Section 21.3 - Standards for Sunscreening and Privacy Window Devices(a) The words and terms detailed in this section, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(1) Sunscreening device--A glazing, film material, or device for reducing the effects of visible sunlight and/or preventing observation. This does not include glazing or film material without visible tinting providing protection from the effects of ultraviolet light because this type of sunlight is not visible to the human eye.(2) Light transmission--Has the meaning assigned by § 547.001(3) of the Transportation Code.(3) Luminous reflectance--Has the meaning assigned by § 547.001(4) of the Transportation Code.(4) Manufacturer--Has the meaning assigned by § 547.613(g)(2) of the Transportation Code.(5) Installer--Has the meaning assigned by § 547.613(g)(1) of the Transportation Code.(b) All sunscreening devices used as standard equipment, optional equipment, or in replacement parts, adhering to the federal standards at the time of vehicle manufacture, are authorized.(c) After-market sunscreening devices. Standards and specifications described in paragraphs (1) - (4) of this subsection apply to after-market sunscreening devices applied in conjunction with window glazing (vehicle safety glass) meeting federal standards. (1) All installed after-market sunscreening devices will be measured in combination with the vehicle's original equipment (window glass).(2) Windshields. No after-market sunscreening devices shall be installed, affixed, or applied to a vehicle windshield below the AS-1 line, or five inches from the top of the windshield if the AS-1 line annotation is not present. (A) If an additional sunscreening device is used above the AS-1 area of the windshield, the light transmission value, in combination with the original windshield glazing, must be 25% or more.(B) The luminous reflectance of any additional sunscreening devices used above the AS-1 area of the windshield must be 25% or less.(C) An installed after-market sunscreening device used on the windshield may not be of a red, blue, or amber color.(3) Side Windows. Side windows to the immediate left and right of the operator must have at least a 25% light transmission value and luminous reflectance of 25% or less, over the entire surface area of the window. Side windows to the rear of the driver, both left and right, have no minimum requirement for light transmission.(4) Rear (back) windows. (A) If the vehicle has left and right outside mirrors that are located so as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle, there is no minimum light transmission requirement.(B) If the vehicle is not equipped with both a left and right side outside mirrors that are located so as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle, the rear window must have a 25% light transmission value for the area used for driver visibility value. A glazing shade band is authorized at the topmost portion of the rear window, as with the windshield. The shade band area is authorized to have less than 25% light transmission. The device must have a luminous reflectance of 25% or less.(d) Window covers and other window privacy devices.(1) The use of curtains, blinds, drapes, or stick-on novelty designs in the rear window or windows is not prohibited if the vehicle has left and right outside mirrors that are located so as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.(2) Louvered materials, when installed as designed, shall not reduce the area of driver rear visibility below 50% as measured on a horizontal plane. When such materials are used in conjunction with the rear window, the measurement shall be made based upon the driver's view from the inside rearview mirror.(e) Medical exceptions. (1) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, a motor vehicle operated by or regularly used to transport any person with a medical condition which renders the person susceptible to harm or injury from exposure to sunlight or bright artificial light may be equipped, on all the windows except the windshield, with sunscreening devices that reduces the light transmission values of less than 25%. An untinted film or glaze may be applied to the area below the AS-1 line of the windshield of a motor vehicle provided the total visible light transmission is not reduced by 5%. Vehicles equipped with sunscreening devices under this medical exception shall not be operated on any highway unless, while being so operated, the driver or an occupant of the vehicle possesses a signed statement from a licensed physician or licensed optometrist.(2) The signed statement from a licensed physician or licensed optometrist shall:(A) identify with reasonable specificity the driver or occupant of the vehicle; and(B) state that, in the physician's or optometrist's professional opinion, the equipping of the vehicle with sunscreening devices is necessary to safeguard the health of the driver or occupant of the vehicle.(f) Manufacturer and installer requirements.(1) Each manufacturer shall obtain certification from the Texas Department of Public Safety of sunscreening devices used on the side windows of passenger vehicles and windows immediately to the left and right of the vehicle operator on all other vehicles. To obtain certification the manufacturer will provide test results that the product or material manufactured or assembled complies with the light transmission and luminous reflectance requirements of this section.(2) Each manufacturer shall provide a label with a means for permanent and legible installation between the material and each glazing surface to which it is applied that contains the name or registration number of the manufacturer and a statement that complies with Texas Transportation Code, § 547.609.(3) Each manufacturer shall include instructions with the sunscreening device, product, or material for proper installation, including the affixing of the label required by this section.(4) No installer or business shall apply or affix to the windows of any motor vehicle in this state a sunscreening device that is not in compliance with requirements of this section.(5) At a minimum, installers shall affix the label described in paragraph (2) of this subsection between the sunscreening device and the lower rearward corner of the driver's left side window which is legible from the outside of the vehicle.37 Tex. Admin. Code § 21.3
The provisions of this §21.3 adopted to be effective April 12, 2012, 37 TexReg 2430; amended by Texas Register, Volume 40, Number 02, January 9, 2015, TexReg 256, eff. 1/12/2015; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 43, Number 52, December 28, 2018, TexReg 8632, eff. 1/3/2019; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 47, Number 45, November 11, 2022, TexReg 7561, eff. 11/17/2022