Window Tinting Laws

[JonJon]

Ok, so I'm looking to get my BMW 325i windows tinted. In South Carolina, the legal limit is 27% for all front sides, rear sides, and the back for sedans. I contacted the tint company about seeing exactly how dark the 27% really is. It wasn't very dark at all, and certainly not the darkness I was looking to achieve. I've seen minivans with darker tint than what I was allowed to get on my sedan. Turns out that SUV's and minivans, according to South Carolina law and also many other states, can apply any darkness to the back sides and rear as long as the front sides have the 27% limit.

Whaaaaaaat?

How in the world do SUV's and minivans get special treatment? This makes no sense to me whatsoever. Anyone have any knowledge of why this is or has experienced similar stories?

 

[ajk23az]

I'm not sure the exact % in AZ but I know the driver side window and passenger side have to be right around that 27%. The rear window and the rear sides can be as dark as you please here.

EDIT: just looked it up, in AZ, it is 33% on driver and passenger windows. Any % on anything else.

http://www.solargard.com/window-films/automotive/tint-laws

 

[Bill Wooten]

VA is the same way. There is a limit to the front windows, but rear windows can have limo tint.

 

[JonJon]

I guess I'll need to get my tags in another state. Anyone willing to let me use their address?

:tantrum:

 

[JBS]

MD law is 35%

From 16-25 I had 5 cars...all with 20% tint..some even lower..

Never got pulled over, a warning, nothing.

I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[MonsterD]

I had pretty low percentage tint on my car and I was pulled over and given a ticket. Pretty sure that it is the same as others are saying, front sides are regulated the rest are anything.

Ironically the place where I was getting the tint done were actually servicing the police undercover cars at the same time as my illegal tint job.

The owner was talking to me about how they always get illegal tints on the undercover cars, and the police were actually there with my car too, funny stuff.

 

[JonJon]

I had pretty low percentage tint on my car and I was pulled over and given a ticket. Pretty sure that it is the same as others are saying, front sides are regulated the rest are anything.

Ironically the place where I was getting the tint done were actually servicing the police undercover cars at the same time as my illegal tint job.

The owner was talking to me about how they always get illegal tints on the undercover cars, and the police were actually there with my car too, funny stuff.

How much was you ticket? I've talked to many that had illegal tint and never got a ticket and some that did. I guess it's just the luck of the draw. Also, when you got your ticket, did you get pulled for something else and just happened to get busted for illegal tint, or did he just pull you over for the tint and nothing else?

 

[Cajuncowboy]

The metro cops in Nashville are pretty anal about it here. I know several people who have been pulled over for excessive tinting. The cops just gave them warnings to get it removed.

Other smaller municipalities don't much care.

 

[Mountaineerfan]

One of the main reasons that officers are so anal about tint is it gets them in the door. In NC most of the time they dismiss the charge after you show them you removed the tint.

 

[Doomsday]

It is 27% here in Colorado and I have had 15% sides and back and 50% on the windshield on mine for 3 years now with out any issues.

 

[Shunpike]

Dude

Back side of SUV's and minivans are used to make out and sex. Give it a break.

 

[Kilyin]

VA is the same way. There is a limit to the front windows, but rear windows can have limo tint.

Not true.

See:

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Safety.shtm

http://www.tintlaws.com/

VA is 50 35 (front/rear)

 

[Boys122]

Well, in New York when I get pulled over for over tinting I get a kick out of the cop who pulls me over and his tint is darker than mine. Go figure.

 

[a_minimalist]

All if my friends when I was younger slapped illegal tint on their cars all of the time. They'd either roll down the windows if they saw a cop or take the chance. They had money and would willingly pay the ticket if they got one

 

[justbob]

Cops are anal about it because of visibility.... Try making a traffic stop in the middle of the night.As you approach the car you are doing everything you can to see if there is a threat to you in the car....The tint makes it very hard to see and makes the officer at a severe disadvantage...

 

[IAMKING]

Cops are anal about it because of visibility.... Try making a traffic stop in the middle of the night.As you approach the car you are doing everything you can to see if there is a threat to you in the car....The tint makes it very hard to see and makes the officer at a severe disadvantage...

Good.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

Cops are anal about it because of visibility.... Try making a traffic stop in the middle of the night.As you approach the car you are doing everything you can to see if there is a threat to you in the car....The tint makes it very hard to see and makes the officer at a severe disadvantage...

I understand that. But they are using the "Tint" as a reason to pull you over to try to find other violations.

 

[jimmy40]

The start of the window tint craze:

 

[justbob]

I understand that. But they are using the "Tint" as a reason to pull you over to try to find other violations.

But that is not any different then using any violation to make a stop. You can follow someone for a very short time and find a reason to do a traffic stop...I roll down front and back windows when I am stopped so the officer can see in. Courtesy to him and shows him I 'm not a threat ....Most officers will recognize what you did and it might buy you some good will.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

But that is not any different then using any violation to make a stop. You can follow someone for a very short time and find a reason to do a traffic stop...I roll down front and back windows when I am stopped so the officer can see in. Courtesy to him and shows him I 'm not a threat ....Most officers will recognize what you did and it might buy you some good will.

I get it and I'm not debating the safety value to the cops at all. What I am saying is that they use that specifically to look for other violations. That's why I said they are anal about it.