Which windshield wipers must function for the vehicle to be considered compliant?

For a vehicle to be considered compliant in terms of windshield wipers, it is essential that the front windshield wipers are operational. This is because the primary function of the front wipers is to ensure the driver's visibility and safety while driving in various weather conditions. Adequate visibility is crucial for safe operation of the vehicle, and thus, state inspection standards prioritize the functionality of front wipers as a critical safety feature.

While rear wipers can enhance visibility in certain situations, they are not required for compliance; their functionality is more of a convenience and tends to be less critical compared to that of the front wipers. Therefore, the requirement focuses solely on the operational status of the front windshield wipers to meet the compliance standards for safety inspections.