Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 11 - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION › Subtitle 14 - MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION-VEHICLE INSPECTIONS › Chapter 11.14.04 - Safety Standards for Trucks, Truck Tractors, Commercial Buses, and Type I School Vehicles › Section 11.14.04.16 - Vehicle Glazing

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Safety
				glazing material is marked with the manufacturer's distinctive designation or
				trademark, model number and the letters "AS" followed by a number from 1
				through 16B, which indicates where the glazing may be used on the vehicle.
				Safety glazing material also has the symbol "DOT" (Department of
				Transportation) and a manufacturer's code mark that the NHTSA (National Highway
				Traffic Safety Administration) assigns to the manufacturer. Any questions
				regarding glazing shall be referred to the Automotive Safety Enforcement
				Division of the Department of State Police.
B. Proper Marking and Operation.
Procedures:
Reject Vehicle If:
(1) Proper Marking: Inspect glazing material for proper
						  markings. The following is a brief list of "AS" markings and applications.
						  Safety glazing material marked: (a) AS-1 is used in the windshield and may be
						  used anywhere in a motor vehicle. (b) AS-2 may be used anywhere in a motor
						  vehicle except for the windshield. (c) AS-3 may be used in windows to the rear
						  of the driver in trucks, truck tractors, buses and multipurpose passenger
						  vehicles. The vehicle must be equipped with an outside rearview mirror on each
						  side. (d) AS-10 may be used where bullet resistance is required anywhere in a
						  motor vehicle including the windshield.
(1) Improper or unmarked glazing materials are used for
						  specific positions.
(2) Window on Driver's Side: Inspect operation of window
						  at driver's side. Window shall open and close readily even though the vehicle
						  has approved turn signals.
(2) Window on driver's side does not open and close as
						  designed to permit arm signals.
(3) Side Windows, Emergency Window Exits, and Roof
						  Vent/Emergency Exits (school vehicles only): (a) Side Windows. (i) Open and
						  close each passenger compartment side window and inspect for proper operation.
						  (ii) Inspect passenger compartment side windows for unframed exposed edges of
						  glass. (b) Side Emergency Windows (if equipped). (i) Inspect inside release
						  mechanism. (ii) Check operation. (iii) Check function of audible signal. (c)
						  Rear Emergency Window (if equipped). (i) Inspect inside and outside release
						  mechanism. (ii) Check operation. (iii) Check function of audible signal. (d)
						  Roof Vent/Emergency Exit. (i) Inspect release mechanism. (ii) Check operation.
						  (iii) If equipped, check function of audible signal.
(3) Side Windows, Emergency Window Exits, and Roof
						  Vent/Emergency Exits (school vehicles only): (a) Side Windows. (i) Any side
						  window fails to function as designed. (ii) Any exposed edges of glass are not
						  framed or framing is loose or broken. (b) Side Emergency Windows (if equipped).
						  (i) Window release mechanism is loose or broken. (ii) Window will not operate
						  properly. (iii) Audible signal fails to function in driver's compartment and
						  indicate to the seated driver when the engine is running a distinctive audible
						  signal when release mechanism is moved, or sounds continuously when release
						  mechanism is latched. (c) Rear Emergency Window (if equipped). (i) Window
						  release mechanism is loose or broken. (ii) Window will not operate property.
						  (iii) Audible signal fails to function in driver's compartment and indicate to
						  the seated driver when the engine is running a distinctive audible signal when
						  release mechanism is moved, or sounds continuously when release mechanism is
						  latched. (d) Roof Vent/Emergency Exit. (i) Release mechanism is loose or
						  broken. (ii) Fails to operate properly. (iii) Audible signal, if equipped,
						  fails to function in driver's compartment and indicate to the seated driver
						  when the engine is running a distinctive audible signal when release mechanism
						  is moved, or sounds continuously when release mechanism is latched.
C.
				Signs and Materials on Windshield or Windows. Inspect all glazing for
				unauthorized material or conditions that obscure the driver's vision.
Procedures:
Reject Vehicle If:
(1) Except as provided in §C(2) of this regulation,
						  a vehicle may not be equipped with any sign, poster, card, sticker, or other
						  nontransparent material on the windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows
						  of the vehicle. (2) This does not apply to: (a) Materials placed on the
						  windshield or rear window, within a 7 inch square area in the lower corner, or
						  on the side windows of the vehicle to the rear of the driver, if the materials
						  are placed so as not to interfere with the driver's clear view of traffic; (b)
						  Direction, destination, or termini signs on any passenger common carrier motor
						  vehicle; (c) An electronic toll collection device placed in the windshield of a
						  vehicle in accordance with guidelines established by the Maryland
						  Transportation Authority; or (d) Security stickers authorized by a federal or
						  State government agency that measure not more than 2 inches high and not more
						  than 4 inches long, and are placed at the upper edge of the center of the
						  windshield. (3) All vehicles equipped with permitted signs, posters, cards,
						  stickers or other nontransparent materials on windows to the rear of the driver
						  must be equipped with an outside rearview mirror on each side.
(1)(a) Glazed surfaces contain any sign, poster, card,
						  decal, sticker, or other nontransparent material in violation of this
						  regulation. (b) Driver's vision is obscured. (c) Equipped with permitted signs,
						  posters, cards, stickers, or other nontransparent materials on windows to the
						  rear of the driver and not equipped with an outside rearview mirror on each
						  side.
D.
				Post Manufacture Window Tinting.
