Vehicle Decals Now OK if Not Obstructing View
Vehicle Decals. Maui Now image.
By Maui Now Staff
A new Maui County ordinance allows the placement of signs, posters and nontransparent materials on vehicle side windows and rear windows that don’t obstruct the driver’s view of the road, West Maui Councilmember Elle Cochran announced today.
“Traffic Ordinance 413.342” took effect on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015 after being approved by the council on Friday, Aug. 7, 2015.
According to Cochran, the measure was introduced as a response to constituents having undue difficulty obtaining a vehicle safety check sticker.
The Maui County Code previously prohibited the display of decals of any size on vehicle’s rear and side windows, even if they didn’t obstruct the driver’s view.
“Oftentimes, vehicles adorned with decals convey personal messages or allow owners to express their sense of style,” Cochran said. “The prior law appeared to overreach a bit; small stickers that don’t impede views of the roadway are not a threat to public safety.”
The new ordinance states the following:
SECTION 1: Purpose and intent. The purpose of this ordinance is to permit a sign poster or other nontransparent material upon the side wings or side or rear windows of a motor vehicle provided that the sign poster or other nontransparent material does not obstruct the drivers clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway.
SECTION 2: Section 10.20.420 Maui County Code is amended to read as follows:
“10.20.420 Windshields Requirements. A. [No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon any highway while same has attached to the windshield thereof stickers or posters or opaque signs of any description exceeding twenty four square inches in total area or while it has attached to the rear window or windows thereof any sticker poster or opaque sign of any description whatsoever. Signs or stickers when placed on the windshield shall be placed only in the lower right hand corner.] No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign poster or other nontransparent material upon the side wings or side or rear windows of such vehicle that obstructs the drivers clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway.
B. Posters or stickers placed on the front windshield shall be placed only at the lower right hand corner however such posters or stickers so placed shall not cover an area greater than four inches by six inches except for non residence permits or for military requirements in which case an additional area of four and one half inches by six inches may be used.
[B.] C. No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any nontransparent material or object suspended within the windshield area as viewed from the drivers seat nor shall any person drive any motor vehicle upon the hood or radiator of which is attached any fixture or ornament of any material which that vibrates swings or flutters within view of the driver of the vehicle.
[C.] D. The windshield on every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a device for cleaning rain or other moisture from the windshield which device shall be so constructed as to be controlled or operated by the operator of the vehicle.
[D.] E. Every windshield wiper upon a vehicle shall be maintained in good working order.
SECTION 3. Material to be repealed is bracketed. New material is underscored. In printing this bill the County Clerk need not include the brackets the bracketed material or the underscoring.
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall take effect upon its approval.
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