Alaska Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)

Alaska permits dash cams, GPS units, and phone mounts on the windshield provided they do not obstruct, obscure, or impair the driver's view, the standard set by 13 AAC 04.225. The state sets no specific size limits, so mount devices low and to the side to stay compliant.

Alaska does not set specific square-inch limits for devices mounted on windshields. Instead, the state relies on a broad obstruction standard found in the Alaska Administrative Code. If a device or object on your windshield obstructs, obscures, or impairs your view of the road, it violates Alaska law.

This guide covers the exact regulations, penalties, exemptions, and practical tips for staying compliant while using GPS mounts, dash cams, phone holders, and other devices on your windshield in Alaska.

The Core Regulation: 13 AAC 04.225

Alaska's windshield rules are found in Title 13, Chapter 04, Section 225 of the Alaska Administrative Code, titled "Windshields and wipers." This regulation was adopted under the authority of AS 28.05.011.

What the Regulation Says

The regulation contains several subsections. The two most relevant to windshield mounting are:

13 AAC 04.225(a): No person may drive a motor vehicle that is not equipped with a windshield, nor may a person drive a motor vehicle equipped with a defective windshield or windows that obstructs, obscures, or impairs the driver's view.

13 AAC 04.225(b): No person may drive a motor vehicle with a sign, poster, or other nontransparent material on the front windshield or window of the vehicle that obstructs, obscures, or impairs the driver's view. This subsection also prohibits driving when snow, ice, or frost has accumulated on the windshield or windows to a degree that obstructs the driver's view.

The key phrase in both subsections is "obstructs, obscures, or impairs the driver's view." Alaska law enforcement officers have discretion to determine whether a particular device or item meets that threshold. There is no fixed measurement or percentage of the windshield that serves as a bright-line rule.

Additional Windshield Requirements

The same regulation also addresses related equipment:

• Windshield wipers (13 AAC 04.225(c)): Every motor vehicle must have working windshield wipers that the driver can operate from the driver's seat. The wipers must be maintained in good working order.

• Defrosters (13 AAC 04.225(d)): Vehicles with enclosed passenger compartments must have a working defroster to remove snow, ice, frost, or moisture from the windshield.

• Safety glazing (13 AAC 04.225(f)): Any motor vehicle manufactured or assembled after July 1, 1968, must use safety glazing material designed to reduce the risk of injury from cracked or broken glass compared to ordinary sheet or plate glass.

• Eye protection (13 AAC 04.225(g)): Drivers of vehicles without a windshield positioned to deflect objects must wear eye-protective devices as required for motorcycle operators.

Alaska Window Tinting Rules

Alaska's window tinting requirements are found in a separate regulation, 13 AAC 04.223, but they interact directly with windshield visibility. The key tinting rules are:

• Windshield: A tint strip is allowed on the top edge of the windshield, but it must not extend more than five inches downward from the top of the glass.

• Front side windows: Must allow at least 70 percent light transmittance.

• Rear side windows and back glass: Must allow at least 40 percent light transmittance.

• Prohibited materials: Mirrored tinting material is banned on all windows.

• Approved colors: Tinting material must be green, gray, bronze, or neutral smoke in color.

Medical exemptions exist for drivers or passengers who need additional shielding from sunlight, but a physician licensed in Alaska must certify the need annually, and the certification must be kept in the vehicle.

Penalties for Windshield Obstruction Violations

Violating 13 AAC 04.225 is an infraction under Alaska law. The penalty turns on which charge the officer writes, and the difference is significant.

Which Charge You Get Determines the Penalty

The Alaska Court System lists 13 AAC 04.225 as several separate charges on its bail forfeiture schedule, and they do not carry the same consequences. The two entries that actually describe an obstructed view are not correctable:

A device mounted on the windshield can be written up either way. If it is charged as driving with nontransparent material that obstructs the view, the scheduled amount is $60 and the charge carries two driver's license points with no fix-it dismissal available. Only the two entries the schedule marks "Corr" can be dismissed by showing proof of correction.

The Scheduled Amounts Are Bail, Not the Maximum Fine

The dollar figures above are scheduled bail amounts rather than a penalty ceiling. Under AS 28.90.010(c), a person convicted of violating a regulation adopted under Title 28 is guilty of an infraction and is punishable by a fine not to exceed $300. The court system's traffic offense booklet notes that if you request a trial and are found guilty, the maximum fine that may be imposed is the bail amount plus any surcharge, and that these amounts are doubled for violations committed within a highway work zone or traffic safety corridor.

An infraction is not a criminal offense and cannot result in jail time. Under AS 28.90.010(d), a single infraction also cannot by itself cost you your license, although points accumulate under AS 28.15.221 through AS 28.15.261.

How the Correction Process Works on a Correctable Charge

If your citation is marked "Correctable," the court system's booklet describes two ways to respond:

1. Show proof of correction. Fix the problem and show an inspection official proof that the defect has been corrected. The citation must then be dismissed. Administrative Rule 43.1 and Minor Offense Rule 5(a)(4) set no deadline for doing this.

2. Respond as an optional-appearance citation. Within 30 days, either pay the total amount due online through the Alaska Court System website, or mail or deliver the citation after checking no contest, checking not guilty to request a trial, or asking to appear for arraignment.

The 30-day clock is the deadline to respond to the citation, not a deadline to make the repair. If you are cited under one of the non-correctable obstruction charges, the proof-of-correction route is not available at all, and the 30-day response deadline is the only one that applies.

