Among the perks of getting your own car is the chance to personalize it — with ducks, graduation tassels, fuzzy dice or even just a scented pine tree dangling from the rearview mirror.
Well, you may have to curb that decorative urge, depending on what state you live in. At least nine of the 50 states prohibit hanging items from a car’s rearview mirror, although both awareness and enforcement of the laws vary.
The states where it is illegal to hang things from your rearview mirror:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Virginia prohibits hanging any objects that obstruct the driver’s view. Florida also bans objects that block vision, but has certain exceptions, such as parking passes.
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Download NowThe main reason behind the prohibitions is to ensure drivers can look through the windshield unimpeded and are not distracted by the decorations. Another concern is preventing damage to the rearview mirror. Over time, hanging objects could weaken the glue holding the mirror in place.
The issue drew renewed attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people started hanging masks from rearview mirrors when they were not in use, prompting warnings about their potential to block a driver’s view.
Safety First
Any measures that improve driver safety are pluses, said Alec Slatky, managing director of public and government affairs for AAA Northeast.
“In general, the more visibility you have, the better,” Slatky noted. “Whether to spot a pedestrian, a deer or a pothole. If there’s something that’s obstructing your line of sight to the road, it’s probably better not to have it hanging.”
Consequences for drivers violating states’ laws include traffic citations and liability in the event of a crash in which it is determined that the driver’s vision was obstructed by a hanging object.
So, if you’re thinking of things you can hang from your car mirror — don’t. It may not be worth it.
Do you have anything hanging from your rearview mirror? Tell us in the comments.
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50 Thoughts on “Is It Illegal to Hang Things From Your Rearview Mirror?”
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I live in New Jersey and I believe they cannot stop you just because you have something hanging on your rearview mirror but a while back my son got stopped because of the red sticker in our license plate and it was later than 11 PM and when he showed his license to the officer and told him that that sticker was because of his sister, the officer told him well I stopped you so I have to give you a ticket anyway because of the air freshener hanging in your rearview mirror.
What I don’t understand is that the disability tag clearly says not to drive with it hanging in the rearview mirror just to use it for parking and every person drives around with it. I have one myself, but I keep it in my visor and just pull it out when I park And it does block my vision so I don’t understand why people don’t get stopped and why people keep driving around with it.
They ban retirement so that you have enough to pay the taxes.
I wondered if hanging disability tags that are required in parking spots reserved for people with disabilities would be in conflict of the ban in the above states. However, I thought they probably are banned while the vehicle is being driven and can only be legally hung from the rearview mirror when the vehicle is parked – even though I see many car with the tags hanging while people are driving.
Yes the placard says dont drive with the placard hanging from mirror. But the people ignore so much likestay right except when passing
I see people with those tags up all the time, they just don’t care
You are correct. The disability parking tag is not supposed to be hanging from the rearview mirror except when parked in the handicapped spot. I have that tag and it’s clearly marked on it (I live in NYS)
In Massachusetts, while there isn’t a specific law explicitly prohibiting hanging objects from your rearview mirror, doing so can still lead to legal issues. State laws require drivers to maintain a clear and unobstructed view through their windshield. If an object hanging from your rearview mirror is deemed to obstruct your vision or distract you, law enforcement officers have the authority to pull you over and issue a citation. This includes items like air fresheners, decorations, or parking permits.
For instance, a recent case in the Massachusetts Appeals Court highlighted that having an object hanging from the mirror, by itself, does not constitute impeded operation. The court emphasized that there must be evidence showing that the object actually obstructs the driver’s view or could impede safe operation. However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t grant permission to hang objects without consideration; if an officer believes the item obstructs your view, you could still face a citation.
Given this, it’s advisable to avoid hanging any objects from your rearview mirror to ensure an unobstructed view and to comply with traffic safety regulations.
OMG! We should be more worried about the hundreds (if not thousands) of RED LIGHT RUNNERS EVERY SINGLE DAY that I watch and usually record! I’ve been driving since the 70’s and have NEVER seen anything like it!!! It has increased DRASTICALLY now that the registry just gives out licenses!!!! No real skills provided to our teens…here’s the key…”GOOD LUCK”!!! Sickening where folks’ heads are at…yes it’s illegal to hang stuff and when you get pulled over for a “safety violation” they will tack that on to the ticket…
There are loads of more important traffic issues that should be better enforced but that’s not what this article is about. It’s about one traffic issue. Shifting the blame to another one is not helpful or relevant.
