Thanks to Washington State Trooper Julie Startup, she's on the case checking a window tint to make sure it's legit! |
DEAR SERGEANT AL: Last
month I was caught in a state police checkpoint trap in the middle of the day
off an exit ramp from the state parkway and received a ticket for window tint
being too dark. The troopers used a
tint-meter to measure the light translucence through my window. I took care of
the ticket to learn my lesson, but what are the laws governing car window tint
and what is the limit as far as I can go to install the darkest but legal limit
when it comes to tinted windows? –TINTED
WINDOWS ENCAPSULATE EXIGENT NECESSITY WHEN ONGOING LAWS FAIL
DEAR TWEEN WOLF: You
bring up an interesting topic, but I’m sorry to hear about your window tint
ticket to hope the fine wasn’t too steep. Some states make allowances to have
your ticket dismissed as a correctible equipment violation, but other states
are getting wise to the tactic of bait and switch window tints to hammer you
right on the head with little wiggle room if in fact you get a ticket for too
dark a window on your car. Although you
didn’t specify if you replaced the illegal tint with a legal one, my suggestion
to those who do this is to make sure you go to a police or inspection station
to have a government officer or agent check your windows with a meter to ensure
that the replacement is in fact legal, and especially if the violation you were
cited is in fact correctible. Remember that window tint shops are in the
business of making money and are not necessarily looking out for your best
interests. They also have limousine window tint to cater to that clientele, so
they could care less whether the tint on your car is legal or not, so as long
as you have the money for the kind of tint you really want. Depending on the
law where you go to do the tinting, some shops will make you sign an
exculpatory waiver on your receipt, some won’t even issue you one and demand
cash when you come to have your windows tinted. Some states make such
installation illegal.
Have you
recently had a cataract, skin cancer, or even a mole or abnormality removed
from your skin or eye(s)? Has a doctor recently told you to stay out of the
sun? If so, regardless of what age you are, a doctor’s note is all it may take
for you to get a medical clearance to get darker window tint on your car. Go
talk to your doctor to see if he/she can give you a note for DMV clearance, and
check your state for the appropriate exemption. Also if you drive a sedan,
wagon/SUV or other kind of vehicle with rear windows, your state may have a
provision that allows you to cover those windows with a darker tint, as long as
you can see the front passengers through the front windows. Your car may already
be equipped with built-in tinted photo-grey film that changes darkness with the
intensity of the sunlight. Check with your owner’s manual or dealer. Know the
window tint law and the law governing the shops that install them so that you
are fully aware of your responsibility before you get pulled over for illegal
window tint.
Unless this is in a state where this is legit, this car is not asking, it is BEGGING for trouble . . . |
U.S.
Tint Limits by U.S. state (when measured on the
front side window)[5]:
State
|
VLT
|
State
|
VLT
|
State
|
VLT
|
Alabama
|
32%
|
Louisiana
|
40%
|
Ohio
|
50%
|
Alaska
|
70%
|
Maine
|
35%
|
Oklahoma
|
25%
|
Arizona
|
30% to 36 %***
|
Maryland
|
35%
|
Oregon
|
35%
|
Arkansas
|
25%
|
Massachusetts
|
35%
|
Pennsylvania
|
70%
|
California
|
70%
|
Michigan
|
70% State Law
|
Rhode Island
|
70%
|
Colorado
|
27%
|
Minnesota
|
50%
|
South Carolina
|
27%
|
Connecticut
|
35%
|
Mississippi
|
28%
|
South Dakota
|
35%
|
Delaware
|
70%
|
Missouri
|
35%
|
Tennessee
|
35%
|
Florida
|
28%
|
Montana
|
24%
|
Texas
|
25% state law
|
Georgia
|
32%
|
Nebraska
|
35%
|
Utah
|
43%
|
Hawaii
|
35%
|
Nevada
|
35%
|
Vermont
|
70%
|
Idaho
|
35%
|
New Hampshire
|
70%
|
Virginia
|
35%
|
Illinois
|
35%
|
New Jersey
|
70%
|
Washington
|
24%[6]
|
Indiana
|
30% state law
|
New Mexico
|
20%
|
West Virginia
|
35%
|
Iowa
|
70%
|
New York
|
75%
|
Wisconsin
|
50%
|
Kansas
|
35%
|
North Carolina
|
35%
|
Wyoming
|
28%
|
Kentucky
|
35%
|
North Dakota
|
50%
|
District of Columbia
|
70%
|
Current as of 17 July 2010
(Lower number is less
light transmittance, thus darker tint)
I have a
feeling this chart is not accurate and since it is from two years ago it has
become outdated. I know that the New York entry might be incorrect, as it probably
should read 70% not 75% (unless the law changed without my knowledge), so I
suggest you go to the first link I provided, or call your state DMV.
Finally,
remember that when selling your car, illegal window tint can detract from the
resale value. Especially if the tint was on the car for a while it might leave
a residue that will be difficult to remove from the window once the tint has
been removed. Unless the next buyer wants it, I suggest if you detail the car
to have the tint removed so that the tint does not become an issue when
determining a trade-in or resale price of your old car. You paid the piper
TWEEN WOLF, but I’m citing everyone with a WARNING: be careful when you slap on
window tint on your car, especially in a state where dark tint is illegal: it
is an open invitation for the police to pull you over and ticket you! Drive
carefully!
Installing the car window tint is a great way to prevent from direct sunlight, but having a dark tint is illegal in some states.so while, buying the window tint, make sure you buy the light shade.
ReplyDeleteThere should a standard in how much tint are allowed in accordance with state law. On the other hand, motorists who have skin problem upon exposure to direct sunlight should be given special considerations.
ReplyDeletePeople get tickets very often for dark window tint,when it gets dark out there are chances you'll crash and it is very hard to see through your mirrors. Anything more than 35% will be hard to see out of at night. Great tint limits info here.
ReplyDeleteI am very amazed by the data of this weblog and i am glad i experienced a look more than the blog. thank you so much for sharing these kinds of excellent information.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the comments. Let me know if you have any questions you'd like for me to answer!
DeleteMy truck was park in front of my apartment on the street. Their was a parking ticket for no front license plate and tinted windows. Can I dispute that since my truck was park and not on or moving.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your message. The answer depends of what state and jurisitiction you are in. I can assume if a police officer or agent gave you those two tickets, that they are valid. Unless you get back to me with more details, that will be my answer for now. Otherwise, please speak to a traffic attorney who can best help you with this! Sgt. A
Delete