It's Illegal To Hang Your Mask From Your Rearview Mirror In NY

I know, you're going to roll your eyes like I did when I heard this too. You can actually get a pretty hefty fine for hanging your mask from your rearview mirror.

Obviously, this isn't something a lot of people are getting pulled over for, but it does give officers a reason to pull you over and then see if there's anything else they can write you for. It happens all the time. It's happened to me...a couple of times in the last few months. I've been pulled over for a "taillight" out a couple of times. When the officers inform me of the non-working light I ask to get out and check it out for myself. Both times the taillight was just a little dim...but still working and totally legal. One officer told me that they use it as an excuse to see if I'm drunk driving or something else illegal. Neither time was I tickets for my taillight.

Anyway, back to the mask on the rearview mirror issue at hand. Technically is illegal in New York to hang anything from your rearview mirror that obstructs your view while driving. So whether it's an N-95 mask, your high school graduation tassel, or a disco ball, if it obstructs your view you can be ticketed. That's not just for the windshield either...that's the case for all windows. Think of that next winter when you see a car with their back window completely covered with snow.

It's not a little ticket either. According to www.traffictickets.com, "A ticket for an obstructed view means facing a fine of up to $150 with an NYS surcharge of $88 or $93 (depending on where the ticket was issued) and 2 points on one’s license. A second offense in 18 months can mean a fine of up to $300 fine and a third offense costs as much as $450."

Moral of the story, don't hang anything from your rearview mirror. You probably won't get a ticket, but it might give the police an excuse to stop you and ticket you for something else.

Thanks to my colleagues in Rockford, IL to inspire me to check out this law in New York.