While dash cams themselves are not illegal, certain states have prohibited windshield obstructions altogether. If a device like a dash cam blocks either a 5-in perimeter on the driver’s side or a 7-in perimeter, an officer could pull you over.

The following states have laws against windshield obstructions: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maine, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Ohio.