Wyoming Windshield Mounting Laws

Wyoming allows dashcams, GPS units, and phone mounts on the windshield under Wyo. Stat. 31-5-955, provided they do not materially obstruct the driver's clear view of the road. For safest placement, mount devices low near the dashboard or behind the rearview mirror.

Wyoming law restricts what drivers can mount on or attach to their windshields. The primary statute governing windshield obstructions is Wyoming Statute 31-5-955, found in Title 31, Chapter 5, Article 9 of the Wyoming Statutes. This law applies to all motor vehicles driven on public roads in Wyoming, including passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs.

Understanding these rules is important for anyone who uses a GPS device, phone mount, or dashcam while driving in Wyoming. The law does not name specific devices but instead uses a broad standard that focuses on whether the item obstructs the driver's view.

Wyoming Windshield Obstruction Law (Wyo. Stat. 31-5-955)

Wyoming Statute 31-5-955 contains three key provisions regarding windshields.

Obstruction Prohibition

Subsection (a) states that no person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster, or other material or substance upon or crack within the front windshield, side windows, or rear windows of the vehicle that "materially obstructs, obscures or impairs the driver's clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway."

The critical word in this statute is "materially." Wyoming does not impose a blanket ban on all windshield-mounted items. Instead, the law prohibits items only when they create a meaningful obstruction to the driver's ability to see the road. This gives law enforcement officers discretion in determining whether a particular device or material crosses that threshold.

Windshield Wiper Requirements

Subsection (b) requires that every motor vehicle windshield be equipped with a device for cleaning rain, snow, or other moisture. The device must be constructed so the driver can control or operate it from inside the vehicle. This subsection applies to multipurpose vehicles as defined in Wyo. Stat. 31-1-101(a)(xv)(M) when they are equipped with a windshield and an enclosed cab.

General Windshield and Wiper Maintenance

Subsection (c) requires every motor vehicle to be equipped with a windshield and a windshield wiper maintained in good working order. Cracked or damaged windshields that impair the driver's view may also violate subsection (a).

GPS and Phone Mounts

Wyoming does not have a separate statute that specifically addresses GPS units or phone mounts on windshields. These devices fall under the general obstruction prohibition in Wyo. Stat. 31-5-955(a).

A GPS unit or phone mount is permitted on the windshield as long as it does not materially obstruct the driver's clear view of the road and intersecting highways. In practice, this means the device should be positioned where it does not block a significant portion of the driver's forward or peripheral visibility.

Recommended Placement

To reduce the risk of a citation, consider these placement guidelines:

• Mount the device as low on the windshield as possible, near the dashboard
• Position it to the right of center, away from the driver's primary line of sight
• Keep the device as small and compact as practical
• Use a dashboard mount instead of a windshield suction cup mount when possible

A dashboard mount keeps the device off the glass entirely, which places it outside the text of subsection (a), because that subsection reaches material placed upon the front windshield, side or rear windows. Wyoming law does not declare any mounting location lawful, however, and rules differ from state to state, so keep the device clear of your forward view wherever you mount it.

Dashcam Rules in Wyoming

Wyoming does not have a specific dashcam statute. A dashcam is treated like any other windshield-mounted device under Wyo. Stat. 31-5-955. It is permitted as long as it does not materially obstruct the driver's view.

The safest placement for a dashcam is behind the rearview mirror, where it does not block any portion of the driver's forward view. Many dashcam models are designed to fit in this location.

Commercial Vehicle Dashcam Rules

Commercial motor vehicles operating in Wyoming must also comply with federal regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Under a 2022 final rule, the FMCSA allows vehicle safety technology devices (including dashcams) to be mounted on commercial vehicle windshields in a specific zone:

• No more than 8.5 inches below the upper edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers
• No more than 7 inches above the lower edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers
• Outside the driver's sight lines to the road, highway signs, and signals

These federal rules apply in addition to Wyoming state law for commercial vehicles.

Windshield Tinting Rules (Wyo. Stat. 31-5-962)

Wyoming Statute 31-5-962 regulates sunscreening devices and window tinting on all motor vehicles. For windshields, the rules are strict.

Windshield Tint Limits

• Tint may be applied only along the top of the windshield
• It cannot extend below the AS-1 line or more than 5 inches from the top, whichever is closer to the top of the windshield
• Subsection (c) sets no minimum light-transmittance percentage for this general top strip; only the location and non-reflective/color rules above apply
• All windshield tint must be non-reflective

Side and Rear Window Rules

If any sunscreening device or tinting film is applied to windows behind the driver, the vehicle must have one left and one right outside rearview mirror.

Medical Exemption for Window Tint

Wyoming allows a medical exemption under Wyo. Stat. 31-5-962. A person with a medical condition that makes them susceptible to harm from sunlight or bright artificial light may apply for a certificate from the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The certificate requires a signed statement from a licensed physician or licensed optometrist.

With the medical exemption, the vehicle may be equipped with tinting on the windshield and all windows that reduces light transmission to no less than 25% VLT. However, even with the medical exemption, windshield tint must maintain at least 70% VLT except in the top 5-inch strip or AS-1 line area.

Vehicle Exemptions for Tinting

The tinting requirements do not apply to windows behind the driver on:

• Trucks
• Buses
• Motor homes
• Ambulances
• Limousines
• Multipurpose passenger vehicles
• Windshields on motorcycles and motor-driven cycles

Windshield Cracks

Wyoming Statute 31-5-955(a) specifically mentions cracks. The law prohibits driving with any "crack within the front windshield" that materially obstructs or impairs the driver's clear view. Whether a crack is severe enough to constitute a violation is determined by the citing officer based on the crack's size, location, and impact on visibility.

