New York Truck Mud Flap Law

What New York makes you run

New York makes trucks and trailers run splash guards or stone deflectors behind the rearmost wheels (VAT 375(25)). The gap to the road can't top one-third of the distance from the bottom of the guard to where the tire meets the pavement, so no single inch number applies. At a scale a trooper checks the flap is there, covers the tread, and isn't torn or hiked above the tire. It's a correctable equipment infraction, not out-of-service.

Coverage and clearance

• Required: Yes
• Coverage: Splash guards and stone deflectors must bar water thrown by the rearmost wheels beyond the extreme rear and minimize side spray (VAT 375(25)). The statute names no tread-width number; at a scale the guard is expected to cover the tire.
• Ground clearance: No more than one-third of the distance from the bottom of the splash guard to the point where the rear tire contacts the road (VAT 375(25)). No fixed inch figure; a guard mounted farther back may hang lower.
• Fine: Equipment traffic infraction; fine up to roughly $150 plus the mandatory state surcharge. Commonly written as a correctable fix-it ticket, not out-of-service.

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