania prohibit sharp, exposed edges, which are difficult to cause on safety glass. However, it is probably possible if, for example, you walk on the windshield of your Cybertruck often enough.
Many states specifically restrict crushing in the windshield wiper area, such as Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia, so be sure to crush the area beyond the wiper’s reach. New Hampshire and South Dakota are strict on military boot camp, as windshields are not allowed to have any cracks, shatters or damage. Let me make that clear? Drop down and give me 20!
Then there’s the vagueness of Kansas, where cars are not allowed to have “damaged windshield or side or rear windows that substantially obstruct the driver’s unobstructed view.” If we ignore the fact that all windshields are “windshields”, how do you define “substantial”? Does a half-inch clear glass peephole count?
Now there may be a loophole in the law here. Federal regulations say buses, trucks and tractor-trailers must have windshields, but cars do not. Otherwise McLaren wouldn’t be able to sell the Elva without a windshield (not that those cars sold much anyway). In some states you can even drive your Jeep with the windshield folded down, not that this is recommended. And if your car doesn’t have a windshield, would your glasses be the windshield? If so, is it illegal to drive with cracked glasses?
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