illegal window tint
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,636
Likes: 2,431
A high degree of tinting is great to cope with the heat, but unfortunately, it is forbidden by law. If the police see you on the road, they will make you take off your tinting and write a huge fine. I have experienced this, which is why I have completely abandoned tinting. I now drive only with sunglasses. And to protect my child from the sun, I bought a curtain for the back seats here at snapshades.com.au. It is a good buy, as this curtain makes my child feel comfortable.
I live in a state, in the USA, where tint of any percentage is illegal on the front doors and windshield glass. But a surprisingly large number of vehicles have it anyway. I have only been cited twice in the past 20 years of having illegal tint, and to say it was a huge fine would be a huge exaggeration.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 146
Likes: 16
I just had my front windows done with 3M ceramic IR one shade darker than legal in Florida. Turned out pretty well at matching the stock rear “darkness” front the outside. There is slightly noticeable difference in hue though, with the 3M being greenish and stock rear glass being slightly amber. Because of the “illegality” of the tint job they didn’t give me a receipt and was a cash deal 😂
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 36
From: Free State
What country are you in? The huge fine and likelihood of getting cited can vary greatly depending on where one resides. It sounds like your experience might be that of someone living in another country.
I live in a state, in the USA, where tint of any percentage is illegal on the front doors and windshield glass. But a surprisingly large number of vehicles have it anyway. I have only been cited twice in the past 20 years of having illegal tint, and to say it was a huge fine would be a huge exaggeration.
I live in a state, in the USA, where tint of any percentage is illegal on the front doors and windshield glass. But a surprisingly large number of vehicles have it anyway. I have only been cited twice in the past 20 years of having illegal tint, and to say it was a huge fine would be a huge exaggeration.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,636
Likes: 2,431
I've been ticketed in 2 states outside of the one I live in. Cops told me they can ticket for the state you live in if you are violating that state's laws no matter where you are driving in the USA. I got tired of the hassle and had my tint removed and applied at legal limit in my state even though cops in my state didn't seem to care.
I can totally understand not wanting to deal with it if you repeatedly get harassed. Since I have only been cited (fix it tickets) twice in the past 20 years, I continue to run "illegal" tint.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 36
From: Free State
Sounds like BS to me, since when do other states enforce, for example California vehicle codes? What it sounds like happened is that your tint was illegal in your home state, and also illegal in the states that pulled you over. Still a pretty bizarre story.
I can totally understand not wanting to deal with it if you repeatedly get harassed. Since I have only been cited (fix it tickets) twice in the past 20 years, I continue to run "illegal" tint.
I can totally understand not wanting to deal with it if you repeatedly get harassed. Since I have only been cited (fix it tickets) twice in the past 20 years, I continue to run "illegal" tint.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 712
I've been ticketed in 2 states outside of the one I live in. Cops told me they can ticket for the state you live in if you are violating that state's laws no matter where you are driving in the USA. I got tired of the hassle and had my tint removed and applied at legal limit in my state even though cops in my state didn't seem to care.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 36
From: Free State
Would love to see the law on this, some things yes you have to abide by in other states like say triple towing, but I can't see how if you are licensed in another state and your tint being too dark in another state being one of them. Were you being an idiot driver or going 20+ MPH over speed limit or something? I rarely hear of anyone getting pulled over for tint period, much less two times in different states...
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,636
Likes: 2,431
What I found were some saying that an officer can cite a vehicle from out of state, for violation of certain vehicle codes within the state you are driving in. But, it also went on to say that it would likely get dropped in court if you were to present information showing that the violation is not illegal in the state in which the vehicle is registered.
So, I have to assume that the citations given were for violating vehicle codes in the state where you were driving, not the vehicle codes of the sate you are registered in. As crappy and petty as they were to even pull you over to begin with, they also knew you had no argument against the citation, since you couldn't say it's legal in your home state.
I would still be interested to see the actual wording and code associated with this type of situation.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 36
From: Free State
You got me interested to find out how this scenario might be possible. Unfortunately I could not find any legal sources that clearly outlined this type of situation.
What I found were some saying that an officer can cite a vehicle from out of state, for violation of certain vehicle codes within the state you are driving in. But, it also went on to say that it would likely get dropped in court if you were to present information showing that the violation is not illegal in the state in which the vehicle is registered.
So, I have to assume that the citations given were for violating vehicle codes in the state where you were driving, not the vehicle codes of the sate you are registered in. As crappy and petty as they were to even pull you over to begin with, they also knew you had no argument against the citation, since you couldn't say it's legal in your home state.
I would still be interested to see the actual wording and code associated with this type of situation.
What I found were some saying that an officer can cite a vehicle from out of state, for violation of certain vehicle codes within the state you are driving in. But, it also went on to say that it would likely get dropped in court if you were to present information showing that the violation is not illegal in the state in which the vehicle is registered.
So, I have to assume that the citations given were for violating vehicle codes in the state where you were driving, not the vehicle codes of the sate you are registered in. As crappy and petty as they were to even pull you over to begin with, they also knew you had no argument against the citation, since you couldn't say it's legal in your home state.
I would still be interested to see the actual wording and code associated with this type of situation.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,636
Likes: 2,431
Both cops cited me for violation of my states vehicle code, not the state I was in. Both stated this was based on a compact between the states that allows them to enforce my states vehicle codes in their state. I have no idea how many states are part of this "compact". They did measure the tint with a device and stated it was darker than was allowed in my home state. They did not discuss what the percent tint allowed was in the state I was in. I guess I could have fought it but that would have required another trip back which would cost more than the ticket and they know it.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 36
From: Free State
Happened in Iowa and Nebraska.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,687
Likes: 12,812
From: Wyoming
Shortly after my wife and I were married we moved to Texas from Wyoming in our recently purchased new car. While we had Wyoming plates, the (Colorado) dealer didn't provide the front bracket. My wife got stopped on the way to Houston and was given a warning for not having the front license plate. All three states involved required front and rear license plates.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1,221
From: Southern Crescent
With the 50% light passing on the sides and a 5% passing visor strip, the shop gave me paperwork stating the tinting was tested by a certified shop to be in compliance with state law. So I'm legal, not too dark and rejecting 85% IR for a much cooler ride.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 4,281
Likes: 2,415
From: Everywhere and nowhere
In 2010 I got a ticket in Michigan for tint too dark on the front windows but it was a fix-it ticket. Me and my brother had almost identical trucks his was a weird purple 95 f150 and had no tint mine was a maroon 94 f150 and tinted way too dark but the cop didn't put a color on the ticket so I swapped plates and drove his truck to the court house and they just checked the registration against the license plate and the ticket. No fine for fixing the violation.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 1,050
From: Florida
In 2010 I got a ticket in Michigan for tint too dark on the front windows but it was a fix-it ticket. Me and my brother had almost identical trucks his was a weird purple 95 f150 and had no tint mine was a maroon 94 f150 and tinted way too dark but the cop didn't put a color on the ticket so I swapped plates and drove his truck to the court house and they just checked the registration against the license plate and the ticket. No fine for fixing the violation.