Is it legal to drive with a frosty windshield in Texas? State law has no chill
Frosty early mornings have become a thing since the calendar shifted to December, and that means cloudy vehicle windshields.
And that likely means you will have to spend a few extra minutes before leaving the driveway for work or school to remove it.
But what if you don’t want to defrost you windshield? What if you only want to have partial visibility? Here is what Texas law says about that.
Is it legal to drive with ice on your car’s windshield in Texas?
According to Texas law, no. The Texas Transportation Code prohibits drivers from operating motor vehicles with any objects or materials attached to the windshield, side window, or rear window that reduces or obstructs the driver’s clear view.
But why is it illegal in Texas?
The obvious reason is operating a vehicle with an obstructed view means everyone -- including motorists and pedestrians -- is in danger.
According to the Texas-based Bailey & Galyen law firm, one of the most common causes of winter vehicle accidents “is failure by a motorist to take the weather conditions into account, ” including failure by a motorist to adequately remove snow or ice from the hood or windshield of a vehicle.”
Consequences for violating these laws will result in a misdemeanor and fines of up to $1,000.
Tips for defrosting your car and windshield in the winter
According to AAA, here are some tips to make defrosting your car a little easier:
Park in a garage if possible or even under a covered carport to prevent icy buildups.
To aid in ice prevention and ease removal, some do-it- yourselfers soak cloth windshield covers in a solution of one tablespoon salt to one quart water. The damp cover can be stored in a plastic bag or container between uses.
Commercial spray-on ice and frost “shield” solutions are also available to pretreat the windshield, although these can be pricey at up to $15 a quart. In addition, some ice prevention products contain ethylene glycol, which is poisonous to pets if swallowed.
When de-icing by hand, use a rubber squeegee or a soft bristle brush to remove it from the glass. Never use metal scrapers, which can scratch the glass and damage wiper blades.
Another no-no is hot water, which can crack glass by causing thermal shock and result in an expensive auto glass repair.