Md. Code Regs. 29.02.01.11

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 10, May 17, 2024

Section 29.02.01.11 - Defect 61-Glass (Not Applicable to Trailers)

A. Vehicle Glazing - Windshield, Side and Rear Windows.

(1) All glazing material shall be checked for the manufacturer's trademark and the words "American Standard" or the letters "AS" followed by a number indicating the positions in the vehicle in which the material may be used. Reference American National Standard for Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment Operating on Land Highways - Safety Standard, Standard ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996, Approved by American National Standards Institute (August 11, 1997).

(2) All glass used in the windshield shall be marked AS-1, in addition to the trademark or name of the manufacturer. AS-2 glass may be used in any other position on the vehicle other than the windshield. In some earlier models or foreign cars, the windshield marking does not contain the designation AS-1. However, if the windshield glass is approved by the U.S. D.O.T. for highway use, it shall be acceptable under these standards.

(3) Any questions regarding glazing shall be referred to the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division of the Department of State Police.

B. Definitions.

(1) "Acute area" means that windshield area 8 inches wide by 5 inches high located directly in front of the driver, centered vertically on the steering wheel of the vehicle and horizontally in the center of the critical area.

(2) "Cloudiness" means any degree of visible discoloration or separation, except tinting that does not affect clear vision.

(3) "Critical area" means the normal windshield wiper sweep, except the area obscured by the hood, fenders, or rearview mirror.

(4) "Discoloration" means a condition which impairs the transparency of the glazing.

(5) "Noncritical area" means all windshield area outside the critical area.

(6) "Normal windshield wiper sweep" means the area of the windshield cleaned by the windshield wiper, excluding the return position on both passenger's and driver's sides.

C. Windshield - Driver's Side. Do not certify if:

(1) Cloudiness exceeds 1 inch from the top or side or 1 inch into the critical area from the bottom or, if the windshield is divided, exceeds 1/2 inch from the center divider;

(2) The acute area contains any one crack, nick, pit, chip, star break, half moon, or bull's-eye fracture in excess of 1/4 inch in diameter or length, or any combination of individual cracks, nicks, pits, chips, star breaks, half moons, or bull's-eye fractures which cumulatively exceed 1/4 inch in diameter or length, or any permanent condition which significantly interferes with the driver's vision;

(3) The critical area contains wiper blade scratches which are severe enough to distort vision, or any one crack, nick, pit, chip, star break, half moon, or bull's-eye fracture in excess of 1/2 inch in diameter or length, or any combination of individual cracks, nicks, pits, chips, star breaks, half moons, or bull's-eye fractures which cumulatively exceed 1/2 inch in diameter or length, or any permanent condition which significantly interferes with the driver's vision except in the permitted cloudy area; or

(4) The noncritical area contains any intersecting cracks or any one crack or combination of individual cracks extending inward more than 2 inches separately or cumulatively from the outer frame on flat or curved windshields or over 4 inches on wraparound windshields, or any one crack, nick, pit, chip, star break, half moon, or bull's-eye fracture in excess of 3/4 inch in diameter or length, or any combination of individual cracks, nicks, pits, chips, star breaks, half moons, or bull's-eye fractures which cumulatively exceed 3/4 inch in diameter or length, or any permanent condition which significantly interferes with the driver's vision except in the permitted cloudy area.

D. Windshield - Passenger's Side. Do not certify if:

(1) Cloudiness exceeds 2 inches from the top or side or extends more than 2 inches into the critical area from the bottom or, if the windshield is divided, exceeds 1/2 inch from the center divider;

(2) The critical area contains wiper blade scratches which are severe enough to distort vision, or any one crack, nick, pit, chip, star break, half moon, or bull's-eye fracture in excess of 1/2 inch in diameter or length, or any combination of individual cracks, nicks, pits, chips, star breaks, half moons, or bull's-eye fractures which cumulatively exceed 1/2 inch in diameter or length, or any permanent conditionwhich significantly interferes with the driver's vision except in the permitted cloudy area;

(3) The noncritical area contains any intersecting cracks or any one crack or combination of individual cracks extending inward more than 4 inches separately or cumulatively from the outer frame on flat or curved windshields or over 6 inches on wraparound windshields, or any one crack, nick, pit, chip, star break, half moon, or bull's-eye fracture in excess of 1-1/2 inches in diameter or length, or any combination of individual cracks, nicks, pits, chips, star breaks, half moons, or bull's-eye fractures which cumulatively exceed 1-1/2 inches in diameter or length, or any permanent condition which significantly interferes with the driver's vision except in the permitted cloudy area.

E. The windshield and all windows shall be inspected for cracks, sharp edges, obstructions, discoloration, modification, unauthorized material, proper glazing material, and conditions which interfere with vision. Do not certify if:

(1) There are breaks, cracks, discolorations, modifications, or scratches in the windshield (see Regulation .22, diagram 7);

(2) The window on the driver's side of the vehicle does not open and close as designed;

(3) Any window shows sharp edges, is badly scratched, broken, discolored, modified, has been replaced with other than proper safety glazing material, or shows conditions which interfere with vision;

(4) Posters, stickers, or other nontransparent materials on the windshield or other windows of the vehicle are in violation of the following:

(a) Except as provided in §E(4)(b) of this regulation, a vehicle may not be equipped with any sign, poster, card, sticker, or other nontransparent material on the windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows of the vehicle.

