Mississippi Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)

Mississippi does not ban dashcam, GPS, or phone mounts on the windshield under Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-59, which prohibits only signs, posters, and mirrored glazing. The practical test is whether the device blocks your clear view of the road. A dashboard mount avoids any conflict with the statute entirely.

Mississippi's windshield mounting laws are governed primarily by Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-59, which addresses what materials and objects may be placed on vehicle windows. Unlike some states that have enacted detailed hands-free driving laws with explicit rules for device mounts, Mississippi takes a broader approach. The state prohibits anything on the windshield that obstructs the driver's view, without specifically naming GPS units, phones, or dashcams.

This guide covers the relevant statutes, penalties, tinting rules, and practical steps for staying compliant when mounting a device to your windshield in Mississippi.

Mississippi Windshield Obstruction Law (Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-59)

The core provision of Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-59 states that no person shall drive any motor vehicle registered in Mississippi on public roads with "any sign or poster, or with any glazing material which causes a mirrored effect" on the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows.

The only items allowed on the windshield are certificates or papers "required or authorized to be so displayed by law." This includes registration stickers, tint compliance labels, and similar government-mandated displays.

This statute does not explicitly mention GPS units, phone holders, dashcams, or suction cup mounts. However, law enforcement may cite a driver under this statute or the general equipment violation statute (Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-7) if a windshield-mounted device obstructs the driver's clear view of the road.

What the Law Covers

The prohibition in Section 63-7-59 applies to:

• Signs and posters of any kind on the windshield
• Glazing material that creates a mirrored or reflective effect
• Any nontransparent material that blocks the driver's view
• Unauthorized stickers, decals, or papers

The prohibition does not specifically list electronic devices. This means GPS mounts, phone holders, and dashcams fall into a gray area. They are not expressly prohibited, but they are not expressly permitted either. The practical standard is that the device must not obstruct the driver's forward visibility.

GPS and Phone Mounts in Mississippi

Mississippi does not have a law that explicitly allows or prohibits mounting a GPS unit or phone on the windshield. The state has no hands-free driving law requiring devices to be mounted for use.

Because the windshield obstruction statute focuses on "signs, posters, and glazing material," small electronic mounts are generally tolerated as long as they do not block the driver's line of sight. Law enforcement officers have discretion to determine whether a particular mount creates an unsafe obstruction.

Best Practices for Mounting Devices

To reduce the risk of a citation and maintain safe visibility:

• Use a dashboard mount instead of a windshield mount. This avoids any potential conflict with 63-7-59 entirely.
• If using a windshield mount, place it in the lower corner of the windshield on the passenger side, away from your direct line of sight.
• Keep the device as small as possible. A compact phone holder or GPS unit is less likely to be considered an obstruction than a large tablet mount.
• Never mount a device directly in front of the driver's face. This is the most common reason for obstruction citations.
• Ensure the mount does not interfere with windshield wipers or other safety equipment.

Dashcam Rules in Mississippi

Dashcams are legal in Mississippi. The state has no statute that specifically prohibits dashboard cameras. However, the same principles from the windshield obstruction law apply. A dashcam must not obstruct the driver's view of the road.

The recommended placement for a dashcam is behind the rearview mirror, where it has a clear view of the road but does not block the driver's sightline. Dashboard-mounted cameras avoid windshield law concerns entirely.

Mississippi is a one-party consent state for audio recording, which means you can legally record audio inside your own vehicle without notifying passengers. This is relevant for dashcams that capture audio along with video.

Texting and Phone Use While Driving

Mississippi's distracted driving law is found in Miss. Code Ann. 63-33-1. This statute prohibits writing, sending, or reading text messages and accessing social networking sites using a handheld mobile telephone while operating a moving vehicle.

What Is Prohibited

Under Section 63-33-1, drivers may not:

• Write, send, or read text messages while driving
• Send or read instant messages or emails while driving
• Access, read, or post to social networking sites while driving

These prohibitions apply only when using a "hand-held mobile telephone," which the statute defines as a device "with which a user engages in a call or writes, sends or reads a text message using at least one hand."

