Arizona Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)

Arizona permits windshield-mounted dashcams, GPS units, and phone holders under ARS 28-959.01, as long as the device does not obstruct the driver's clear view. The statute's 5-inch and 7-inch lower-corner zones are written for signs, stickers, and other materials, not electronic devices; a dashcam can instead qualify as safety monitoring equipment mounted immediately behind, slightly above, or slightly below the rearview mirror, and a GPS or phone mount is otherwise safest on the dashboard.

Arizona regulates what drivers can attach to their windshields through ARS 28-959.01, titled "Materials on windows or windshield; exceptions; requirements; violation; definitions." The statute sets strict placement and size rules for any object mounted to the windshield while also carving out specific exemptions for safety equipment, stickers, and medical needs.

This guide covers every part of the law that affects GPS mounts, dashcams, phone holders, toll transponders, and tinted film.

Core Prohibition Under ARS 28-959.01

The foundation of Arizona's windshield mounting law is a single rule: a person shall not operate a motor vehicle with an object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied on the windshield or side or rear windows in a manner that obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view.

This language appears in ARS 28-959.01(B). It does not single out any particular type of device. Any object, whether a GPS mount, phone holder, dashcam, air freshener, or sticker, is subject to this rule if it impairs visibility.

A separate statute, ARS 28-893, reinforces this principle. It prohibits operating a vehicle when the load or passengers obstruct the driver's view to the front or sides, or interfere with the driver's control of the vehicle.

Where Devices Can Be Mounted on the Windshield

Arizona law does not ban all windshield-mounted objects. ARS 28-959.01(A) lists twelve categories of exceptions. The two most relevant for consumer devices are the sticker/material zones and the safety monitoring equipment exemption.

The Corner Placement Rule

Under ARS 28-959.01(A), signs, stickers, or other materials may be displayed in either of these locations:

ARS 28-959.01(A)(5) writes this exception for "signs, stickers or other materials," not electronic devices, so it covers items like parking permits, toll transponder stickers, and inspection decals rather than GPS units, phone mounts, or dashcams. A GPS, phone mount, or dashcam is instead evaluated under the safety monitoring equipment exemption in (A)(12) or the general obstruction standard in ARS 28-959.01(B).

Safety Monitoring Equipment Exemption

ARS 28-959.01(A)(12) provides a separate exemption for "safety monitoring equipment and driver feedback" devices. These may be mounted in either of the following locations:

• Immediately behind, slightly above, or slightly below the rearview mirror
• Where the rearview mirror would commonly be positioned if the vehicle does not have a windshield-mounted rearview mirror

This exemption is significant for dashcam users. A dashcam that qualifies as safety monitoring equipment can be mounted behind the rearview mirror without needing to fit within the 5-inch or 7-inch corner zones. Most consumer dashcams are designed to mount in this location.

The statute does not define "safety monitoring equipment," which gives law enforcement some discretion. However, devices that record driving events, monitor driver behavior, or provide collision warnings generally fall within this category based on their function.

Top-of-Windshield Tint Strip

Transparent material may be applied to the topmost portion of the windshield if the bottom edge is at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat, measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest with the seat in its rearmost and lowest position on a level surface. This provision governs tint strips (sometimes called "eyebrows") at the top of the windshield.

GPS and Phone Mounts

Arizona does not have a statute that specifically addresses GPS devices or smartphone mounts by name. These devices are governed by the general windshield obstruction rules in ARS 28-959.01.

Legal Placement Options

A GPS or phone mount is legal in Arizona if it meets one of these conditions:

1. Behind the rearview mirror: If the device qualifies as safety monitoring equipment under ARS 28-959.01(A)(12)
2. Dashboard mount: Mounting on the dashboard avoids windshield restrictions entirely, as long as the device does not obstruct the view through the windshield

The 5-inch and 7-inch lower-corner exception in ARS 28-959.01(A)(5) applies to signs, stickers, and other materials, not electronic devices, so a GPS or phone mount placed in those corners is not specifically authorized and would instead be evaluated under the general obstruction standard in ARS 28-959.01(B).

Hands-Free Law Interaction

ARS 28-914, Arizona's hands-free driving law effective January 1, 2021, prohibits physically holding a portable wireless communication device while operating a vehicle. Using a properly mounted device for hands-free navigation or GPS is permitted.

The law allows communication and navigation "without the use of either of the driver's hands, except to activate or deactivate a function of the device." A windshield-mounted or dashboard-mounted phone used for navigation complies with this requirement as long as the driver does not hold the device.

Penalties under the hands-free law:

These penalties are separate from any windshield obstruction citation.

Dashcam Laws in Arizona

Dashcams are legal in Arizona. The state does not prohibit video recording from a vehicle-mounted camera, and Arizona law specifically accommodates dashcams through the safety monitoring equipment exemption.

Mounting Requirements

A dashcam can be legally mounted in Arizona in any of these positions:

• Behind the rearview mirror under the ARS 28-959.01(A)(12) safety monitoring equipment exemption. This is the most common and recommended position.
• On the dashboard outside the windshield entirely

The 5-inch and 7-inch lower-corner zones in ARS 28-959.01(A)(5) are written for signs, stickers, and other materials, not for a dashcam or other electronic device.

Most compact dashcams fit comfortably behind the rearview mirror and do not obstruct the driver's view, making them fully compliant with Arizona law.

Audio Recording and Consent

Arizona is a one-party consent state for audio recording under ARS 13-3005. This means you can legally record conversations in your vehicle as long as at least one person in the conversation (including you, the driver) consents to the recording.

If your dashcam records audio, it is legal to use in Arizona as long as you are present in the vehicle. Recording conversations between passengers when you are not participating would require consent from at least one of those passengers.

