Colorado Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)

Colorado law does not include a specific statute that addresses windshield-mounted devices such as GPS units, phone holders, or dashcams by name. Instead, the state regulates windshield obstructions through two statutes in Colorado Revised Statutes Title 42: CRS 42-4-201, which covers obstruction of view, and CRS 42-4-227, which covers window transparency and prohibited materials.

This guide explains what you can and cannot mount on your windshield in Colorado, the tinting rules, how the 2025 hands-free law affects device mounting, and the penalties for violations.

Colorado Windshield Obstruction Law (CRS 42-4-201)

The primary statute governing windshield-mounted devices is CRS 42-4-201. Subsection (4) states that no vehicle shall be operated on any highway unless the driver's vision through any required glass equipment is "normal and unobstructed."

This language does not prohibit mounting devices on the windshield. It prohibits mounting them in a way that blocks the driver's view. The legal test is functional: does the device, as positioned, obstruct the driver's ability to see the road, traffic, and surroundings?

What CRS 42-4-201 Covers

The statute addresses several types of obstructions:

• Loading and passengers: A vehicle cannot be loaded, and no more than three persons can ride in the front seat, if doing so obstructs the driver's forward or side vision or interferes with control of the vehicle (subsection 1).

• Video displays: A driver cannot operate a vehicle with a video display visible to the driver while the vehicle is in motion (subsection 3). However, the statute specifically exempts computers, data terminals, and safety equipment as long as they are not used to display "visual entertainment, including internet browsing, social media, and e-mail."

• Driver vision through glass: The driver's vision through any required glass must be normal and unobstructed (subsection 4).

The video display exemption is significant for GPS and navigation devices. A GPS showing a navigation map is not classified as "visual entertainment" under the statute, so it is permitted while the vehicle is in motion.

Penalties for Obstruction Violations

Violating any provision of CRS 42-4-201 is a Class A traffic infraction. Fines range from $15 to $100, plus court surcharges that can increase the total amount. Points are not assessed for equipment infractions, but a citation remains on your driving record.

If a windshield obstruction contributes to an accident, the driver may face additional liability. An obstruction that causes or contributes to a crash strengthens negligence claims in civil lawsuits and can result in elevated charges.

Windows Unobstructed Law (CRS 42-4-227)

CRS 42-4-227 governs window transparency, tinting, and prohibited materials. While CRS 42-4-201 focuses on the driver's view, this statute focuses on what can be applied to or placed on the glass itself.

Prohibited Materials on the Windshield

Under CRS 42-4-227, you cannot place signs, posters, or other non-transparent materials on the windshield if they obstruct the driver's view. The statute specifically prohibits materials that:

• Present a metallic or mirrored appearance on any vehicle window
• Are red or amber in color
• Affect perception of primary colors or otherwise distort vision
• Contain lettering that distorts or obstructs vision
• Reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the eyes of occupants in oncoming or preceding vehicles to a greater extent than the bare windshield

What About Stickers and Decals?

Certificates, stickers, or decals required by law (such as registration stickers or emissions inspection decals) are exempt. Toll transponder stickers, including those for E-470 and the Northwest Parkway, are mounted on the inside of the windshield near the rearview mirror and are permitted under this exemption.

Non-required stickers and decals are allowed only if they do not obstruct the driver's view. Placing a large sticker in the driver's direct line of sight would violate the statute.

Penalties for Window Violations

Standard violations of CRS 42-4-227 are a Class B traffic infraction, with fines from $15 to $100 plus surcharges.

However, any person who installs, covers, or treats a windshield or window so that it fails to meet the transparency requirements commits a Class A traffic infraction, which carries the same fine range but is considered more serious.

Colorado Windshield Tinting Rules

Colorado's windshield tinting rules are contained in CRS 42-4-227 and apply to all passenger vehicles registered in the state.

