32-15-2. Replacement with material other than safety glass as petty offense.

It is a petty offense for any person to replace any glass or glazing materials used in partitions, doors, windows, windshields, or wind deflectors in any motor vehicle with any material other than safety glass.

Source: SL 1953, ch 243, § 3; SDC Supp 1960, § 44.0102-1; SL 1978, ch 158, § 31.

32-15-2.1. Laminated glass required for windshield--Position--Minimum height--Exemption.

Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with an approved laminated safety glass windshield. The windshield shall be in such position that it affords continuous horizontal frontal protection to the driver and front seat occupants. The minimum vertical height of the unobstructed windshield glass shall be six inches. The provisions of this section do not apply to a motor vehicle manufactured prior to July 1, 1953, if the driver of the motor vehicle is wearing an eye protective device.

Source: SL 1978, ch 228, § 1; SL 1992, ch 221.

32-15-2.2. Cracked or broken glass prohibited.

No glass or glazing material, at any location where it is used, may be cracked or broken so as to cut or injure any person in or around the vehicle.

Source: SL 1978, ch 228, § 2.

32-15-2.3. Glass impairing operator's vision prohibited.

No glass or glazing material may be cracked, broken, shattered, or distorted to the extent that it significantly impairs the vision of the motor vehicle operator.

Source: SL 1978, ch 228, § 3.

32-15-2.4. One-way glass, adhesive film, or other glaze in windshield or front side windows prohibited--Violation as misdemeanor.

No motor vehicle required to be registered in this state and which is operated on the highways of this state may be equipped with one-way glass or any adhesive film or other glaze or application on or in the front windshield, side wing vents, or side windows on either side forward of or adjacent to the operator's seat, which reduces the light transmittance of such windows to the combined level below thirty-five percent, with an enforcement tolerance of nine percent. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Source: SL 1988, ch 257, § 1; SL 1989, ch 255, § 231; SL 1994, ch 257, § 1.

32-15-2.5. One-way glass, adhesive film, or other glaze in rear window prohibited--Violation as misdemeanor.

No motor vehicle required to be registered in this state and which is operated on the highways of this state may be equipped with one-way glass, adhesive film, or other glaze in the rear windows behind the operators seat that reduces light transmission below twenty percent, with an enforcement tolerance of nine percent. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Source: SL 1988, ch 257, § 2; SL 1989, ch 255, § 232; SL 1994, ch 257, § 2.

32-15-2.6. Definition of terms.

Terms used in this chapter mean:

(1)    "Light transmission," the ratio of the amount of total light to pass through a product or material to the amount of total light falling on the product or material and the glazing;

(2)    "Dealer," any person who engages in the manufacture of or installation of a film, glaze, or application for motor vehicle windshields and windows or fabricates, laminates, or tempers a safety glazing material during the manufacturing or installation process to incorporate the capacity to reflect or reduce the transmission of light.

Source: SL 1989, ch 268, § 1.

32-15-2.7. Manufacturer certification of compliance with light transmission specifications.

Each manufacturer of film, glaze, or other application for a motor vehicle windshield or window shall certify to the Department of Public Safety that the film, glaze, or application the manufacturer makes or installs complies with the light transmission specifications of §§ 32-15-2.4 and 32-15-2.5.

Source: SL 1989, ch 268, § 2; SL 1994, ch 257, § 3; SL 2004, ch 17, § 138.