Intercepting communications without the consent of any party is a Class 5 felony under ARS 13-3005, punishable by 6 months to 2.5 years in prison and fines up to $150,000. This penalty applies to secret recording of conversations you are not part of, not to standard dashcam use by the vehicle's driver.

Video Recording on Public Roads

Recording video on public roads in Arizona does not require anyone's consent. People do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy on public roadways. ARS 13-3019 addresses surreptitious recording, but it applies to private settings where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, not to dashcam footage captured on public streets.

Window Tinting Restrictions

ARS 28-959.01(C) prohibits placing transparent material on the windshield or side or rear windows if the material alters the color or reduces the light transmittance of the glass. The specific standards are:

Red and Amber Tint Restriction

The only color-specific bar in ARS 28-959.01 is paragraph A(11)(b): transparent material applied to the topmost portion of the windshield must not be red or amber in color. Arizona has no separate provision singling out red film across every window. Film on the side and rear windows is instead governed by subsection C, which bars any transparent material that alters the color or reduces the light transmittance of the windshield or the side or rear windows, subject to the exceptions listed in subsection A.

Manufacturer Certification

Under ARS 28-959.01(D), manufacturers of window film or transparent materials must certify that their products comply with Arizona's reflectance and transmittance standards when properly installed.

Seller and Installer Disclosure

ARS 28-959.01(F) requires any person who sells or installs window film to conspicuously disclose that the installation may be illegal in some states. This protects consumers who drive across state lines.

Medical Exemptions

ARS 28-959.01(G) allows the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to issue a medical exemption from window tinting restrictions. To qualify, a person must:

1. Have a medical condition requiring protection from direct sunlight
2. Obtain written attestation from a physician licensed under Arizona Title 32, Chapter 13, 14, or 17
3. Apply to ADOT using Form 40-1511

The exemption applies to the side and rear windows. ARS 28-959.01(G) permits a person to operate a vehicle, alter the color, or reduce the light transmitted "through the side or rear windows of a vehicle" under an exemption, so it does not authorize any tinting of the windshield.

The medical exemption covers a motor vehicle belonging to the applicant or a vehicle in which the applicant is a habitual passenger.

Image Display Device Restrictions

ARS 28-963 adds a separate layer of regulation for screens and displays visible to the driver. While a vehicle is in motion on a public road, the driver may not view:

• Broadcast television images
• Dynamic visual content from a DVD or other storage device
• Any rapidly changing images that are not related to navigation or vehicle operation

Permitted displays while driving include:

• Navigation and GPS mapping
• Vehicle information and controls
• Static background images
• Displays that enhance the driver's view of the area around the vehicle (such as backup cameras)
• Devices that display information intended to enhance traffic safety

This statute interacts with dashcam use: a dashcam that shows a live feed to the driver while driving is permitted because it enhances the driver's view of the surrounding area. However, watching recorded playback on any screen while driving would violate ARS 28-963.

Commercial Vehicle Rules

Commercial motor vehicles operating in Arizona must comply with both state and federal windshield mounting rules. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a final rule effective May 6, 2022, amending 49 CFR 393.60(e) to expand the authorized mounting area for vehicle safety technology on commercial motor vehicle windshields.

Under the FMCSA rule, devices may be mounted up to 8.5 inches below the upper edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers. This is more permissive than the previous 4-inch limit. Covered devices include:

• Driver camera systems
• Braking warning and assist systems
• Lane departure warning systems
• GPS and navigation systems
• Traffic sign recognition systems

For commercial vehicles, the federal rule applies alongside Arizona's state requirements. Where state and federal rules differ, the more restrictive standard governs for safety equipment placement.

Windshield Condition Requirements

Beyond mounting restrictions, Arizona law sets baseline requirements for the windshield itself.

Windshield Required

ARS 28-957.01 requires an adequate windshield on all passenger vehicles, motor trucks, and truck tractors. Exceptions exist for:

• Motorcycles, ATVs, and golf carts manufactured before June 17, 1998
• Farm equipment classified as implements of husbandry
• Antique or classic vehicles not originally equipped with a windshield
• Fully autonomous vehicles incapable of human operation

Safety Glass

ARS 28-959 requires all glass in vehicle doors, windows, and windshields to be safety glass, defined as glass manufactured to substantially prevent shattering and flying when struck or broken. Replacement glass must also be safety glass that meets federal standards.

Windshield Cracks and Damage

Arizona does not require periodic vehicle safety inspections. However, a windshield with cracks or damage that obstructs the driver's view can result in a citation under the general obstruction provisions of ARS 28-959.01(B). Federal guidelines used as enforcement reference points include:

• No more than one crack extending into the center area of the windshield (the space above the steering wheel, extending to within 2 inches of the top and 1 inch from each side)
• Chips or cracks larger than 3/4 inch in the driver's direct line of sight should be repaired
• Multiple cracks, spidering, or connected damage in the center area are not acceptable

Windshield Wipers

ARS 28-957 requires functioning windshield wipers that are driver-controllable and capable of removing rain, snow, and other moisture.

Penalties for Violations

Windshield mounting and obstruction violations under ARS 28-959.01 are civil traffic infractions in Arizona. There is no statewide fixed fine amount. Instead, each county court sets its own fine schedule.

In addition to the base fine, Arizona courts add surcharges and assessments that can increase the total amount owed. A violation does not add points to your driving record, as it is classified as a civil (not criminal) traffic matter.

Officers have discretion in enforcement. A small, properly placed dashcam behind the rearview mirror is unlikely to draw a citation. A large GPS unit blocking a significant portion of the windshield is more likely to result in a stop and ticket.

Summary of Placement Rules

More Arizona Laws

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• Arizona Lemon Law
• Arizona Hit and Run Laws
• Arizona Car Seat Laws