Picture yourself driving down Lincoln Avenue on a bright, sunny day. Your favorite song is playing, your windows are down, and you don’t have a care in the world.
Then suddenly - ping! A tiny rock has chipped your window!
It’s just a small chip, and you think nothing of it. However, as the sunny weather turns colder, the chip begins to grow into a crack. What was once a small inconvenience on your car’s general appearance has turned into a much larger problem.
Many drivers may feel like getting a windshield repaired is more trouble than it's worth. But what happens if you get pulled over in Chicago with a cracked windshield?
Cracked Windshield Laws in Illinois
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According to Illinois state law, it is illegal to drive with any sort of objects or damage that causes obstructed vision for the driver. Although this law does not explicitly mention cracks or chips, they may be considered obstructions of vision based on their size or location. Other examples of vision obstructions that are explicitly listed as prohibited include signs, posters, window applications, reflective material, non-reflective material, and vision-disrupting damage on the glass.
Illinois laws about obstructed views extend further than the windshield. Chapter 12 of the Illinois Vehicle Code states that “No person shall drive a motor vehicle when the windshield, side, or rear windows are in such defective condition or repair as to materially impair the driver's view to the front, side, or rear.” This means that if a chip or crack is large enough or occurs in an area that is in the direct line of sight of the driver on any window, it may be considered illegal.
Getting a Cracked Windshield Ticket in Illinois
Although Illinois state law does not explicitly state that driving with a cracked or chipped windshield is illegal, there are some situations in which windshield damage of this type may be considered so. This means that it is up to the discretion of the Chicago officer issuing the traffic citation to determine if a crack or chip is substantial enough to constitute a traffic infraction.
If you are issued a ticket for a cracked windshield, you have to pay a fine. The amount of this fine may vary, and you may also be responsible for paying for repair costs.
Avoid Tickets With Glass Repair
If you’ve got a damaged windshield, repairing your glass may be the only way to avoid getting ticketed and paying unnecessary fines. For more than 80 years, the people of Chicago have trusted the windshield repair experts at Collision & Glass to help repair their windshields quickly and professionally.
With several locations in the greater Chicago area to choose from, Gerber Collision & Glass offers premium customer service and one of the fastest cycle times in the industry. Our quality workmanship is backed by our National Lifetime Guarantee for as long as you own your vehicle.
Call us at 1-877-7GERBER or schedule an appointment today.
