Nebraska Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)

Nebraska permits dashcam, GPS, and phone mounts on the windshield as long as they do not significantly and materially obstruct your view under Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,256. Position mounts low and to the side, or place dashcams behind the rearview mirror. Violations are enforced only as a secondary offense.

Nebraska takes a relatively lenient approach to windshield mounting restrictions compared to most states. The state prohibits objects that significantly obstruct a driver's view through the windshield, but enforcement is limited to secondary action only. That means a law enforcement officer cannot pull you over solely for a violation of that section. You must first be stopped or cited for another traffic violation before an obstruction charge can be added. A separate statute, 60-6,255, bans nontransparent material on the windshield and contains no secondary-enforcement limit, so it is not subject to the same restriction.

This guide covers the specific statutes, penalties, exemptions, and practical rules you need to know about mounting devices on your windshield in Nebraska.

Nebraska Windshield Obstruction Law (60-6,256)

Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6,256 is the primary law governing windshield-mounted objects. It states that it is unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle with any object placed or hung in or upon the motor vehicle, except required or permitted equipment, in such a manner as to significantly and materially obstruct or interfere with the view of the operator through the windshield or to prevent the operator from having a clear and full view of the road and condition of traffic behind the motor vehicle.

The key phrase here is "significantly and materially." Nebraska does not ban all objects on the windshield. The object must cause a meaningful obstruction to the driver's line of sight. A small GPS unit or phone mount positioned near the edge of the windshield is less likely to trigger a violation than a large device placed directly in the driver's central field of vision.

What "Significantly and Materially" Means

Nebraska's standard is higher than many states that simply prohibit any nontransparent material on the windshield. Under 60-6,256, the object must cause a real, substantial impairment to the driver's view. This gives drivers and officers some discretion, but it also means the standard is somewhat subjective. What one officer considers a significant obstruction, another might not.

In practice, smaller devices mounted low on the windshield or near the edges are far less likely to be considered a violation than large items placed at eye level or in the center of the windshield.

Nontransparent Material Restrictions (60-6,255)

Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6,255 adds a separate but related restriction. It makes it unlawful for any person to drive any vehicle with any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, side wing vents, or side or rear windows, other than certificates or papers required to be displayed by law.

This statute is broader in one sense: it targets nontransparent materials generally, not just those that obstruct the view. However, it specifically exempts items required by law to be displayed, such as registration stickers and inspection certificates.

Windshield Equipment Requirements

Under the same statute, every motor vehicle registered in Nebraska (except motorcycles) must be equipped with a front windshield. Every windshield must also have a functioning wiper device capable of clearing rain, snow, or other moisture. The wiper must be controllable by the driver.

Secondary Enforcement Only

One of the most important aspects of Nebraska's windshield obstruction law is its enforcement mechanism. Section 60-6,256 explicitly states that enforcement by state or local law enforcement agencies shall be accomplished only as a secondary action when a driver has been cited or charged with a traffic violation or some other offense.

This means:

• An officer cannot stop you solely for a violation of 60-6,256
• An officer can add a windshield obstruction charge if you are pulled over for another reason, such as speeding, running a stop sign, or a broken taillight
• The secondary enforcement rule applies to both state and local law enforcement agencies

This secondary enforcement structure significantly reduces the practical risk of receiving a windshield obstruction citation in Nebraska. However, it does not make the practice legal. If you are stopped for any other reason, the officer can and may cite you for a windshield obstruction.

The limit is also section-specific. Subsection (2) of 60-6,256 restricts enforcement of that section only. The nontransparent-material ban in 60-6,255 has no obstruction threshold and no secondary-enforcement clause, so a stop over an opaque sign, poster, or mount on the windshield is not foreclosed by the 60-6,256 rule.

GPS, Phone, and Dashcam Mounts

Nebraska does not have a specific statute addressing GPS devices, phone mounts, or dashcams by name. These devices fall under the general windshield obstruction rules in 60-6,256 and 60-6,255.

GPS and Phone Mounts

Mounting a GPS unit or smartphone on your windshield is not automatically illegal in Nebraska. The question is whether the device significantly and materially obstructs your view. To minimize legal risk:

• Mount the device as low as possible on the windshield, near the bottom edge
• Position it to the right or left of the driver's direct line of sight
• Use the smallest mount and device practical for your needs
• Consider a dashboard or vent mount as an alternative that avoids the windshield entirely

Because enforcement is secondary only, the practical risk of a citation for a reasonably placed phone or GPS mount is low. That said, a dashboard mount eliminates the risk entirely.

