§ 175.98. Mirrors.
(a) Condition of mirrors. Mirrors shall be in safe condition as described in § 175.110 (relating to inspection procedure).
(b) Rearview mirrors. A vehicle specified under this subchapter shall be equipped with at least one rearview mirror or similar device which provides the driver an unobstructed view of the highway to the rear of the vehicle for a distance of not less than 200 feet. A mirror may not be cracked, broken or discolored.
(c) Obstruction. On a vehicle specified under this subchapter, the rearview mirror shall be free from obstructions as described in § 175.110.
(1) A vehicle specified under this subchapter having a sign or load or another material which obstructs, obscures or impairs the driver’s clear view of the highway or an intersecting highway shall have two outside rearview mirrors, one on the driver’s side and one on the passenger side, each with a minimum reflective surface as follows:
Required Reflective Surface Gross Vehicle Weight 19.5 square inches Less than 10,001 pounds 50 square inches Over 10,000 pounds (2) Rear window louvers are permitted only if the vehicle has at least two outside rearview mirrors, one on the driver’s side and one on the passenger’s side, each with a minimum reflective surface of 19.5 square inches. This paragraph does not apply to school buses.
(3) Rearview mirrors, each with a minimum reflective surface of 19.5 square inches, shall be installed on both sides of a vehicle for which a certificate of exemption for a sun screening device or other material has been issued. A vehicle for which a certificate of exemption has been issued for medical reasons may be equipped with only a left outside rearview mirror, unless originally equipped with an outside rearview mirror on both sides of the vehicle.
(4) An object or material may not be hung from the rearview mirror and an object or material may not be hung, placed or attached in a position that materially obstructs, obscures or impairs the driver’s vision through the windshield or in a manner that constitutes a safety hazard.
(5) This subsection also applies to glass etchings, except those used for vehicle identification.
(d) Motor homes. A motor home shall be free from obstructions as described in this subchapter.
(1) A vehicle manufactured as or permanently converted into a motor home with a GVW of 11,001 pounds or more may have windows, approved glass only, transparent screens and roll-up shades or curtains installed if the shades and curtains are securely fastened in completely opened position, to avoid covering a portion of a window, while the vehicle is being operated on the highway. Venetian blinds may not cover a window while the vehicle is operated on a highway.
(2) If a window is covered for installation of wardrobe, cupboard or other convenience, it shall be factory installed or otherwise permanently installed optional equipment or facsimile only. Two outside mirrors shall be installed to afford the operator clear view 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.
Authority The provisions of this § 175.98 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § § 4103, 4301, 4501, 4521, 4524 and 6103.
Source The provisions of this § 175.98 adopted October 29, 1982, effective February 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3862; corrected November 12, 1982, effective February 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3862; readopted December 2, 1988, effective December 3, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 5362; amended September 27, 1996, effective September 28, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 4640; amended November 13, 1998, effective May 13, 1999, 28 Pa.B. 5670. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (221259) to (221260).
Cross References This section cited in 67 Pa. Code § 175.110 (relating to inspection procedure).
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.
This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