What Is Allowed

The statute specifically excludes:

• Voice-operated or hands-free devices. A phone mounted on the dashboard or windshield and operated by voice commands is not considered "hand-held" under the law.
• Emergency, traffic, or weather alerts. Reading these notifications while driving is permitted.
• Messages related to vehicle navigation. Using a GPS app for turn-by-turn directions is allowed.
• Handheld phone calls. Mississippi does not prohibit talking on a handheld phone for most adult drivers.

Penalties for Texting While Driving

A violation of the texting ban is a civil violation (not a criminal offense) with the following penalties:

No state assessments are imposed on top of the fine. This is a primary enforcement law, meaning an officer can pull you over solely for texting while driving.

Young Drivers and Bus Operators

Miss. Code Ann. 63-1-73, which formerly imposed separate wireless-device restrictions on intermediate-license and learner's-permit holders (including the young-driver and bus-operator provisions), has been repealed. No current Mississippi statute in this guide's sources replaces it, so young drivers, permit holders, and bus operators are subject to the same statewide rule as other motorists: the texting-while-driving prohibition in Miss. Code Ann. 63-33-1 described above. Do not rely on this guide for a permit-holder-specific wireless device restriction; confirm current requirements with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety before assuming one exists.

Windshield Tinting Laws

Mississippi regulates window tinting under the same statute, Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-59. The rules for tinting are separate from the mounting restrictions but are important for overall windshield compliance.

Tinting Rules by Window

The SUV and van exemption in Section 63-7-59(3)(b) is conditional, not open-ended. It covers any window behind the front two side windows, including the rear window, of a pickup truck, van, motor home, recreational vehicle, sport utility vehicle, or multipurpose vehicle, but only where the after-delivery darkening leaves light transmittance meeting the minimum authorized for that window and that vehicle under federal law before factory delivery. In practice federal glazing rules set no numeric floor for that rear glazing, so dark rear tint on these vehicles is generally allowed, but the exemption is written against the federal standard rather than as a blanket permission.

Reflectivity Limits

Mississippi's statute does not set a numeric reflectivity percentage. Section 63-7-59(1) prohibits driving with "any glazing material which causes a mirrored effect" on the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows. That is an unquantified standard, so a mirrored or highly reflective film is prohibited on its appearance rather than against a measured figure.

The only numeric limit the statute sets for tint is the 28% light transmittance requirement in subsection (2). If you see a specific reflectivity percentage quoted for Mississippi, check it against the statute before relying on it.

Certification Label Requirement

After having aftermarket tint applied, the vehicle must be inspected at a Mississippi DPS-certified tint inspection station. The inspection station tests light transmittance and, if the vehicle passes, affixes a small pressure-sensitive label to the lower left corner of the windshield. This label certifies that all tinted windows meet the 28% minimum transmittance requirement.

The inspection fee is $5.00, of which the station keeps $2.00 and remits $3.00 to the Department of Public Safety.

Medical Exemptions

Mississippi allows a medical exemption for individuals diagnosed by a licensed physician as having a condition seriously aggravated by exposure to sunlight. Qualifying drivers may apply darker tint than normally permitted, but they must display a certificate of medical exemption on the vehicle dashboard. The certificate form is prepared by the Commissioner of Public Safety.

Windshield Wiper Requirements

Section 63-7-59 also requires every motor vehicle to have a windshield wiper device for clearing rain, snow, or other moisture. The device must be constructed so that the driver can control and operate it from inside the vehicle. Driving without functioning windshield wipers is a separate equipment violation.

Penalties for Windshield Violations

Violations of the windshield obstruction law fall under the general equipment violation penalties in Miss. Code Ann. 63-9-11.

These violations are classified as misdemeanors under Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-7.

