Can Your Illinois Vehicle Be So Filthy Dirty It Breaks the Law?

I drive on Illinois highways virtually every day of my life and this question came to my mind the other day as I had a vehicle pass me that would have made Pigpen on the Charlie Brown cartoons proud. Can your vehicle be so filthy dirty in Illinois that it breaks the law? The answers are interesting and more complicated than you think.

It should be obvious if you follow me that I am not a lawyer and my opinions should not be treated as legal advice. Just try to not laugh as you read that. I dare you. With that out of the way, I did a reasonable amount of digging around for the truth and feel like I can give you an accurate answer to the dirty vehicle question.

Can you get a ticket and/or a fine for having a dirty vehicle in Illinois?

The answer appears to be yes and no with an emphasis on yes. The best answers I found were on the Southern Harvest Insurance and Pronto Insurance sites. Yes, you can be pulled over, given a warning and/or ticketed if you have a dirty vehicle, but it won't be because your vehicle is dirty (which is why this is a partial no). Both sites say the ticket will be because your license plate is not viewable and/or you have not given yourself a clear enough view through your windows. In short, it could be interpreted as an equipment violation.

I cast no stones as my vehicle hasn't been cleaned all winter, but my license plate and windows are clear (enough). The fact that we all need to seek out a car wash sooner or later is what keeps them in business, so good for them I suppose.