What This Means for a Mounted Device

In dollar terms Alaska's scheduled amounts are modest. But the charges most likely to be written for a windshield-mounted device are the $60 optional-appearance entries that carry two license points, and no amount of correcting the problem afterward will get those dismissed. Treat a windshield mount in Alaska as a moving-violation risk, not a guaranteed fix-it ticket.

GPS, Phone, and Dash Cam Mounting Guidelines

Because Alaska uses a general obstruction standard rather than specific size or placement rules, the legality of any windshield-mounted device depends on whether it blocks the driver's view. Here are practical guidelines for common devices.

GPS Devices

GPS navigation units are legal to mount on Alaska windshields as long as the device does not obstruct your view of the road. Best practices include:

• Mount the GPS as low on the windshield as possible, near the dashboard
• Position it on the passenger side when practical
• Use the smallest mount and bracket available
• Make sure you can still see traffic signals, road signs, and other vehicles without leaning or adjusting your position

Dash Cameras

Dash cams are legal in Alaska. Because they are typically small and mounted near the rearview mirror, most dash cams will not create a visibility issue. Tips for compliance:

• Mount the camera behind the rearview mirror to minimize any visual obstruction
• Choose a compact model with a low-profile mount
• Avoid placing the camera directly in your primary field of vision
• Make sure the camera and its wiring do not interfere with the windshield wipers

Phone Mounts

Suction cup and adhesive phone mounts are permitted on Alaska windshields, subject to the same general obstruction standard. If you use a windshield phone mount:

• Position the mount low and to the right of center
• Do not place a large phone or tablet directly in your line of sight
• Consider a dashboard or vent mount as an alternative to avoid any windshield visibility issues

Toll Transponders and Parking Passes

While Alaska does not have a toll road system, drivers visiting from other states may have transponders on their windshields. These small, low-profile devices are generally not considered obstructions under Alaska law.

Alaska's Distracted Driving and Cell Phone Laws

Understanding Alaska's distracted driving laws is important context for windshield mounting because even a legally mounted device can lead to a citation if you use it improperly while driving.

Texting While Driving Ban

Alaska Statute 28.35.161 prohibits reading or typing text messages, emails, or other nonvoice communications on a cell phone, personal data assistant, or computer while the vehicle is in motion. This is a primary enforcement law, meaning an officer can pull you over solely for texting while driving.

Penalties for texting while driving:

No Statewide Hands-Free Law

As of 2026, Alaska does not have a statewide hands-free law for drivers. You may legally hold and talk on a cell phone while driving in most parts of the state. However, mounting a phone on the windshield and using it for calls is still subject to the general obstruction standard.

Anchorage School Zone Restriction

The Municipality of Anchorage enacted Ordinance AO 2019-51(S), codified as Anchorage Municipal Code 9.28.055, which bans handheld cell phone use while driving in active school zones. An active school zone is defined as a zone with signage between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. where the speed limit is 25 mph or less.

In Anchorage school zones, you must use a hands-free device or stop your vehicle completely before using your phone. This is one of the few local restrictions on phone use in Alaska.

Television and Video Display Restrictions

Alaska Statute 28.35.161 also makes it illegal to install or use a television, video monitor, or similar visual display in full view of the driver while the vehicle is in motion. Exemptions apply to:

• GPS navigation displays showing only maps and directions
• Vehicle information displays (speedometer, fuel, engine diagnostics)
• Authorized emergency vehicle equipment
• Devices with built-in features that disable video playback while the vehicle is moving

Exemptions and Special Circumstances

Motor-Driven Cycles and Off-Highway Vehicles

The windshield requirement under 13 AAC 04.225(a) specifically exempts motor-driven cycles, bicycles, and off-highway vehicles. These vehicles are not required to have windshields at all, though operators of vehicles without windshields must wear eye protection.

Commercial Vehicles

Commercial vehicles operating in Alaska are subject to additional federal regulations under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules. Commercial drivers should be aware that FMCSA regulations may impose stricter standards on windshield obstructions and device mounting than Alaska state law.

Emergency Vehicles

Emergency vehicles have exemptions for equipment displays and mounted devices necessary for emergency response operations.

Medical Exemption for Tinting

If a driver or frequent passenger needs darker window tinting for medical reasons, a physician licensed in Alaska can provide an annual certification. The certification must be carried in the vehicle at all times.

How to Stay Compliant

Follow these straightforward steps to avoid windshield mounting violations in Alaska:

1. Keep your primary field of vision clear. Do not mount anything directly in front of the steering wheel area or at eye level.

2. Mount devices low and to the side. The lower corners of the windshield, especially the passenger side, are the safest locations for GPS units and phone mounts.

3. Use compact mounts. Smaller brackets and mounts are less likely to trigger a law enforcement stop.

4. Keep your windshield clean. Snow, ice, and frost accumulation is also a violation under 13 AAC 04.225(b). Clear your entire windshield before driving.

5. Maintain your wipers and defroster. Non-functional wipers or defrosters are separate violations under the same regulation.

6. Check local ordinances. If you drive in Anchorage, be aware of the school zone cell phone restrictions.

More Alaska Laws

Alaska has several other laws that may apply to your situation. Explore these related guides:

• Alaska Recording Laws covers when you can legally record phone calls and conversations in Alaska, which is directly relevant if you use a dash cam with audio recording.

• Alaska Lemon Law explains your rights if you purchased a new vehicle with persistent defects that the manufacturer cannot fix.

• Alaska Hit and Run Laws outlines what Alaska law requires you to do after a traffic accident, including when dash cam footage may be relevant.