CVC 26708(a)Eligible for written declarationCorrectable

Windshield or Window View Obstruction

Driving with an object or material on the windshield or side or rear windows, or anywhere in or on the vehicle where it blocks or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows.

Reviewed by the TicketClear teamLast reviewed October 10, 2026

Fine: $193, or $25 if correctedDMV Points: None✓ Correctable

This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TicketClear is a self-help document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not represent clients. Review all prepared documents carefully before submitting. Fine amounts are estimates and vary by county and surcharge schedule.

What is a Windshield or Window View Obstruction ticket?

CVC 26708(a) says (1) a person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows; (2) a person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle that obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows; and (3) this applies when the driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or rear windows, is obstructed by snow or ice. CVC 26708(b) lists exceptions, including rearview mirrors, certain sunvisors, materials within a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield or rear window farthest from the driver or a five-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver, side windows to the rear of the driver, and a portable GPS mounted in the windshield's lower corner squares (the one nearest the driver outside an airbag deployment zone) and used only for door-to-door navigation.

Ask your insurer how a conviction affects your policy.

What the Law Says

(a) (1) A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows. (2) A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle that obstructs or reduces the driver’s clear view through the windshield or side windows. (3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle with the driver’s clear vision through the windshield, or side or rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.

What the Officer Must Prove

1You drove a motor vehicle
2An object or material was placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows (26708(a)(1)), or in or upon the vehicle so that it obstructed or reduced your clear view through the windshield or side windows (26708(a)(2))
3No exception in CVC 26708(b) to (e) applied

Arguments Commonly Raised for Windshield or Window View Obstruction

General information: arguments drivers commonly raise for this code section. Whether any applies depends on your own facts.

Corner squares

CVC 26708(b)(3) excepts materials displayed in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield or rear window farthest from the driver, or in a five-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver. Describe where the item was and its size.

GPS mounting

CVC 26708(b)(12) excepts a portable GPS mounted in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest from the driver, or a five-inch square in the lower corner nearest the driver and outside an airbag deployment zone, if used only for door-to-door navigation.

View not obstructed

Subdivision (a)(2) applies to an object or material that obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view. Subdivision (a)(1) has no view test: it covers any object or material on the windshield or side or rear windows. Describe what you could see.

Side windows behind the driver, or the rear window with two outside mirrors

CVC 26708(b)(4) excepts side windows that are to the rear of the driver, and (b)(8) excepts the rear window if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both the left and right sides that each show the driver the highway at least 200 feet to the rear. Describe where the item was and your mirrors.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

✗Not photographing where the item was mounted
✗Leaving out the item's size and position

What this code section covers (general information)

CVC 26708(a) — Windshield or Window View Obstruction. Driving with an object or material on the windshield or side or rear windows, or anywhere in or on the vehicle where it blocks or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows.

Eligible for Trial by Written Declaration: generally yes.

This is general information about CVC 26708(a). It is not advice about your citation, and TicketClear does not evaluate anyone's facts. Whether any of it applies depends on your own facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed California attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions About Windshield or Window View Obstruction

Where can I mount a GPS on my windshield?▼

CVC 26708(b)(12) allows a portable GPS in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest from the driver, or in a five-inch square in the lower corner nearest the driver and outside an airbag deployment zone, if it is used only for door-to-door navigation while the vehicle is being operated.

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