Truck tinting in states where it's illegal

[DGibbs]

Taking my truck to get tinted in the morning. Plan to put 15% over the factory tint on the back two doors and rear glass. Trying to determine whether to put 35% or 50% on the front two doors. It's illegal in Illinois to have any tint on the front doors but there sure is a lot of people that do it! I'm wondering how many out there are in similar states and how far can the evelope be pushed?

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I have 10% tint on my front windows and it's illegal here in Michigan. My last truck was an S-10 and I got pulled over for it twice in the 5 years I owned that truck. I've had this one now for 5 years and I've never been pulled over for it nor has it been mentioned when I was pulled over for something else. Both of the times I was pulled over for it in my S-10 I was up in the upper part of the lower peninsula and it was a state cop that pulled me over - they were probably bored with nothing else to do and the small truck caught their attention. Seems a big full size 4wd "farm truck" doesn't garner as much attention.

 

[Glen Pratt]

I put 35% tint on my side windows to closely match the factory tint and the tint on my cap. This percent tint is illegal in New York. In the almost 7 years I have owned my truck I've been stopped and ticketed once by the county highway patrol. I remember it distinctly, a Sunday afternoon, the last day of the month. The officer tried to tell me they don't have ticket quotas. Yeah right. I say go for it. My ticket was $50. 00. If they start breaking chops, you can always peel it off. -Glen

 

[nfox]

Window Tint

I know in Iowa you can go to the eye doctor and get a wavier to be able to have 35% window tint on the front windows and not get ticketed. I don't know if this is available in other states or not?

 

[Hammer]

I had mine done to match the rear windows out here in Pennsylvania 3 years ago,even with crazy laws about it. In our state,you may go as dark as you wish and its legal for state inspection,BUT(keyword),its not legal in many municpalities and they usually check with a UV meter. If they do not have the UV meter they can not or should I say,are not supposed to cite you for window tint. IF you are cited here they will TRY and have you remove it at the scene,but,it is not required and doesn't have to be done on the roadside.



Now with that said I will tell you I have been stopped for many stupid things with this truck,but,the windows have never been a issue. If you look in my readers rig shots you will see pics of my 98 Flame Red Sport with the windows done... ... ... ... . Andy

 

[bmoeller]

One of the bullhaulers I run with here in IL, has tint on his door windows ( KW T-600). It had been installed by the previous owner. He said only one cop has bugged him about it, and that was this past summer. Still on the truck. He has owned the truck for about 5yrs. or so.



FWIW

 

[Got Smoke?]

The legal limit for window tint around my area is 35% or lighter on any front windows and anything behind the driver windows as well as the back glass you can spray paint it black if you want! :-laf



Now that being said I have 5% all the way around as well as two WIDE strips across the top and bottom of my windshield. Have never been hassled about my tint and you can't hardly seen in the truck at all during the day, and you CANNOT see in at night! :-laf If your in the back seat you can't see out either as the 5% is over the OEM tint!



Had my old truck this way too. Got stopped by a city cop one night for supposedly not coming to a complete stop... . had to borrow his flashlight to be able to see in my glovebox good enough... . and even after finding THREE expired proofs of Insurance he let me off with a warning and never said a word about tint.



Also got stopped by a state trooper one night doing 77 in a 55 on my way to a hospital cause my soon-to-be g/f had been in a bad wreck. He ran my info and cited me! ( arsehole #@$%! ) but never said a word about my tint.



#ad

 

[NVR FNSH]

Most cops won't hassle you about the tint unless we can't see thru it at all - it's a safety issue for us. If you're an xxx then of course it's fair game.



The driver and passenger windows are tinted on all my personal vehicles... ..... Done before I became a cop.



Brian

 

[Dartman]

Law is 32% in Vegas. Had 20% full metallic (mirrored in the front, can't see through) installed five years ago. No problems yet. Been pulled over for other things, but always have drivers window down by time he walks up. Nothing mentioned about the tint. Military ID and politeness goes a long way.