I find it difficult to find my car in a crowded parking lot so I keep a small stuffed Nemo fish hanging from my mirror. He doesn’t interfere with visibility because he’s small but he keeps me company when I’m driving alone and makes it easier to find my car because he’s brightly colored.
If you’re in New Jersey, don’t even bother asking “Is ______________ illegal?” Everything is illegal in The POLICE State 🙁
I was thinking about possibly retiring to NJ but maybe your comment is an argument against that?
What about sun visors? Those can really impede your vision. I really hate to use them unless absolutely and completely necessary. I see some people with them down all the time clueless as to what is going on around them.
The REAL reason, is so the the cops have one more reason to pull you over and/or harass you. Living in NY, I have a pine tree air freshener hanging from my rear view mirror, for the past 44 years of driving. Never been pulled over because of that. And the myriad of times I was pulled over (speeding or some other foolish traffic infraction), the cops never said word one about it. But then, I am white.
AMAZING. You now have vehicles with basically a big screen TV in the dash or the clowns with their phones directly in their line of sight with the screen at full intensity yet these states have an issue with a ceramic heart that I have hanging from my mirror.
Where’s Taxachusetts? Been illegal forever to hand things from your mirror. Where has AAA been? Asleep?
My driver school children say it’s illegal, but they have to hang their public school permit there and two of my friends hang handicapped permits there! The latter are rather large…
The difference is, you’re not supposed to drive with the handicap placard hanging up.
the handicap permits clearly state that they should not be displayed while driving. we keep ours in the center console where it is easy to retrieve snd hang.
Correct, but I did a search and not a lot of other articles out there say it’s illegal in Massachusetts.
I got my drivers license when I was 21. I am now almost 70. From the moment I received my license to the present, I have had a decorative object hanging from my rear view mirror. This decorative process was in place long before I entered the drivers domain. With all of the objects I have used and all of the cars I have driven, my decorative hanging objects have never NEVER once been a problem/issue. There has been no blocking of view or distraction for myself together to other drivers. I feel there are too many power hungry, control over us persons out there utilizing their position to oppress/create a submissive/dormant/stagnant world. These individuals lack the capacity or mindset to be resourceful.
Perhaps there should be wording on the ornament to not attach the item to the car’s rear view mirror. Or wording to be cautious about view obstruction if hung from a car’s rear view mirror. The reaction to take 1 or 2 person’s ornament misjudgement and create incarceration for all without the perspective of discernment and a fair assessment is misplaced. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Drusilla,
I didn’t see what state you live in in your comment. That being said you and countless other apparently don’t see any harm in dangling things from your rearview mirror. To say that your ornament doesn’t block your field of view tells me you must fix your gaze straight ahead and never have to look to the right while driving. Laws such as this one under discussion are only passed after research is done on the subject. Traffic ordnances are not frivolous and are there for the publics safety. They are to be obeyed.
Just another reason to commit a petty stop on someone to begin investigating and questioning. The police officer who shot the young black man in which she thought she grabbed her taser but instead shot him with her gun, when she was asked why did you stop him? Well he had an air freshener hanging from his rear view mirror. Poor guy did absolutely nothing wrong but that day unfortunately he was destined to meet a police officer who couldn’t tell you the number of planets in our solar system but are given an insane amount of power and authority. But he was black so he must have done something, somewhere, some day , he had it coming. May he rest in power. She received 5-6 years in prison, seems like a perfect trade. America the land of freedom to commit murder as long as your not?
Drusilla Abdulah got it right.
The need for clear visibility should be addressed by a general “Don’t obstruct your visibility” law, leaving it to law enforcement to decide when it is too much/too large. What is needed here is common sense, as I am sure Mr. Abdulah would agree. And I agree with him that legal micro-management of our lives is annoying and unnecessary. This is why the perception of government “meddling” gets a bad reputation among some people ! !
I have the same question as someone else – if it’s legal in my state but I am driving through a state where it isn’t legal, can I be fined?
Yes, you can.
What will it take to change state laws forbidding required, reasonably sized parking tags from being hung on rear view mirror supports. These tags are required to be hung on these supports to identify cars registered to park and legally parked in handicapped parking spaces, apartment and condominium assigned spaces, and customer and workplace assigned spaces.
You keep the tag in the glove box and put it on the mirror when
you park your car. It doesn’t need to be attached to the mirror
while driving around town, up and down the highway, etc.