Tint Offenses Carry a Higher Penalty

The escalating schedule above is not the ceiling for every violation of Section 63-7-59. Subsection (11) routes general violations, including windshield obstruction, to Section 63-7-7. But subsection (10) punishes three tint-specific offenses separately:

• Installing tint, darkening material, or glazing that leaves the vehicle out of compliance with the 28% standard (subsection (7))
• Issuing a compliance label for a vehicle whose windows have been darkened other than as the section allows (subsection (8))
• Altering or reproducing a label or a certificate of medical exemption to mislead officers or inspection stations, or knowingly using one outside its authorized purpose (subsection (9))

A conviction on any of those carries a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment in the county jail for up to three months, or both.

Enforcement

Section 63-7-59 limits who may enforce it. Subsection (12) provides that violations "shall be enforced only by law enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and municipal law enforcement officers of municipalities having a population of two thousand (2,000) or more on the public roads, streets and highways under their jurisdiction."

Those are the only two categories the subsection names. A municipal police department in a town under 2,000 people is not among them, and neither are county sheriff's deputies. State Department of Public Safety officers can enforce the section anywhere in Mississippi.

Traffic Safety Course Option

A driver charged with a misdemeanor equipment violation may be eligible for a traffic safety course in lieu of the standard penalty. The court may defer sentencing for 90 days to allow the defendant to complete at least four hours of a court-approved traffic safety course at the defendant's own expense. This option is not available to holders of a commercial driver's license.

Vehicle Inspection Requirements

Mississippi does not require a general vehicle safety inspection or emissions test for passenger vehicles. The state previously operated a vehicle inspection program, but it has been discontinued. The only windshield-related inspection currently required is the tint compliance inspection described above, which applies only to vehicles with aftermarket window tinting.

This means Mississippi does not require an inspection sticker on the windshield for registration purposes.

Exemptions and Allowed Windshield Items

Comparison With Neighboring States

Mississippi's approach to windshield mounting is less prescriptive than several of its neighbors. Alabama, for example, enacted a hands-free law in 2024 that explicitly allows devices mounted on the windshield, dashboard, or center console for hands-free use. Louisiana and Tennessee have also adopted specific hands-free statutes.

Mississippi currently relies on its general windshield obstruction law and the texting ban rather than a comprehensive hands-free framework. Drivers crossing state lines should be aware that the rules for windshield-mounted devices vary significantly by state.

More Mississippi Laws

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mount my phone on the windshield in Mississippi?

Mississippi does not have a law that explicitly permits or prohibits phone mounts on the windshield. The state's windshield obstruction law (Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-59) bans signs, posters, and mirrored glazing but does not mention electronic devices. A phone mount is generally tolerated as long as it does not block your view. For the safest option, use a dashboard or vent-clip mount instead.

Are dashcams legal in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi has no law prohibiting dashcams. Mount the camera behind the rearview mirror or on the dashboard so it does not obstruct your forward view. Mississippi is a one-party consent state, so recording audio inside your own vehicle is also legal without notifying passengers.

Does Mississippi have a hands-free driving law?

No. Mississippi does not have a statewide hands-free law. The state prohibits texting while driving under Miss. Code Ann. 63-33-1, but it does not ban handheld phone calls for most adult drivers. Miss. Code Ann. 63-1-73, which formerly imposed stricter wireless-device restrictions on learner's-permit and intermediate-license holders, has been repealed, so those drivers are currently subject to the same statewide texting-while-driving rule as other motorists.

What is the fine for a windshield obstruction in Mississippi?

A windshield obstruction violation is a misdemeanor under Mississippi's equipment laws. The maximum fine is $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense within one year, and $500 for a third or subsequent offense within one year. Jail time of up to 10 days (first offense) through 6 months (third offense) is also possible.

Can I put a sticker on my windshield in Mississippi?

Only stickers, certificates, or papers required or authorized by law may be displayed on the windshield. Aftermarket tint compliance labels are placed in the lower left corner of the windshield by certified inspection stations. Decorative stickers, advertisements, and other unauthorized materials are prohibited.