Windshield Tint Requirements

Rule	Requirement
Tint strip location	Top 4 inches of the windshield only (above the AS-1 line)
Minimum VLT	70% visible light transmittance
Reflective tint	Not permitted (no metallic or mirrored appearance)
Prohibited colors	Red and amber
Full windshield tint	Not permitted at any VLT level

The AS-1 line is a marking etched into the glass by the manufacturer, typically located 4 to 6 inches from the top of the windshield. Colorado law uses the 4-inch measurement as the maximum extent for applied tint material, regardless of where the AS-1 line falls on a particular vehicle.

Other Window Tint Limits

Window	Minimum VLT
Windshield (top strip only)	70%
Front side windows	27%
Rear side windows	Any darkness (if front windows and windshield meet their minimums)
Rear window	Any darkness (if front windows and windshield meet their minimums)

Medical Exemptions

Colorado does not offer medical exemptions for window tinting. Unlike states such as Arkansas or Florida, there is no process to obtain a physician's waiver for darker tint. Drivers with medical conditions requiring UV protection must stay within the legal VLT limits and use high-performance UV-blocking films that meet the transparency thresholds.

GPS and Navigation Device Mounts

Colorado permits GPS and navigation devices to be mounted on the windshield. The key legal requirements are:

1. The device must not obstruct the driver's view. Position the mount so it does not block your line of sight to the road, traffic signals, or pedestrians.

2. The display must show navigation, not entertainment. Under CRS 42-4-201(3), a screen visible to the driver is prohibited while the vehicle is in motion if it displays visual entertainment. GPS maps and turn-by-turn navigation are not classified as entertainment.

3. You must use the device hands-free. Under the 2025 hands-free law (SB 24-065), you cannot hold or manually interact with any mobile electronic device while driving. A securely mounted GPS that you operate by voice commands or set up before driving is compliant.

Best Placement Practices

For legal safety, mount GPS devices in these locations:

• Lower corner of the windshield (driver or passenger side), below the line of sight to the road ahead
• On the dashboard, using a dashboard mount or friction pad
• Behind the rearview mirror, if the device is small enough not to extend beyond the mirror's profile

Avoid mounting a GPS in the center of the windshield at eye level. While not explicitly banned by statute, this placement creates the strongest argument for an obstruction citation.

Phone Mounts and the Hands-Free Law

Colorado's hands-free driving law, SB 24-065, took effect on January 1, 2025. This law fundamentally changed how drivers can interact with phones in vehicles and makes windshield phone mounts more relevant than ever.

What SB 24-065 Prohibits

The law prohibits drivers of all ages from holding or manually using a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. This applies even when stopped in traffic or at a stoplight. Prohibited activities include:

• Holding a phone to your ear for a call
• Typing or reading text messages
• Scrolling through apps, social media, or email
• Watching videos
• Any manual interaction with a mobile device while driving

How Phone Mounts Help You Comply

A phone mount is one of the approved hands-free methods under the law. When your phone is securely mounted on the windshield or dashboard, you can:

• Use voice-activated calling and messaging
• Follow GPS navigation displayed on the screen
• Use CarPlay or Android Auto through the vehicle's system
• Accept calls through Bluetooth while the phone remains in the mount

You still cannot manually interact with the phone while the vehicle is in motion. Setting your destination, queuing music, or sending a text must be done before you start driving or while the vehicle is parked.

Penalties for Hands-Free Law Violations

Offense	Fine	License Points
First offense	$75	2 points
Second offense (within 24 months)	$150	3 points
Third or subsequent offense (within 24 months)	$250	4 points

First-time violators can have the charge dismissed by providing proof of purchasing a hands-free accessory (such as a phone mount or Bluetooth headset) and affirming under penalty of perjury that they have not previously used this dismissal option.

Exemptions from the Hands-Free Law

The law does not apply to:

• Individuals contacting emergency services (911)
• Utility workers responding to utility emergencies
• Code enforcement officers and animal protection officers performing official duties
• First responders acting in their official capacity
• Individuals in parked vehicles that are not in active traffic lanes

Commercial drivers holding a commercial driver's license (CDL) operating commercial vehicles are exempt from the state law but remain subject to federal distracted driving regulations.

