{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-1054.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-1054.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-1054.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-1054.html"}],"law_id":78616,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78616,"structure_id":15072,"section_number":"46.2-1054","catch_line":"Suspension of objects or alteration of vehicle so as to obstruct driver’s view","history":"1960, c. 122, \u00a7 46.1-291.1; 1972, cc. 8, 844; 1987, c. 135; 1989, c. 727; 2003, c. 273; 2019, c. 510; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 45, 51; 2023, c. 235.","full_text":"A\n\nIt shall be unlawful for any person (i) to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in the Commonwealth with any object or objects, other than a rear view mirror, sun visor, or other equipment of the motor vehicle approved by the Superintendent, suspended from any part of the motor vehicle in such a manner as to substantially obstruct the driver’s clear view of the highway through the windshield, the front side windows, or the rear window or (ii) to alter a passenger-carrying vehicle in such a manner as to obstruct the driver’s view through the windshield. However, this section shall not apply (a) when the driver’s clear view of the highway through the rear window is obstructed if such motor vehicle is equipped with a mirror on each side, so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle, (b) to safety devices installed on the windshields of vehicles owned by private waste haulers or local governments and used to transport solid waste, or (c) to bicycle racks installed on the front of any bus operated by any city, county, transit authority, or transit or transportation district. The provisions of clause (ii) shall not apply to the lawful immobilization of vehicles pursuant to § 46.2-1216 or 46.2-1231.B\n\nNo law-enforcement officer shall stop a motor vehicle for a violation of this section. No evidence discovered or obtained as the result of a stop in violation of this subsection, including evidence discovered or obtained with the operator’s consent, shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.C\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit the suspension and use of any dashboard camera and any accompanying wires or attachments in or on a motor vehicle provided that (i) such suspension and use are not otherwise prohibited by the provisions of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations and (ii) such camera, wires, and attachments are wholly or mostly concealed behind the rear view mirror without any additional obstruction to the driver’s view.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":281712,"text":"It shall be unlawful for any person (i) to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in the Commonwealth with any object or objects, other than a rear view mirror, sun visor, or other equipment of the motor vehicle approved by the Superintendent, suspended from any part of the motor vehicle in such a manner as to substantially obstruct the driver’s clear view of the highway through the windshield, the front side windows, or the rear window or (ii) to alter a passenger-carrying vehicle in such a manner as to obstruct the driver’s view through the windshield. However, this section shall not apply (a) when the driver’s clear view of the highway through the rear window is obstructed if such motor vehicle is equipped with a mirror on each side, so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle, (b) to safety devices installed on the windshields of vehicles owned by private waste haulers or local governments and used to transport solid waste, or (c) to bicycle racks installed on the front of any bus operated by any city, county, transit authority, or transit or transportation district. The provisions of clause (ii) shall not apply to the lawful immobilization of vehicles pursuant to § 46.2-1216 or 46.2-1231.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":281713,"text":"No law-enforcement officer shall stop a motor vehicle for a violation of this section. No evidence discovered or obtained as the result of a stop in violation of this subsection, including evidence discovered or obtained with the operator’s consent, shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":281714,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit the suspension and use of any dashboard camera and any accompanying wires or attachments in or on a motor vehicle provided that (i) such suspension and use are not otherwise prohibited by the provisions of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations and (ii) such camera, wires, and attachments are wholly or mostly concealed behind the rear view mirror without any additional obstruction to the driver’s view.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15072,"edition_id":1,"name":"Windshields and Windows","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12828,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:59","permalink":{"id":229615,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15072,"identifier":"6","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6","url":"\/46.2\/III\/10\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12828,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12827,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":228599,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12828,"identifier":"10","token":"46.2\/III\/10","url":"\/46.2\/III\/10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12827,"edition_id":1,"name":"Operation","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":228597,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12827,"identifier":"III","token":"46.2\/III","url":"\/46.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12770,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12770,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":70949,"structure_id":15072,"section_number":"46.2-1052","catch_line":"Tinting films, signs, decals, and stickers on windshields, etc.; penalties","url":"\/46.2-1052\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1052","metadata":false},{"id":70045,"structure_id":15072,"section_number":"46.2-1053","catch_line":"Equipping certain motor vehicles with sun-shading or tinting films or applications","url":"\/46.2-1053\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1053","metadata":false},{"id":78616,"structure_id":15072,"section_number":"46.2-1054","catch_line":"Suspension of objects or alteration of vehicle so as to obstruct driver's view","url":"\/46.2-1054\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1054","metadata":false},{"id":61313,"structure_id":15072,"section_number":"46.2-1055","catch_line":"Windshield wipers","url":"\/46.2-1055\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1055","metadata":false},{"id":57465,"structure_id":15072,"section_number":"46.2-1055.1","catch_line":"Windshield defroster or defogger","url":"\/46.2-1055.