(b) This does not apply to:

(i) Materials placed on the windshield or rear window, within a 7-inch square area in the lower corner, or on the side windows of the vehicle to the rear of the driver, if the materials are placed so as not to interfere with the driver's clear view of traffic;

(ii) Direction, destination, or termini signs on any passenger common carrier motor vehicle;

(iii) An electronic toll collection device placed in the windshield of a vehicle in accordance with guidelines established by the Maryland Transportation Authority; or

(iv) Security stickers authorized by a federal or State government agency that measure not more than 2 inches high and not more than 4 inches long, and are placed at the upper edge of the center of the windshield;

(c) All vehicles equipped with permitted signs, posters, cards, stickers or other nontransparent materials on windows to the rear of the driver must be equipped with an outside rearview mirror on each side; or

(5) The vehicle is designed to obstruct visibility and is not equipped with an outside rearview mirror on both sides.

F. Tinting.

(1) Except as noted in §F(2) of this regulation, the certification of post-manufacture window tinting shall only be performed at authorized inspection stations for that class of vehicle by a registered inspection mechanic.

(2) The inspection and certification of post-manufacture window tinting involving a medical exemption shall be referred to the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division of the Department of State Police. Regulations governing the application of post-manufacture window tinting on vehicles and the requirements for a medical exemption are listed in §F(3)-(7) of this regulation.

(3) Post-manufacture window tint is acceptable on the following vehicles in the listed locations:

(a) Passenger cars, convertibles, and station wagons:

(i) All side and rear windows of these vehicles are regulated windows requiring at least 35 percent light transmittance after the application of post-manufacture window tint and the vehicle is equipped with an outside rearview mirror on each side.

(ii) Post-manufacture window tint may not be applied to the windshield below the AS1 line or below 5 inches from the top of the windshield, whichever is less.

(b) Light trucks, vans, and multipurpose passenger vehicles except multipurpose passenger vehicles noted in §F(4) of this regulation:

(i) All side windows of these vehicles to the immediate right and left of the driver are regulated windows requiring at least 35 percent light transmittance after the application of post-manufacture window tint.

(ii) Post-manufacture window tint may not be applied to the windshield below the AS1 line or below 5 inches from the top of the windshield, whichever is less.

(iii) Windows of these vehicles to the rear of the driver may be tinted with post-manufacture window tint to any degree of darkness.

(iv) When equipped with permitted post-manufacture window tint on any side or rear window, the vehicle must be equipped with an outside rearview mirror on each side.

(4) Post-manufacture window tint is prohibited on the following vehicles in the listed locations:

(a) The application of post-manufacture window tint to the windshield or windows to the immediate right and left of the driver is prohibited on the following vehicles:

(i) Trucks over 10,000 pounds GVWR, truck tractors, and buses;

(ii) Multipurpose passenger vehicles which have a seating capacity for 16 or more passengers including the driver, or were previously registered as a school vehicle or a passenger bus, and used to primarily transport passengers, or exceed 10,000 pounds GVWR and are used in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise; and

(iii) Limousines.

(b) Windows of these vehicles to the rear of the driver may be tinted with post-manufacture window tint to any degree of darkness provided the vehicle is equipped with an outside rearview mirror on each side.

(5) The application of post-manufacture window tint is prohibited on all windows and the windshield of a school vehicle.

(6) The following post-manufacture window tint is prohibited on any window or windshield of any vehicle:

(a) A mirrored, one-way vision, or sparkling effect tint;

(b) A red, yellow, or amber color tint; or

(c) Changes to a red, yellow, or amber color tint.

(7) Medical Exemption. Transportation Article, § 22-406, Annotated Code of Maryland, provides an exemption for a person who must be protected from the sun for medical reasons from having a light transmittance of at least 35 percent on regulated windows equipped with post-manufacture window tint. The law requires the owner to have, in the vehicle at the time the vehicle is stopped by a police officer, a written certification that details the owner's medical need for tinted windows, from a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State. A vehicle owner whose vehicle is undergoing an inspection, or has been issued a safety equipment repair order for defect #61 "TINT", and indicates to the authorized inspection station their compliance with a medical exemption, shall be referred to the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division of the Department of State Police for examination of the vehicle owner's medical documentation and the vehicle's post-manufacture window tint. If the owner meets the requirements specified in Transportation Article, § 22-406, Annotated Code of Maryland, for the medical exemption and the vehicle is compliant with all post-manufacture window tinting regulations in this chapter, excluding the light transmittance requirement of regulated windows equipped with post-manufacture window tint, the Division shall be authorized to certify the safety equipment repair order for defect #61 "TINT". A medical exemption is not applicable to vehicles listed in §F(4) and (5) of this regulation.

Md. Code Regs. 29.02.01.11

Regulation .11A and E amended effective October 3, 1988 (15:20 Md. R. 2334)
Regulation .11 amended effective February 1, 2012 (39:1 Md. R. 21)
Regulation .11C, F amended effective August 28, 1995 (22:17 Md. R. 1322)