Dashcams

Dashcams are treated the same as any other windshield-mounted device under Nebraska law. There is no specific exemption or prohibition for dashcams. The safest placement is behind the rearview mirror, where the camera does not block any portion of the driver's forward view. A dashcam mounted in this position is unlikely to meet the "significantly and materially" obstruction standard.

Windshield Tint Rules

Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6,257 governs window tinting and sunscreening. The rules for windshields and other windows are:

Red, amber, and yellow sunscreening material is prohibited on the windshield above the AS-1 line. Front side, rear side, and rear windows are regulated by luminous-reflectance and light-transmission percentages rather than a color restriction. Nebraska does allow the tint standards to be waived. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,260, the Nebraska State Patrol or a local law enforcement agency may grant a waiver of the standards in section 60-6,257 for reasons of safety or security, or for medical reasons based on an affidavit signed by a licensed physician. The waiver must be in writing and signed by the head of the agency that grants it.

Tint carries a different penalty from the rest of this family. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,258, any person owning or operating a motor vehicle in violation of 60-6,257 is guilty of a Class V misdemeanor. That is a criminal classification rather than a traffic infraction, although Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-106 caps a Class V misdemeanor at a $100 fine with no imprisonment.

Texting and Cell Phone Laws

Nebraska Revised Statute 60-6,179.01 prohibits using a handheld wireless communication device to read, manually type, or send a written communication while operating a motor vehicle in motion. Like the windshield obstruction law, this is enforced as a secondary offense only.

Key details of the texting law:

• Applies to reading, typing, and sending text messages, emails, and other written communications
• Does not apply to voice calls, so most adult drivers may talk on a handheld phone under this section
• Exempt persons include law enforcement officers, firefighters, ambulance drivers, and EMTs performing official duties
• Also exempt: drivers using a device in an emergency situation
• A "handsfree wireless communication device" is excluded from the definition of prohibited devices
• Violations carry a fine of $200 to $500 and 3 points on your driving record

Drivers Who Cannot Use a Handheld Phone at All

The voice-call allowance in 60-6,179.01 is not universal. Two other statutes ban handheld phone use outright for specific drivers.

• Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,179.02 bars the operator of a commercial motor vehicle, or of a motor vehicle designed or used to transport between nine and fifteen passengers, from using a handheld mobile telephone while driving. The statute defines that use to include using at least one hand to hold a mobile telephone to conduct a voice communication, and subsection (4) applies a comparable restriction to school bus operators.
• Drivers under 18 holding a Nebraska permit may not use a wireless device at all. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-4,120.01 provides that the holder of a provisional operator's permit shall not use any type of interactive wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle on the highways of this state. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-4,123 and Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-4,124 impose the same restriction on LPD-learner's permit and school permit holders.

That permit rule matters directly on a mounting page. The restriction is on using the device, not merely on holding it, so putting the phone in a windshield or dashboard cradle does not cure the violation for a permit holder.

No Comprehensive Hands-Free Law

As of 2026, Nebraska does not have a comprehensive hands-free driving law. Multiple bills have been introduced in the Nebraska Legislature to create one, including LB594, introduced by Senator Prokop and read for the first time on January 22, 2025 in the 109th Legislature. As introduced, LB594 would have barred any person from physically holding or supporting with any part of the body, or otherwise using, a handheld wireless communication device while driving, and it would have struck the secondary-enforcement subsection, making the offense primary. LB594 has not become law. The current text of 60-6,179.01 still lists its 2014 amendment as the most recent change.

Nebraska remains one of a small number of states without a full hands-free law or primary enforcement of distracted driving violations. The Nebraska Department of Transportation continues to advocate for stronger distracted driving measures through public awareness campaigns.

Exemptions

Notably, Nebraska's exemption for government-authorized stickers covers items like registration decals, parking permits issued by political subdivisions, and toll transponders required by government agencies.

Penalties

For windshield obstruction under 60-6,256, fines escalate with repeat offenses: $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, and $150 for subsequent offenses. The obstruction, nontransparent-material, and texting violations are traffic infractions rather than misdemeanors, so none of them carries the possibility of jail time. Tint is the exception in this family: 60-6,258 makes a violation of 60-6,257 a Class V misdemeanor, a criminal classification, even though 28-106 caps the punishment at a $100 fine with no imprisonment.