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1055.1","metadata":false},{"id":75928,"structure_id":15072,"section_number":"46.2-1056","catch_line":"When safety glass required","url":"\/46.2-1056\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1056","metadata":false},{"id":86558,"structure_id":15072,"section_number":"46.2-1057","catch_line":"Windshields","url":"\/46.2-1057\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1057","metadata":false},{"id":81260,"structure_id":15072,"section_number":"46.2-1058","catch_line":"Replacement of glass in vehicle","url":"\/46.2-1058\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1058","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":70045,"structure_id":15072,"section_number":"46.2-1053","catch_line":"Equipping certain motor vehicles with sun-shading or tinting films or applications","url":"\/46.2-1053\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1053","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":61313,"structure_id":15072,"section_number":"46.2-1055","catch_line":"Windshield wipers","url":"\/46.2-1055\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1055","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1054\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1960. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 122 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1960 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1972, chapters 8 and 844; in 1987, chapter 135; in 1989, chapter 727; in 2003, chapter 273<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 510<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 235<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":57036,"section_number":"46.2-1216","catch_line":"Removal or immobilization of motor vehicles, vehicles, and trailers against which there are outstanding parking violations; ordinances","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1216\/"}],"permalink":{"id":229625,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78616,"identifier":"46.2-1054","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1054","url":"\/46.2-1054\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1054\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/6\/46.2-1054","dublin_core":{"Title":"Suspension of objects or alteration of vehicle so as to obstruct driver’s view","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1054","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It shall be unlawful for any person (i) to drive a motor vehicle<\/span> on a highway<\/span> in the Commonwealth with any object<\/span> or objects<\/span>, other than a rear view mirror, sun visor, or other equipment of the motor vehicle<\/span> approved by the Superintendent<\/span>, suspended from any part of the motor vehicle<\/span> in such a manner as to substantially obstruct the driver<\/span>’s clear view of the highway<\/span> through the windshield, the front side windows, or the rear window or (ii) to alter a passenger-carrying vehicle in such a manner as to obstruct the driver<\/span>’s view through the windshield. However, this section shall not apply (a) when the driver<\/span>’s clear view of the highway<\/span> through the rear window is obstructed if such motor vehicle<\/span> is equipped with a mirror on each side, so located as to reflect to the driver<\/span> a view of the highway<\/span> for at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle, (b) to safety devices installed on the windshields of vehicles<\/span> owned by private waste haulers or local governments and used to transport solid waste, or (c) to bicycle<\/span> racks installed on the front of any bus operated by any city, county, transit authority, or transit or transportation district. The provisions of clause (ii) shall not apply to the lawful immobilization of vehicles<\/span> pursuant to § 46.2-1216<\/a> or 46.2-1231<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> shall stop a motor vehicle<\/span> for a violation of this section. No evidence<\/span> discovered or obtained as the result of a stop in violation of this subsection, including evidence<\/span> discovered or obtained with the operator<\/span>’s consent, shall be admissible<\/span> in any trial<\/span>, hearing<\/span>, or other proceeding. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit the suspension<\/span> and use of any dashboard camera and any accompanying wires or attachments<\/span> in or on a motor vehicle<\/span> provided that (i) such suspension<\/span> and use are not otherwise prohibited by the provisions of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations and (ii) such camera, wires, and attachments<\/span> are wholly or mostly concealed behind the rear view mirror without any additional obstruction to the driver<\/span>’s view. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSUSPENSION OF OBJECTS OR ALTERATION OF VEHICLE SO AS TO OBSTRUCT DRIVER’S\nVIEW (\u00a7 46.2-1054)\n\nA. It shall be unlawful for any person (i) to drive a motor vehicle on a highway\nin the Commonwealth with any object or objects, other than a rear view mirror,\nsun visor, or other equipment of the motor vehicle approved by the\nSuperintendent, suspended from any part of the motor vehicle in such a manner as\nto substantially obstruct the driver’s clear view of the highway through\nthe windshield, the front side windows, or the rear window or (ii) to alter a\npassenger-carrying vehicle in such a manner as to obstruct the driver’s\nview through the windshield. However, this section shall not apply (a) when the\ndriver’s clear view of the highway through the rear window is obstructed\nif such motor vehicle is equipped with a mirror on each side, so located as to\nreflect to the driver a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear of\nsuch vehicle, (b) to safety devices installed on the windshields of vehicles\nowned by private waste haulers or local governments and used to transport solid\nwaste, or (c) to bicycle racks installed on the front of any bus operated by any\ncity, county, transit authority, or transit or transportation district. The\nprovisions of clause (ii) shall not apply to the lawful immobilization of\nvehicles pursuant to § 46.2-1216 or 46.2-1231.\n\nB. No law-enforcement officer shall stop a motor vehicle for a violation of this\nsection. No evidence discovered or obtained as the result of a stop in violation\nof this subsection, including evidence discovered or obtained with the\noperator’s consent, shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other\nproceeding.\n\nC. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit the\nsuspension and use of any dashboard camera and any accompanying wires or\nattachments in or on a motor vehicle provided that (i) such suspension and use\nare not otherwise prohibited by the provisions of Title 49 of the Code of\nFederal Regulations and (ii) such camera, wires, and attachments are wholly or\nmostly concealed behind the rear view mirror without any additional obstruction\nto the driver’s view.\n\nHISTORY: 1960, c. 122, \u00a7 46.1-291.1; 1972, cc. 8, 844; 1987, c. 135; 1989, c.\n727; 2003, c. 273; 2019, c. 510; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 45, 51; 2023, c. 235.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}