Why are windshield stickers so sticky?

Factual Questions
1

If you’ve driven for any length of time you probably know what I am talking about. Windshield stickers that seem molecularly bonded to your windshield. They are such an extreme hassle to remove that you sometimes see cars plastered with so many stickers on the passenger side it is a wonder a person sitting there could even see out the front windshield.

Having just recently gone through this replacing my Chicago city tax sticker it made me wonder why all the hassle? In the past I have used those plastic overlays that the sticker goes on and allows for the easy removal of the sticker. So clearly the technology exists to allow for a lighter glue that still keeps the sticker securely attached to the car for a year or more.

Can they be all that worried about people moving stickers? Obviously if I am a person that wants to switch stickers between cars I can do so simply with that plastic overlay but how much is that really likely to happen anyway? Besides, I’m sure someone can figure a way to allow removal of the sticker easily but will still somehow damage the sticker such that it can’t be reused.

Is there a ‘good’ reason for this I am missing?

2

Graft. Corruption. It’s the evil glue lobby at work.

3

Basically, they want it so that you can’t remove the sticker from your windshield without destroying it. This prevents you from transfering your sticker between multiple vehicles, and it prevents someone else from stealing your sticker.

4

Years ago I worked as a car detailer. Getting the stickers off windows was done with window cleaner and a razorblade, was usually fairly easy but it obviously ruined the sticker. If there was an easier way I’m pretty sure someone there would have figured it out. Then again, quicker/easier does not necessarily mean preserving the sticker. Either way, good luck.

As for the reasons, I agree with Mike H .