 

[JBlock]

In California it was illegal too. The shop aplied clear or nearly clear with metal (berium) in it work great to cut the heat down and it not problems with the law.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Was in California back in '97 with my Lincoln Towncar which has 35% and Arizona tags on it. Stopped by a CHP who told me I had to take it off and tried to write me a ticket. I told him he better find something else to do because I don't live in California and I'm not taking it off.



He got all mad about it but drove off in a huff.

 

[RGRAT1618]

PA motor vechicle equipment and inspection regulationssubchapter E section 175. 67 Glazing subsection(d) (4) states that 70% is the darkest you can go on the front windows. The back windows and back side windows are unlimited. We have several local police that have there inspection cert's and uv guns to measure the %. And believe you me they do use them alot.



Rob G

 

[RustyJC]

Have never been hassled about my tint and you can't hardly seen in the truck at all during the day, and you CANNOT see in at night! :-laf

The primary purpose of the window tint laws is for protection of law enforcement officers. The most dangerous activity that a Texas State Trooper performs on a routine basis is to walk up to a vehicle he or she has just stopped, not knowing if the occupant(s) are waiting to ambush him with drawn weapons or not. Now, if he/she cannot even see into the vehicle.....



Given that perspective, I have no problem at all supporting window tint laws and think they should be enforced more than they are.



Rusty

 

[RGRAT1618]

I Agree.





Rob

 

[DGibbs]

Hey guys, thanks for all the replies. I went with 15% over the factory tint in back and 50% up front. You can still see the hair color of people inside behind the 50% tint, but it does cut down the UV quite a bit. I almost went with nothing on front as the guy installing the tint had 50% on his pimped-out VW and has three outstanding tickets in IL. It then occurred to me, as I was looking at his car, that he is a moving target. I mean really, how many pimped-out rice burners do you see pulled over compared to Heavy Duty pickups used for personal use.



Concerning the police. The few times I've been pulled over, I've always rolled down my window before the officer arrives at my door, tint or no tint.

 

[Got Smoke?]

The primary purpose of the window tint laws is for protection of law enforcement officers. The most dangerous activity that a Texas State Trooper performs on a routine basis is to walk up to a vehicle he or she has just stopped, not knowing if the occupant(s) are waiting to ambush him with drawn weapons or not. Now, if he/she cannot even see into the vehicle.....



Given that perspective, I have no problem at all supporting window tint laws and think they should be enforced more than they are.



Rusty

Rusty I do agree with that wholeheartedly. I have nothing but the upmost respect for law enforcement officers its certainly not a job that I want! , but the only reason I run my windows so dark is because my very 1st truck (when I was 16) got broken into TWICE because the guys could see my stereo equip, I vowed to fix that problem and I did.



Are my window's illegal, yes... ... . do I think the above statement justify's my window tint..... no. However its what I choose to run, so no offense intended.

 

[ben_ak]

Every truck I've owned has been tinted beyond what the law allows. I've been cited once. As with the replys above, I always roll my window down, and if it's dark out, I turn on my dome light. It's a $165 fine here. The fine can be waived if you remove the tint.



-Ben

 

[Evil Otto]

well guys i live in south nj and i never had a problem with my window tint untill i moved to franklinville. always rolled both windows down when pulled over it its not a real big deal. if speeding and your going to get stopped pull over before he put the lights on and dont give him any sh** and you will proably walk away with a warning. unless you run into officer sidreio. and then your f$*#$. i have had my windows tinted since 96 and i hate to say i will be taking the tint off. cant aford the tickets any more. he dont care who you are or know just keeps wrighting the tickets.

ED

 

[RustyJC]

However its what I choose to run, so no offense intended.

Mark,



No offense taken. It's your truck, your money and your choice, not mine.



Rusty

 

[BlueRam2500]

There are about 3 police officers in my town that have tinted windows, headlight/taillight covers on their vehicles, so I am not worried about getting stopped for tint. NJ is illegal for tint on front windows only. The back can be spray painted and it doesn't matter.