Folded windshield and road driving in NC

cburgin

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
statesville/boone NC
What is the law for folding a windshield down on a wrangler and riding on the road? I was under the impression that it was no longer an issue since there is no inspection sticker displayed. Just a topic we got on at work and wondering where to find the law on this. Thanks
 
I would ASSUME it's legal, as it's not a requirement to have a windshield in NC. Only requirement is on windshield wipers, which it is required to have if it has a windshield.
 
This law probably ranks right up there with full hydrolic steering law.

Have fun and fold the windsheild down. You wont get stopped and most likely it wont be down for long, being that its only fun for about 15 mins. :burnout:
 
That's why I started wearing a full face helmet on the rare occasion I drive my junk to work. Granted I live in a 1 horse town, but I've driven and have pulled up along side cops at stoplights with no problem. How is it any different than a motorcycle with no windscreen?
 
We asked a Fayetteville city cop about this 15 years ago when I was in community college and my friend had a yj that we were always working on. He said as long as you had on some sort of eye protection for bugs and rocks even just sunglasses you wouldn't have any problems.
 
thats what i was thinking the other day.. if a motorcyclist is legal with glasses and a skull cap what the difference if im wearing glasses and no windshield. Are there separate laws for motorcycles vs cars?

I'll have to ax barney fife.
 
Ya i folded my YJ windsheild down and drove around, ONE time. sucks pretty bad after about 30mph
 
Ain't all that it's cracked up to be. did it one time and caught a June bug between the eyes. Hurt like hell and left a whelp. an inch in either direction could have been real bad! exclude a June bug embedded in your eye, but the potential to have a wreck. I'd say you're a Darwin Candidate.
 
Driving around without a windshield is fine, i drive short distances up to 55 mph and its no big deal. Well until the rain comes, then it totally sucks.
 
Just really asking regarding the law, not the want or need to do it. Someone was pulled over and the cop told him to put the window up and that it was against the law. Cop said if it came with the vehicle it had to be in the right position. My first thought was...it came with doors to so those cant be removed either?
 
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Stock piano hinges on early bronco fold down windows are all useless. Never seen one that works. Even the wild horses aftermarket doesn't last long. And if you replace it with aftermarket and leave it down in a rain, you'll be wearing goggles from then on until you remove and replace with another and lock it up to stay...

Just another fyi
 
Bogleparsons said:
it's not illegal, but i wouldn't argue with the cop either :)
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Unless there's a specific law/ordinance that says it's ok. Then print it out and carry it with you. I had to do that when I ran a vintage '65 tag on my old '65 Dodge truck. DMV gave me the paper and said to carry it with me because most cops don't know that it is legal to run a vintage tag that's not registered to your vehicle. I had to show it once. Cop said "huh, new one in me! Have a good day!"

Still blows my mind that you can run a tag not registered to you vehicle.
 
6BangBronk said:
Stock piano hinges on early bronco fold down windows are all useless. Never seen one that works. Even the wild horses aftermarket doesn't last long. And if you replace it with aftermarket and leave it down in a rain, you'll be wearing goggles from then on until you remove and replace with another and lock it up to stay...

Just another fyi
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Maybe I should take a pic... but I have a '73 that the windshield folds down just fine. Stock. Now, it's pretty rusty and I imagine if you didn't secure the windshield pretty well, it'd shake all apart...
 
mbalbritton said:
Unless there's a specific law/ordinance that says it's ok. Then print it out and carry it with you. I had to do that when I ran a vintage '65 tag on my old '65 Dodge truck. DMV gave me the paper and said to carry it with me because most cops don't know that it is legal to run a vintage tag that's not registered to your vehicle. I had to show it once. Cop said "huh, new one in me! Have a good day!"

Still blows my mind that you can run a tag not registered to you vehicle.
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Eh, tag has 2 purposes. Give your vehicle a specific ID number, and make sure the state gets money from you. As long as you prove both of those are met, they don't care.
 
mbalbritton said:
Unless there's a specific law/ordinance that says it's ok. Then print it out and carry it with you. I had to do that when I ran a vintage '65 tag on my old '65 Dodge truck.
Still blows my mind that you can run a tag not registered to you vehicle.
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Yep as long as the vehicle is 35 years or older and you display the same tag year that the vehicle was manufactured. NCGS 20-63.
 
sorry guys, its in the DMV manual- and why nobody doesn't read it is beyond me. I had this hassle and got a ticket. If your ride came with a rear view mirror from the factory it has to be 1) there and 2) in usable condition (cant use it to see over a rear mounted tire when windshield its folded). I got pulled in my GPW and I was able to wiggle out of court by proving to the DA that it did not in fact have a rear view mirror from the factory, just a single drivers side unit; hence screen down was not an issue. Since the little guy only goes 40mph MAX I ride 100% windshield down. after the local POPO got wind of the ticket being kicked out, they let me be. older big HD trucks are a gray area since most didn't have a rearview due to loads in the back rendering them useless. not opinion, fact.
 
Chuckman said:
older big HD trucks are a gray area since most didn't have a rearview due to loads in the back rendering them useless. not opinion, fact.
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... so you could get away w/ no windshield on an old HD big truck? Cool.... :flipoff2:
 
When I was an inspector (been about 5 years). We were told a car had to have an inside and at least one outside mirror. Trucks only needed two mirrors. They could be one in and one out or two outside. I don't know if the general statute is different or if that changed since my last inspection class. It would also depend on how your jeep is registered too I guess.
 
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