Ask the Mayor: Is it Legal? Safety Stickers on Windshield

Photo by Victoria Hoag.

The mayor answers questions from the public in this series.

By Mayor Alan Arakawa

Q: Safety check is here again. My question is regarding stickers on front and rear windshields. If it’s illegal for stickers on the front or rear windshield, why isn’t it an issue for those vehicles with SHOPO (Police Officers’ Union) and IAFF (Firefighter’ Union) stickers? Most of those vehicles with these stickers have them on the front and rear windshield.

A:  You’re partially correct in that stickers are illegal on the rear window/windshield. However, stickers on the lower right-hand corner of the front windshield are illegal only if they exceed 24 square inches in total area. So the front windshield stickers you are referring to fall within the legal limit, as do stickers used by the PUC and federal and state vehicles. Here is the language of the Maui County Code 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.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.