Arkansas
Arkansas Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 17, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 7, 2026. · 2 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Arkansas permits dashcams, GPS units, and phone mounts on the windshield as long as they do not obstruct the driver's view. Under Ark. Code 27-37-304, devices mounted above 4.5 inches from the bottom of the windshield are unlawful only if they cause an obstruction.
Arkansas regulates what can be mounted on or attached to a vehicle's windshield through four statutes in Arkansas Code Title 27, Chapter 37, Subchapter 3: 27-37-302, 27-37-304, 27-37-306, and 27-37-307. The law prohibits nontransparent materials that obstruct the driver's view but does not impose a blanket ban on all windshield-mounted devices.
Arkansas Windshield Obstruction Law
Arkansas Code 27-37-302 prohibits driving any motor vehicle with "any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material" on the windshield, side windows, or rear windows if it obstructs the operator's view or the safe operation of the vehicle. Certificates or papers required by law to be displayed are exempt.
The 4.5-Inch Rule
Arkansas Code 27-37-304 provides the specific measurement standard. It is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle with any substance or material (except rearview mirrors and law-required decals) attached to the windshield at any point more than 4.5 inches above the bottom of the windshield if the material obstructs the operator's view or safe operation of the vehicle.
The critical qualifier is "if it obstructs." Arkansas does not automatically ban all devices mounted above 4.5 inches. Enforcement depends on whether the item actually impairs the driver's visibility.
Front Door Windows
The same statute also reaches the front door windows. Ark. Code 27-37-304(a)(1)(B) makes it unlawful to operate a motor vehicle with any substance or material attached to the window of either front door, other than substances or materials attached by the manufacturer, if the substance or material obstructs the operator's view or the safe operation of the vehicle. The same "if it obstructs" qualifier that governs the windshield rule governs this one.
This provision is not a ban on aftermarket tint. Ark. Code 27-37-306(b)(2) separately permits aftermarket tinting on the side windows and side wings immediately to the right or left of the driver at a minimum of 25% net light transmission, and 10% net light transmission for the side windows immediately behind the driver on a truck, bus, trailer, motor home, or multiple purpose passenger vehicle. A device mounted on a front door window is restricted only when it actually obstructs the driver's view or the safe operation of the vehicle.
GPS and Phone Mounts
Arkansas law does not specifically address GPS devices or phone mounts by name. Under the 4.5-inch rule, a GPS or phone mount placed within the bottom 4.5 inches of the windshield is permitted as long as it does not obstruct the driver's view. Mounting a device higher on the windshield, such as behind the rearview mirror, creates legal risk if an officer determines it causes an obstruction.
The safest placement for a GPS or phone mount in Arkansas is on the dashboard or within the lower 4.5-inch windshield zone.
Dashcam Rules
Arkansas does not have a specific statute addressing dashcams or video event recorders. A dashcam is treated the same as any other windshield-mounted device under 27-37-304. It is permitted as long as it does not obstruct the driver's view. The most legally secure placement is behind the rearview mirror or on the dashboard.
Windshield Tinting
Arkansas Code 27-37-306 governs windshield tinting:
- A tint strip ("eyebrow") may be applied to the top edge of the windshield but cannot extend more than 5 inches downward from the top center
- Vehicles with aftermarket tinting must display a label on the front glass to the operator's left with the installer's name, phone number, and a compliance affirmation
- Law enforcement vehicles may have windshield tinting that permits at least 50% light transmission
Medical Exemption
Motorists diagnosed with qualifying conditions (including albinism or lupus) may obtain a physician's certification exempting them from standard tinting requirements. The certification must be carried in the vehicle and is valid for 3 years.
Exemptions
| Exemption | Authority |
|---|---|
| Rearview mirrors | Ark. Code 27-37-304 |
| Law-required decals and certificates | Ark. Code 27-37-302, 27-37-304 |
| Factory-installed tinting (federal compliant) | Ark. Code 27-37-304(b) |
| Out-of-state registered vehicles | Ark. Code 27-37-304(a)(2) |
| Law enforcement vehicles (50% VLT minimum) | Ark. Code 27-37-306 |
| Medical exemption (physician certified, 3 years) | Ark. Code 27-37-306 |
| Chauffeur-driven sedans (special tint allowances) | Ark. Code 27-37-307 |
Penalties
| Violation | Classification | Maximum Fine | Maximum Jail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windshield obstruction (27-37-304) | Class C misdemeanor | $500 | 30 days |
| Illegal window tinting (27-37-306) | Class B misdemeanor | $1,000 | 90 days |
| General equipment violation (first offense) | Violation | $100 | 10 days |
| General equipment (second within 1 year) | Violation | $200 | 20 days |
| General equipment (third+ within 1 year) | Violation | $500 | 6 months |
Illegal window tinting charges can be filed against both the installer and the vehicle operator.
Recent Changes (2025)
Act 327 of 2025 (HB1596) doubled fines for moving traffic violations in mobile highway work zones. A windshield obstruction citation written in a work zone may carry enhanced penalties.