Procedures:
Reject Vehicle If:
(1) Inspect all glazing for the application of post
						  manufacture window tint. The following post manufacture window tint is
						  prohibited on any window or windshield of any vehicle. Window tint that: (a)
						  Has a mirrored or one-way vision effect or a sparkling effect; (b) Is red,
						  yellow, or amber in color; or (c) Changes to a red, yellow, or amber
						  color.
(1) Any glazing contains post manufacture window tint
						  that causes a mirrored or one-way vision effect, a sparkling effect, is a
						  prohibited color, or changes to a prohibited color.
(2) Post manufacture window tint is prohibited on the
						  following vehicles in the listed locations: (a) The application of post
						  manufacture window tint to the windshield or windows to the immediate right and
						  left of the driver is prohibited on the following vehicles: (i) Trucks, truck
						  tractors and buses; (ii) Multipurpose passenger vehicles which have a seating
						  capacity for 16 or more passengers including the driver, or were previously
						  registered as a school vehicle or a passenger bus, and used to primarily
						  transport passengers, or used in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise;
						  and (iii) Limousines. (b) Windows of these vehicles to the rear of the driver
						  may be tinted with post manufacture window tint to any degree of darkness
						  provided the vehicle is equipped with an outside rearview mirror on each
						  side.
(2)(a) Post manufacture window tint is applied to glazing
						  in violation of this regulation. (b) Equipped with permitted post manufacture
						  window tint on any side or rear window and is not equipped with an outside
						  rearview mirror on each side.
(3) Post manufacture window tint is prohibited on all
						  windows and windshield of a school vehicle.
(3) Post manufacture window tint is applied to glazing in
						  violation of this regulation.
(4) Post manufacture window tint is acceptable on the
						  following vehicles in the listed locations: (a) All other multipurpose
						  passenger vehicles. (i) All side windows of these vehicles to the immediate
						  right and left of the driver are regulated windows requiring at least 35
						  percent light transmittance after the application of post manufacture window
						  tint. (ii) Windshield. Post manufacture window tint may not be applied to the
						  windshield below the AS1 line or below 5 inches from the top of the windshield,
						  whichever is less. (iii) Windows of these vehicles to the rear of the driver
						  may be tinted with post manufacture window tint to any degree of darkness. (iv)
						  When equipped with permitted post manufacture window tint on any side or rear
						  window, the vehicle must be equipped with an outside rearview mirror on each
						  side. (b) Inspect the light transmittance of each vehicle window equipped with
						  post manufacture window tint and required to have at least 35 percent light
						  transmittance after the application of post manufacture window tint.
(4)(a) Post manufacture window tint is applied to glazing
						  in violation of this regulation. (b) Equipped with permitted post manufacture
						  window tint on any side or rear window and is not equipped with an outside
						  rearview mirror on each side.
(5) Tint Manufacturer's Labels (if equipped): Tint
						  manufacturer's labels may not be of a size or positioned in a manner that
						  affects the driver's vision or obscures the glazing manufacturer's trademark or
						  AS indicator.
(5) Tint manufacturer label, if equipped, is of a size or
						  positioned in a manner that affects the driver's vision or obscures the glazing
						  manufacturer's trademark or AS indicator.
(6) Medical Exemption. (Applicable only to multipurpose
						  passenger vehicles noted in §D(4) of this regulation.) Transportation
						  Article, §
													22-406, Annotated Code
						  of Maryland, provides an exemption for a person who must be protected from the
						  sun for medical reasons from having a light transmittance of at least 35
						  percent on regulated windows equipped with post manufacture window tint. The
						  law requires the owner to have, in the vehicle at the time the vehicle is
						  stopped by a police officer, a written certification that details the owner's
						  medical need for tinted windows, from a physician licensed to practice medicine
						  in the State. A vehicle owner whose vehicle is undergoing an inspection, or has
						  been issued a safety equipment repair order for defect #61 "TINT", and
						  indicates to the authorized inspection station their compliance with a medical
						  exemption, shall be referred to the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division of
						  the Department of State Police for examination of the vehicle owner's medical
						  documentation and the vehicle's post manufacture window tint. If the owner
						  meets the requirements specified in Transportation Article, §
													22-406, Annotated Code
						  of Maryland, for the medical exemption and the vehicle is compliant with all
						  post manufacture window tinting regulations in this chapter, excluding the
						  light transmittance requirement of regulated windows equipped with post
						  manufacture window tint, the Division, when applicable, shall be authorized to:
						  (a) Issue a post manufacture window tint medical exemption form to be provided
						  to the authorized inspection station performing an inspection of the vehicle
						  which shall permit the registered inspection mechanic to exempt the vehicle's
						  windows equipped with post manufacture window tint from meeting the light
						  transmittance requirement; or (b) Certify the safety equipment repair order for
						  defect #61 "TINT".
E.
				Definitions.
(1) "Acute area" means the
				windshield area 8 inches wide by 5 inches high, located directly in front of
				the driver, centered vertically on the steering wheel of the vehicle and
				horizontally in the center of the critical area.
(2) "Cloudiness" means any degree of visible
				discoloration or separation, except tinting that does not affect clear
				vision.
(3) "Critical area" means
				the normal windshield wiper sweep, except the area obscured by the hood,
				fenders, or rearview mirror.
(4)
				"Discoloration" means a condition which impairs the transparency of the
				glazing.
(5) "Non-critical area"
				means all windshield area outside the critical area.
(6) "Normal windshield wiper sweep" means the
				area of the windshield cleaned by the windshield wiper, excluding the return
				position on both passenger's and driver's sides.