Section 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, side and rear windows may not have cloudiness or etching in excess of 2 inches from any edge.

(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; am. (3), Register, October, 1997, No. 502 , eff. 11-1-97.