Hanging an air freshener from your mirror is actually a crime in these 10 US states

Hanging an air freshener from your rearview mirror feels harmless. 

Automatic, even. 

But in parts of the US, that dangling little scent tree can technically be enough to get you pulled over.

And yes, in some states, it’s actually against the law.

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The states where an hanging air freshener can get you pulled over

Here’s the key thing to know: the air freshener itself isn’t the problem. 

It’s where it’s hanging.

Several US states have laws saying you’re not allowed to hang anything from your rearview mirror if it blocks your view of the road. 

Even a little bit. 

And because the law uses words like ‘obstruct,’ the ways police interpret may interpret it can differ.

If you live – or drive – in any of the states below, that dangling air freshener can technically get you pulled over:

• California
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Arizona
• Texas
• Louisiana
• Minnesota
• Florida
• Virginia
• Illinois

Will it always happen? No.

But can it happen? Absolutely.

Most drivers never get pulled over for this, which is why it feels like a rule someone made up online. 

But legally, an officer just has to believe your view is blocked… even slightly.

There’s also no master list of these laws nationwide, so crossing a state line can turn your normal car habit into a rule break.

Why some states take this way more seriously than others

Minnesota doesn’t mess around. 

Its law bans any non-essential item hanging from the mirror. 

Air fresheners, fuzzy dice, rosaries, graduation tassels, dream catchers – all illegal while driving. 

If it dangles, it’s a problem.

Missouri, on the other hand, is confusing. 

The law clearly says you can’t drive with a placard hanging from the mirror, but it doesn’t clearly say whether that applies to other stuff. 

Disabled parking placards are only allowed when the car is parked, which makes everything else kind of legally ambiguous.

And Virginia and Illinois have softened things a bit. 

Hanging something that blocks your view is still illegal, but police can’t pull you over just for that anymore. 

They need another reason first, like speeding or a busted license plate.

So the rule changes depending on where you are, how strict the state is, and how the law is written. 

Which means the safest move is also the most boring one: don’t hang anything from your mirror.

Because in some states, that little air freshener isn’t just decoration.

It’s a ticket waiting to happen.

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