Dashcam Rules in Colorado

Colorado does not have a statute specifically addressing dashcams or video event recorders. A dashcam is treated the same as any other windshield-mounted device under the general obstruction statutes.

Legal Requirements for Dashcams

• The dashcam must not obstruct the driver's view of the road (CRS 42-4-201)
• The dashcam must not present a metallic or mirrored appearance (CRS 42-4-227)
• The dashcam display must not show visual entertainment to the driver while driving (CRS 42-4-201)

Recommended Dashcam Placement

The safest legal placement for a dashcam in Colorado is behind the rearview mirror, where the camera has a clear view of the road ahead without blocking the driver's line of sight. Small, compact dashcams that fit within the profile of the rearview mirror area are the least likely to draw a citation.

Dashboard-mounted dashcams are also permitted and avoid windshield obstruction concerns entirely.

Toll Transponders and Required Stickers

Colorado's toll roads, including E-470, the Northwest Parkway, and I-25 Express Lanes, use transponder stickers or tags that mount on the inside of the windshield. These devices are legally permitted.

The standard installation location is on the inside of the windshield, near the top center behind the rearview mirror, approximately 4 inches from the top of the glass. This placement keeps the transponder within the tint strip zone and out of the driver's direct line of sight.

Since toll transponders are required for toll road use and are small enough to avoid obstructing the driver's view, they fall within the exemption for law-required items under CRS 42-4-227.

Windshield Damage and Replacement

Colorado law requires that the windshield be free from damage that obstructs the driver's view. While the statute does not specify exact crack dimensions, enforcement follows these general principles:

When Windshield Damage May Result in a Citation

• Cracks or chips in the driver's direct line of sight (approximately an 8.5-by-11-inch area directly in front of the steering wheel)
• Extensive spiderweb cracking that distorts visibility
• Multiple cracks or chips that collectively impair the view
• Damage that compromises the structural integrity of the windshield

When Damage Is Typically Allowed

• Small chips under 3/4 inch in diameter that are not in the driver's line of sight
• Minor cracks that do not extend into the driver's viewing area
• Damage on the passenger side that does not affect the driver's vision

Insurance Coverage

Colorado is not a zero-deductible windshield replacement state. However, under Colorado insurance law, auto insurance companies are required to offer the option of zero-deductible glass coverage. Whether your windshield replacement is covered at no cost depends on whether you elected this coverage option on your policy. Chip repairs are often covered with no deductible under comprehensive coverage.

Comparison With Neighboring States

Colorado's windshield mounting laws are relatively permissive compared to some neighboring states. Here is how they compare:

State	Windshield Mount Allowed?	Specific Placement Rules?	Hands-Free Law?
Colorado	Yes, if no obstruction	No specific placement zone	Yes (Jan. 2025)
Utah	Yes, if no obstruction	No specific placement zone	Yes
Kansas	Yes, if no obstruction	No specific placement zone	No statewide law
Nebraska	Yes, with restrictions	Lower left or right corner	No statewide law
Wyoming	Yes, if no obstruction	No specific placement zone	No statewide law
New Mexico	Yes, if no obstruction	No specific placement zone	Yes

Summary of Colorado Windshield Laws

Topic	Statute	Key Rule
Windshield obstruction	CRS 42-4-201(4)	Driver's vision must be "normal and unobstructed"
Video displays	CRS 42-4-201(3)	No entertainment displays visible to driver; GPS/navigation permitted
Window materials	CRS 42-4-227	No metallic, mirrored, red, or amber materials
Windshield tint	CRS 42-4-227	Top 4 inches only, minimum 70% VLT
Front side window tint	CRS 42-4-227	Minimum 27% VLT
Hands-free driving	SB 24-065	No holding or manually using mobile devices while driving
Obstruction penalty	CRS 42-4-201	Class A infraction, $15 to $100 fine
Window violation penalty	CRS 42-4-227	Class B infraction (Class A for installers)
Hands-free violation	SB 24-065	$75 first offense, up to $250 third offense

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