As a handicapped person, I kindly ask you to not hang your placard while you drive. Those things are huge. They also have a warning on them not to do that. They are not comparable to an air freshener. Like Loretta said, you just keep these things in the center console and remember to put them up when you park. If you are permanently handicapped, please get a plate. It will save you the hassle and is very easy to do.
Question: So if you live in a state where it is NOT a restriction to have something hanging from your rear view mirror, and you drive through a state where it IS a restriction, can you be stopped and ticketed?
OF course it is illegal in the state where it’s restricted. It’s like guns, weed, age restrictions on a permit etc. Common sense. Laws of the State you’re in apply.
Can someone tell me why it’s – apparently – okay to fly huge flags off the bumpers of trucks and cars. Not being political here but the obvious offenders are Trump supporters. But, I’ve also seen my share of American flags, sports flags, etc. This week down here in So. Jersey there have been a tone of Eagles flags. It’s wildly distracting and if that flag comes off and drapes over my windshield I’ll have far bigger problems than a pair of fuzzy dice!!!
It’s not okay, and as for American flags flying on cars, they apparently don’t know the flag code either. Which says the American flag is to be flown on the FRONT of the vehicle, such as the car the President and VP ride in. NOT off the back.
ITA with you about what if it comes off and drapes my windshield.
So when did flying an American Flag become offensive?
Who cares if it is a Trump Supporter, we should all be proud as AMERICANS to fly our flag, no matter of political affiliation, it should be looked upon with Pride not Prejudice!
Well I guess I can’t use my Massachusetts handicapped parking tag, when I parked in a handicap space in any of these states, because it’s made to hang from my rear view mirror.
I’m sure it’s fine to hang your handicap placard when your vehicle is sitting still in a parking spot, since your vehicle isn’t usually needing to navigate traffic during that time.
Here in NY it specifically says on the permit that it be removed while driving, only to be posted when parking. I imagine Mass is the same.
I always thought it was against the law in Massachusetts. In 1968 when getting my first driver’s license, the Registry of Motor Vehicles officer told us to remove an object hanging from the mirror in my father’s 1966 Chevy.
What about Inspection Stickers and Registration Stickers? Depending on their size and location and design of the windshield can severely block peripheral to the sides and front of the vehicle. Also stickers etc on the back window seem to pose and equal safety issue.
Not hanging from mirror, but phone suction holders attached to windshield should also be prohibited.
What about the handicap placard? Years ago I would take it down all the time but this weakened the hook on the placard and eventually broke where I had to tape it together which never really worked out for long.
I am in MA and have always just put my placard flat on the dash of my vehicle when parked in a designated parking spot. Noone has ever given me a warning or citation for this. I started doing this because, as you mention, the hook is difficult to put on and take off repeatedly and I was concerned it would break off. Another option I guess would be to strap a rubberband to the hook and attach that to the mirror.
I’m not sure why exemptions would be made for parking passes since they are meant to be used when you’re parked. But I feel the same way about people that drive around with their handicapped parking placards hanging on their rear views, i.e., they are meant for parking.
Number 1 in the instructions for displaying your handicap placard is…wait for it…DO NOT DRIVE with the placard hanging from your mirror
Parking Lot hang tags that are issued by public community colleges represent a probable “legislative conflict” in the 8 states that ban anything on the rearview mirror.
Florida seems to be the smarter state (legislatively) to allow for that realistic (and common) exception.
Seemingly another excuse to be pulled over, if police are being overly ambitious with law-abiding drivers.
From a Defensive Driving Course Instructor (5 years), NY State.
Parking passes are for parking. I don’t think any of them are required while driving, correct?
I have a dream catcher hanging from my rearview mirror. It was there when I inherited the car from my mother, and since it hangs low I haven’t removed it. I can’t even use it to locate the car in a parking lot – it hangs that low!
You forgot to mention NJ also!
I received a ticket there a few years ago for a high school graduation tassel!
Thank you for pointing that out. I made the correction.
Please note you left New Jersey out, although you commented on Florida:
New Jersey Stat. § 39:3-74 states [N]o person shall drive any vehicle so constructed, equipped or loaded as to unduly interfere with the driver’s vision to the front and to the sides.” In other words, you can get pulled over for hanging those beads from last Mardi Gras on your mirror.
It would be helpful to mention New Jersey. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Clair Palumbo
New Jersey Resident & Driver