Your Questions About Window Tint Laws
Jenny asks…
Can you look up car window tint laws online and where?
Today I got a ticket for illegal window tint. When I had it installed about 1.5 years ago, I asked the garage to make it as dark as they can without making it illegal. Apparently they didn’t know the law because this cop had a device to test the darkness of the tint and it was illegal (I had no idea). This ticket was received in VA, but I may be moving to NC very soon. What I need to know is if my tint is legal in NC and if I move will I need to change it (or should I worry about getting a ticket there too!) Are these laws available to the public? If so, where can I find them?
mariok answers:
Check the IWFA http://www.iwfa.com or http://www.tintlaws.com
Charles asks…
Window tint laws.?
I go to college in Louisiana but am from out of state. My car is registered in Pennsylvania. I want to get tint on my car, possibly darker than the Louisiana Legal limit. In Pennsyvania in most places I am pretty sure the law is only enforced for vehicles registered in Pennsylvania. Does Lousiana have the same out of State Loop Hole? And also is illegal window tint only a secondary violation, meaning I would have to be pulled over for some other moving violation in order to get a ticket for the tint?
mariok answers:
I’d say yes. Obviously tourists will enter the state with different tint laws and not be expected to remove their tint upon crossing the state line. Best bet is to have your registration handy. Local cops might notice your car if it hangs around the area a bit too long. I’d recommend checking the laws and possibly goig with the lightest tint that meets both states requirements.
Check here:
http://www.tintlaws.com/about.html
Ken asks…
what are the laws for window tint in north carolina?
how dark can you have it?
is mirror tint illegal?
mariok answers:
I live in nc and the legal limit is 35 percent. On my car, i actually had a police man do my tint (funny) he said you can get away with 25 on the back windows. If you get mirrored tint no more than 20 percent reflective.
Lisa asks…
Car window tint law – how does it apply in other states?
If I have window tint on my car in Florida that is within the legal limit but I drive through another state with more strict laws (such as Georgia) can I get a ticket for my windows being too dark even though I have a Florida license and am just passing through?
mariok answers:
They shouldn’t give you a ticket if your just passing through and of another state with different laws like that. And if they do pull you over, you can say you didn’t know and show them that your from Florida.
Michael asks…
Help understanding California window tint laws?
So I’ve looked up and googled around and there seems to be some conflicting information. Car-tinting sites say 70% tint is ok. Then I look up the law and it doesn’t sound so clear-cut.
Yes it says applying anything that obstructs the view is illegal but then gives an exemption.
I am quite confused on the first 2 conditions listed. They list different % of light allowed.
It says colorless, transparent, and clear film is ok.
I had the tint put on that meets the 70% requirement, but of course it is light gray. Is this legal or not? In order to block some light, there is going to be some grayish color, isn’t there?
I just got it installed and was so happy to finally avoid sunburns on long car trips (I’m fair-skinned).
I have a friend who got a $150 fix-it ticket ($175 if you don’t remove the tint )… I have no idea how dark her tint was though. I just don’t want to get sunburned, would like to protect my interior from sun damage, reduce the temps my car reaches when parked on a sunny day, and would love to not get that hot-sunbaked feeling on car trips.
Here is the exemption listed:
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:
(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.
(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.
(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability of the existing window glass to block the sun’s harmful ultraviolet A rays.
(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle, a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this subdivision and the certificate identifies the installing company and the material’s manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material’s manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed according to manufacturer’s instructions ( )3 meet the requirements of this subdivision and the certificate identifies the material’s manufacturer by full name and street address.
(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles, or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed or replaced.
Lol… well my mom is a red-head and I got her fair skin. I can sunburn in 10-20 minutes of sun exposure and on a long car-trip your arms get exposed for hours.
mariok answers:
This California law (26708 VC) is very tricky. Before 1999, it was very clear: No aftermarket tinting whatsoever. Then, the legislature created a “gray area” (pun intended). You can have this material applied to the windows for the purpose of reducing UV rays. But it still somehow must be colorless and can reduce the VLT of the window. It can very easily be construed by an officer to mean exactly what it says: colorless.
Also, you have to pay close attention to subparagraphs (1) and (2). The tinting material itself must have a VLT of at least 88% and when combined with the factory glazing, the VLT must not be less than 70%.
Also pay close attention to section (4). The installer has to be able to provide you with this documentation or else it is an illegal tint. This is probably most important because an officer isn’t going to carry a light meter with him. Either way, you are still required to have this documentation.
If you want to use a “sun screening device” mentioned in section (a)(10), you can with a note from your doctor. These must follow the provisions of CVC 26708.2, meaning 35% VLT and be removable for night driving.
By the way, a “fix it ticket” only costs $25, not $150. You pay the larger fine if you don’t want to get the tint removed.
David asks…
What do the car window tinting laws mean that the tint must let in a certain percentage of light?
I live in Arizona, and the law says that the front side windows must let in about 33% of light or whatever. What does this mean? I’m assuming that if you have no window tinting on your car at all, that means 100% of the light is coming in the window , right? And let’s say that you don’t have windows, or you had a brick wall for a window and it blocks out all the light, that means 0% of the light is coming in.
So does that mean that I can get a tint that is 77% dark and only lets in 33% of the light, or does the 33% mean that I can only get a tint that is 33% dark and it lets in 77% of the light? Can someone explain this to me? I want to get my car windows tinted as dark as possible, because it’s hot as hell here in the desert.
mariok answers:
To be technical,and that’s me, it would be 67% dark and 33% light. True any legal tinting shop will know how much he can legally tint it for you. Most states I believe will not allow any real tinting on the side front windows. But usually the back and rear seat sides are allowed to be tinted without any restriction.
I heard all these laws date back to some scumbag woman that shot a cop through a tinted window and than ran away like a little girl to Cuba and still hides there under that jerks lame government. So thanks to her we can’t enjoy our cars the way we want to.
Also according to the link SUV’s have different laws on tint,but it doesn’t say what they are.
The 2nd link is the Arizona state laws on tinting,but it’s a lot of legal speak so please read carefully so you understand it and don’t get hit with a ticket for missing something.
Enjoy your tint. I’ve always liked tint,but it ticks me off that in NJ we can’t tint our front side windows at all and I’m always seeing people getting away with it. Usually with police shields in the car too!
Linda asks…
Can you get a ticket for window tint if it is factory installed?
What do you know about newyork window tint laws?how do you test how much light can come through your window?Being charged with no safety glass but there are numbers on the window on the outside of the tint.
mariok answers:
No. The factory tint complies with all state laws since it is only on the rear glass.
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