§ 54-76. Windshield and window obstructions.

(a)

Application. The following provisions of this section shall apply to all passenger motor vehicles, buses, trucks, multipurpose vehicles and other motor vehicles operated within the city, notwithstanding the provisions of section 54-75 of this Code, relating to rear-view mirrors.

(b)

Unlawful obstructions enumerated. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any passenger motor vehicle, bus, truck, multipurpose vehicle or any other motor vehicle on or in which:

(1)

The operator's vision through any windshield or side wing or window is not both normal and unobstructed; or

(2)

Any windshield or side wing or window which is either forward of, or on either side adjacent to, the position of the operator, is wholly or partially composed, covered, treated or altered in any way with any material, substance, system or component which presents an opaque or nontransparent or a metallic or mirrored appearance, when viewed from outside the vehicle; or

(3)

The vision into the vehicle from the outside through any windshield or side wing or window which is either forward of, or on either side adjacent to, the position of the operator, is not both normal and unobstructed, whether or not the windshield or side wing or window is wholly or partially composed, covered, treated, or altered in any way with any material, substance, system or component.

(c)

Exceptions. It shall be an affirmative defense to any applicable charge filed pursuant to subsection (b) and the subdivisions thereunder, of this Code, that the obstruction was caused solely by a legally placed sign, sticker, certificate or other item which is required by law to be displayed on the front windshield or other window of a passenger motor vehicle, bus, truck, multipurpose vehicle or other motor vehicle.

(d)

Hanging objects. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any passenger motor vehicle, bus, truck, multipurpose vehicle which has therein or thereon any hanging object which either distracts the operator or obstructs the view of the operator, regardless of the size of the hanging object.

(e)

Dirt, snow, ice, frost and other obstructions. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any passenger motor vehicle, bus, truck, multipurpose vehicle or any other motor vehicle which has any dirt, snow, ice, frost or other material not otherwise referred to in this section, on any windshield, side wing or window which either obstructs the view of the operator or substantially obstructs the vision into the vehicle when viewed from outside the vehicle.

(f)

Undersize windshields.

(1)

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any passenger motor vehicle, bus, truck, multipurpose vehicle or any other motor vehicle unless such vehicle is equipped with a front windshield at least equal in size and dimensions to the original, standard equipment provided by the manufacturer of such vehicle, according to the make, model or body style of the vehicle; and

(2)

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any passenger motor vehicle, bus, truck, multipurpose vehicle or any other motor vehicle which is altered, cut down, customized or otherwise changed in any manner so that the size, area or dimensions of the front windshield of the vehicle is, or are, reduced from that of the front windshield with which the vehicle was originally equipped, as standard equipment, by the manufacturer of the vehicle.

(Code 1950, § 507.8; Ord. No. 697-82, § 1, 12-13-82)

State law reference

Windows unobstructed, C.R.S. 1973, 42-4-224.