Cracks in the driver's direct line of sight are most likely to result in a citation. Small chips outside the critical vision area may not rise to the level of a material obstruction, but there is no specific size threshold defined in the statute.

Stickers and Required Items

Wyo. Stat. 31-5-955 contains no exemption for stickers, decals, permits, or placards. Subsection (a) is a single obstruction standard that reaches any sign, poster or other material or substance on the windshield, and the statute names no approved placement location anywhere in its text.

Two common assumptions do not hold up in Wyoming:

• Wyoming runs no periodic vehicle safety inspection program, so there is no state safety inspection sticker to display on the windshield.
• The disability parking placard under Wyo. Stat. 31-2-213(c) is a parking display rule, not a driving exemption. That subsection directs that the placard be suspended from the rearview mirror when a vehicle is parked in an area reserved for the handicapped, or displayed on the dashboard of a parked vehicle that has no rearview mirror. It does not authorize leaving anything in the windshield while the vehicle is in motion.

Decorative stickers, bumper stickers placed on the windshield, and aftermarket sun strips that exceed the 5-inch limit are measured against the same obstruction standard in subsection (a).

Wyoming Texting and Cell Phone Laws

Wyoming Statute 31-5-237 addresses electronic device use while driving. Understanding this law is relevant because it affects how drivers interact with windshield-mounted devices.

What Is Prohibited

No person may operate a motor vehicle on a public street or highway while using a handheld electronic wireless communication device to write, send, or read a text-based communication. This includes text messages, instant messages, and email.

What Is Allowed

• Making and receiving phone calls (including holding the phone)
• Using voice-operated or hands-free technology
• Using a phone to dial a number or select a contact
• Emergency responders using devices in the line of duty

Key Distinction

Wyoming does not have a comprehensive hands-free law as of 2026. Drivers may legally hold a phone for voice calls. This means a windshield-mounted phone holder is helpful but not legally required for phone calls. However, using a mount is still recommended for safety and to avoid any appearance of texting while driving.

Texting Penalty

A violation of the texting ban is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $75. This is a primary enforcement offense, meaning law enforcement can stop a driver solely for suspected texting.

Penalties for Windshield Violations

Violations of Wyo. Stat. 31-5-955 fall under the general traffic misdemeanor penalty structure in Wyo. Stat. 31-5-1201.

Every conviction also carries an additional $5 police officer continuing education and training fee, plus court costs that typically include $40 for court automation fees and $10 for indigent civil legal fees.

Window tinting violations under Wyo. Stat. 31-5-962 carry the same penalty structure. Law enforcement may also require removal of non-compliant tinting as a condition of resolving the citation.

Windshield Requirements for Multipurpose Vehicles

Wyoming defines multipurpose vehicles in Wyo. Stat. 31-1-101. This category includes ATVs, UTVs, and similar off-highway vehicles that may be registered for road use.

The windshield wiper requirement in Wyo. Stat. 31-5-955(b) applies to multipurpose vehicles only when they are equipped with both a windshield and an enclosed cab. A UTV or ATV without a full windshield is not required to have wipers, but if it has a windshield, the obstruction rules in subsection (a) still apply.

Recent Changes and Legislative Updates

No changes to Wyo. Stat. 31-5-955 (windshield obstruction) were enacted in the 2025 General Session or the 2026 Budget Session of the Wyoming Legislature.

The window tinting statute (Wyo. Stat. 31-5-962) was last amended on July 28, 2025, but the core provisions regarding windshield tint limits remain unchanged.

Wyoming has not passed a comprehensive hands-free driving law. The state's distracted driving prohibition remains limited to texting under Wyo. Stat. 31-5-237.

More Wyoming Laws

• Wyoming Dashcam Laws
• Wyoming Window Tint Laws
• Wyoming Car Accident Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, but with conditions. Wyoming Statute 31-5-955 prohibits any material on the windshield that materially obstructs the driver's clear view of the highway. A GPS or phone mount is legal as long as it does not create a meaningful obstruction. Mounting the device low on the windshield or on the dashboard is the safest approach.

Is a dashcam legal on a Wyoming windshield?

Yes. Wyoming does not have a specific dashcam law. A dashcam is treated like any other windshield-mounted device under Wyo. Stat. 31-5-955. It is legal as long as it does not materially obstruct the driver's view. The best placement is behind the rearview mirror. Commercial vehicles must also follow FMCSA mounting zone requirements.

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

Under Wyo. Stat. 31-5-1201, a first offense carries a maximum fine of $200. A second conviction within one year increases the maximum to $300. A third or subsequent conviction within one year can result in a fine up to $500 and up to six months in jail. Additional court fees also apply.

How much windshield tint is legal in Wyoming?

Wyoming Statute 31-5-962 allows tint only on the top 5 inches of the windshield or down to the AS-1 line, whichever is closer to the top. Subsection (c) sets no minimum light-transmittance percentage for that strip, only that it be non-reflective and not red, yellow, or amber. A medical exemption under subsection (m) requires at least 70% VLT on the rest of the windshield.

Does Wyoming require hands-free phone use while driving?

No. As of 2026, Wyoming does not have a comprehensive hands-free law. Wyoming Statute 31-5-237 prohibits texting while driving but allows drivers to hold a phone for voice calls. Using a windshield or dashboard mount for calls is recommended for safety but is not legally required.