No 2025 act amended Arkansas's windshield obstruction statutes (27-37-302 and 27-37-304) or its tinting statutes (27-37-306 and 27-37-307), including the chauffeur-driven-sedan tinting allowance. Act 271 of 2025 (HB1452) is a real 2025 law, but it is unrelated to windshields; it clarifies medical marijuana use restrictions in vehicles.
More Arkansas Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mount a GPS or phone on my windshield in Arkansas?
Yes, with restrictions. Under Ark. Code 27-37-304, devices mounted above 4.5 inches from the bottom of the windshield are unlawful if they obstruct the driver's view. The safest placement is on the dashboard or within the lower 4.5-inch zone of the windshield.
Is it legal to use a dashcam in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas does not have a specific dashcam statute. A dashcam is permitted as long as it does not obstruct the driver's view. The safest placement is behind the rearview mirror or on the dashboard.
What is the fine for windshield obstruction in Arkansas?
Windshield obstruction under Ark. Code 27-37-304 is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail. Illegal window tinting is a Class B misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000.
Can I get a medical exemption for darker windshield tint in Arkansas?
Yes. Under Ark. Code 27-37-306, a physician can certify that you have a qualifying condition (such as albinism or lupus) that requires darker tinting. The certification must be carried in the vehicle and is valid for three years.
Do Arkansas windshield laws apply to out-of-state vehicles?
Partly. Under Ark. Code 27-37-304(a)(2), motorists driving vehicles registered in other states that have enacted legislation regulating the shading of windshields or windows are exempt from the provisions of that section while driving on Arkansas roads, and Ark. Code 27-37-306(d) contains a parallel exemption for the tinting statute. The general prohibition in Ark. Code 27-37-302 on nontransparent material that obstructs the driver's view carries no such exemption.
Updates
Corrected the front door window rule to restore its 'only if it obstructs' condition and removed an incorrect statement that aftermarket tint on front door windows is restricted, and narrowed the out-of-state exemption takeaway to the statutes it actually covers.
Removed a fabricated claim that a 2025 Arkansas law (Act 271/HB1452) amended the state's chauffeur-driven-sedan window-tint statute; that law actually concerns medical marijuana in vehicles and does not touch any windshield or tinting statute.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated
§ 27-37-304Obstruction of interior prohibited.In force
(a)(1)(A) It is unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle which has any substance or material except rearview mirrors and decals required by law attached to the windshield at any point more than four and one-half inches (4½") above the bottom of the windshield if the substance or material…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2020-11-06 · Read the full text in our law library
Cited in 3 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2010
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Opinion No. (Arkansas Attorney General Reports 2000)“…e to the following question: Can A.C.A. § 27-37-302 , A.C.A. § 27-37-304 , or A.C.A. § 27-37-306 be interprete…”
- Giron v. City of Alexander (District Court, E.D. Arkansas 2010, 693 F. Supp. 2d 904)“…obable cause to stop all three Plaintiffs based upon either Ark.Code Ann. § 27-37-304 or § 27-37-302. The two statutes read:…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 27-37-302Windshields, etc., to be unobstructed.In force
No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, sidewings, side, or rear windows of the vehicle other than a certificate or other paper required to be so displayed by law if it obstructs the operator's view or the safe…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2020-11-06 · Read the full text in our law library
Cited in 2 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2010
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Opinion No. (Arkansas Attorney General Reports 2000)“…ral opinion in response to the following question: Can A.C.A. § 27-37-302 , A.C.A. § 27-37-304 , or A.C.A. § 27…”
- Giron v. City of Alexander (District Court, E.D. Arkansas 2010, 693 F. Supp. 2d 904)“…o substances or materials “attached to the windshield” and Ark. Code Ann. § 27-37-302 concerns only nontransparent material…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 27-37-306Light transmission levels for tinting of motor vehicle windows.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
(a) It shall be unlawful to operate a vehicle on the public highways if after-market tinting material, together with striping material, has been applied to any windows of the vehicle or if letters or logos larger than one-quarter inch (¼") have been applied to the windows of the vehicle. (b)…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-01 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at arkleg.state.ar.us
Cited in 4 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2005
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Opinion No. (Arkansas Attorney General Reports 2005)“…SE With respect to your first question, it is my opinion A.C.A. § 27-37-306 (b)(1) (Supp. 2003) specifies that "eye…”
- State v. Sullivan (Supreme Court of Arkansas 2002, 348 Ark. 647)“…f which was an illegal window-tint, which is a violation of Ark.Code Ann. § 27-37-306(b)(1) (Repl.1994). That offense is not…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Arkansas Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits
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Sources and References
- Ark. Code 27-37-302 - Windshields to be Unobstructed(law.justia.com)
- Ark. Code 27-37-304 - Obstruction of Interior Prohibited(law.justia.com)
- Ark. Code 27-37-306 - Light Transmission Levels(law.justia.com)
- Arkansas DFA - Violations and Points(dfa.arkansas.gov).gov
- Arkansas HB1452 / Act 271 of 2025 (medical marijuana in vehicles; does not amend Arkansas's windshield or window-tint statutes)(arkleg.state.ar.us).gov