(A) Certain window applications prohibited. No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any sign, poster, window application, reflective material, non-reflective material, or tinted film upon the front windshield. A non-reflective tinted film may be used along the uppermost portion of the windshield if such material does not extend more than six inches down from the top of the windshield. Nothing in this section shall create a cause of action on behalf of a buyer against a dealer or manufacturer who sells a motor vehicle with a window which is in violation of this section.
(B) Exceptions. No window treatment or tinting shall be applied to the windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver, except the following.
(1) On vehicles where none of the windows to the rear of the driver's seat are treated in a manner that allows less than 30% light transmittance, a non-reflective tinted film that allows at least 50% light transmittance, with a 5% variance observed by any law enforcement official metering the light transmittance, may be used on the vehicle windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver.
(2) On vehicles where none of the windows to the rear of the driver's seat are treated in a manner that allows less than 35% light transmittance, a non-reflective tinted film that allows at least 35% light transmittance, with a 5% variance observed by any law enforcement official metering the light transmittance, may be used on the vehicle windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver.
(3) On vehicles where a non-reflective smoked or tinted glass that was originally installed by the manufacturer on the windows to the rear of the driver's seat, a non-reflective tint that allows at least 50% light transmittance, with a 5% variance observed by a law enforcement official metering the light transmittance, may be used on the vehicle windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver.
(4) This section shall not apply to window treatment, including, but not limited to, a window application, non-reflective material, or tinted film, applied or affixed to a motor vehicle for which distinctive license plates or license plate stickers have been issued pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/3-412(k) and is used in accordance with 625 ILCS 5/12-503(g).
(C) Suspended objects prohibited. No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any objects placed or suspended between the driver and the front windshield, rear window, side wings or side windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver which materially obstructs the driver's view.
(D) Windshield wipers. Every motor vehicle, except motorcycles, shall be equipped with a device, controlled by the driver, for cleaning rain, snow, moisture, or other obstruction from the windshield; and no person shall drive a motor vehicle with snow, ice, moisture or other material on any of the windows or mirrors, which materially obstructs the driver's clear view of the highway.
(E) Condition of windows; rearview mirrors. No person shall drive a motor vehicle when the windshield, side, or rear windows are in such defective condition or repair as to materially impair the driver's view to the front, side, or rear. A vehicle equipped with a side mirror on each side of the vehicle which are in conformance with this section will be deemed to be in compliance in the event the rear window of the vehicle is materially obscured.
(F) Exemptions.
(1) Divisions (A) and (B) of this section shall not apply to:
(a) Motor vehicles manufactured prior to January 1, 1982; or
(b) To those motor vehicles properly registered in another jurisdiction.
(2) (a) Division (A) of this section shall not apply to any motor vehicle:
1. That is owned and operated by a person afflicted with or suffering from a medical illness, ailment, or disease which would require that person to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun; or
2. That is used in transporting a person when such person resides at the same address as the registered owner of the vehicle and such person is afflicted with or suffering from a medical illness or disease which would require such person to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun.
(b) It must be certified by a physician licensed to practice medicine in Illinois that such person owning and operating, or being transported in a motor vehicle is afflicted with or suffers from such illness, ailment, or disease, and such certification must be carried in the motor vehicle at all times. The certification shall be legible and shall contain the date of issuance, the name, address, and signature of the attending physician, and the name, address, and medical condition of the person requiring exemption. The information on the certificate must remain current and shall be renewed annually by the attending physician.
(3) Division (A) of this section shall not apply to motor vehicle stickers or other certificates issued by state or local authorities which are required to be displayed upon motor vehicle windows to evidence compliance with requirements concerning motor vehicles.
(G) Older vehicle restrictions. Those motor vehicles exempted under division (F)(1)(a) of this section shall not cause their windows to be treated as described in division (A) of this section after January 1, 1993.
(Ord. 14-17, passed 11-14-2017) Penalty, see § 70.99