The nontransparent-material statute (60-6,255) does not set its own fine or point penalty, but that does not leave it unpenalized. It sits inside the Nebraska Rules of the Road, which Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-601 defines as sections 60-601 to 60-6,383. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-682 provides that, unless otherwise declared in the rules for a particular offense, a violation of any provision of the rules is a traffic infraction, and Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-689 supplies the default fine: not more than $100 for a first offense, not more than $200 for a second offense within one year, and not more than $300 for a third and subsequent offense. On points, 60-4,182 names 60-6,256 but not 60-6,255. Subdivision (17) of that section assigns 1 point to all other traffic violations reportable to the Department of Motor Vehicles, and 60-6,255 is not among the violations that subdivision excludes, so the catch-all may apply.

Accumulating 12 or more points within any two-year period triggers a license revocation hearing by the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles under Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-4,182.

Practical Tips for Nebraska Drivers

Because Nebraska uses secondary enforcement for windshield obstruction, the practical risk of a citation under 60-6,256 during a stop made for nothing else is low. That protection is section-specific, though: the nontransparent-material ban in 60-6,255 carries no secondary-enforcement limit, so an opaque item on the windshield can still support a stop. Following these practices helps you stay compliant and safe:

• Use a dashboard or vent mount for your phone or GPS whenever possible. This avoids the windshield entirely and eliminates any legal gray area.
• If you must use a windshield mount, place it as low and far to the side as practical. Avoid mounting anything in your direct line of sight.
• Keep your windshield clear of stickers, decorations, and hanging objects that could accumulate into a meaningful obstruction.
• Make sure your windshield wipers work. A non-functioning wiper is a separate violation under 60-6,255.
• Do not text while driving. Even though enforcement is secondary, the $200 to $500 fine and 3-point penalty are significant if you are cited during another traffic stop.

Recent Legislative Developments

Nebraska's windshield obstruction statute (60-6,256) was amended in 2011 by LB500, which made two significant changes: it added the "significantly and materially" qualifier to the obstruction standard (previously, any obstruction was prohibited), and it changed enforcement from primary to secondary. The violation was also reclassified from a Class V misdemeanor to a traffic infraction at that time.

Since 2011, no further amendments to the windshield obstruction law have been enacted. However, the Nebraska Legislature has considered multiple bills to strengthen distracted driving laws generally, including proposals to make texting while driving a primary offense and to implement a comprehensive hands-free law. None of these proposals has passed as of 2026.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation reports that distracted driving remains a leading cause of traffic crashes in the state and continues to support legislative efforts to strengthen enforcement.

More Nebraska Laws

• Nebraska Recording Laws
• Nebraska Lemon Law
• Nebraska Hit and Run Laws
• Nebraska Car Seat Laws
• Nebraska Statute of Limitations

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mount a GPS or phone on my windshield in Nebraska?

Nebraska does not automatically ban GPS or phone mounts on the windshield. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,256, a mount is only illegal if it significantly and materially obstructs the driver's view. The safest approach is to use a dashboard or vent mount, but a small windshield mount placed low and to the side is unlikely to trigger a violation. Enforcement of 60-6,256 is secondary only, so you cannot be pulled over under that section alone. A separate statute, 60-6,255, bans nontransparent material on the windshield and carries no secondary-enforcement limit.

Is windshield obstruction a primary or secondary offense in Nebraska?

Windshield obstruction under Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,256 is a secondary offense in Nebraska. Law enforcement can only cite you under that section if you have already been stopped or charged with another traffic violation or offense. The limit is section-specific: 60-6,255 separately bans nontransparent material on the windshield and contains no secondary-enforcement clause, so a stop over an opaque windshield item is not foreclosed.

What is the fine for a windshield obstruction ticket in Nebraska?

A first offense carries a $50 fine and 1 point on your driving record. Second offenses cost $100, and subsequent offenses cost $150. The violation is classified as a traffic infraction, not a misdemeanor, so jail time is not possible.

Are dashcams legal in Nebraska?

Yes. Nebraska does not have a specific law addressing dashcams. A dashcam is legal as long as it does not significantly and materially obstruct the driver's view under Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,256. The best placement is behind the rearview mirror where it does not block any portion of the driver's forward view.

Does Nebraska have a hands-free driving law?

No. As of 2026, Nebraska does not have a comprehensive hands-free driving law. The state prohibits texting while driving under Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,179.01, but that law is also enforced as a secondary offense only. Most adult drivers may talk on a handheld phone. There are exceptions: Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,179.02 bars handheld phone use by operators of commercial motor vehicles, vehicles designed or used to carry between nine and fifteen passengers, and school buses, and a driver holding a Nebraska provisional operator's permit, LPD-learner's permit, or school permit may not use any type of interactive wireless communication device while driving under 60-4,120.01, 60-4,123, and 60-4,124. Multiple bills to enact a hands-free law have been introduced but none have passed.