Tinted Window Ticket *NOW UPDATED*

[Mongo]

I heard that the law says that regardless of a medical condition, your windows cannot be tinted.

Anyways, I am having the tint removed next Saturday. Going to keep it off for about half a year until things cool down with CA's deficits, than reapply a 35% tint to the fronts, which is lighter than the 15% all the way around on the car now.

On a side note, I don't have A/C and tint is cheaper than A/C.

[Lizard931]

HAHAH,

Till the deficits go down. Thats funny.


Everyone knows that they only ever increase!

[White Lightnin']

Mongo... you need to find a different inspection station. 928's get passed all the time as a 'station wagon' and thereby allowed darker tint on the rear of the vehicle. Take advantage of the obscurity of our vehicles and find someone that thinks a hatchback is a station wagon.

They do allow trucks and station wagons darker tint on the back & sides don't they?

[Bill Ball]

Originally Posted by G Man

They have started to crack down on window tinting here in NV too. Not sure if my tint is too dark, Guess I should have it checked out before I get busted.

Has this been covered already in this thread? The tint restriction in CA and NV has to do with the windshield and front door windows only. The hatch and rear quarter windows can be ANY tint level as long as you have sideview mirrors.

I'm a little confused on the front side window tint level. Most secondary sources quote at least 70% light transmission for CA and 35% (!) for Nevada.

http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/CA/
http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/NV/

CA 26708 has two paragraphs that confuse me as to the transmission level for front side windows. Here's the CA code direct from DMV. Be careful reading this due to all the indents.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm

Subsection (d) (1) says 88% per cent transmission. The next paragraphs (d) (2) says 70% with some extra text about material standards. [EDIT: I think paragraph 1 is about the material applied, which must transmit 88%, and paragraph 2 is about the over all tranmission level through the window, which must be at least 70%, after this material is applied.] Regardless, it appears you need to keep a statement from the installer/manufacturer about the tint in the car.

Also, the vehicle code has to do with the driver's ability to see out. Is there more to this? The police that stopped my son and his buddies, said the tint must be light enough so the officers can see inside, and this was at night. So, that would be rather subjective.

[Bill Ball]

Originally Posted by Mongo

I heard that the law says that regardless of a medical condition, your windows cannot be tinted.

Not so.

Anyways, I am having the tint removed next Saturday. Going to keep it off for about half a year until things cool down with CA's deficits, than reapply a 35% tint to the fronts, which is lighter than the 15% all the way around on the car now.

Wait a minute. Your tint only transmits 15%?! Jeezuz! That's limo blackout stuff. 35% is still a violation on the front side windows. As I read it, the code is 88% for the material and no less than 70% total transmission once it is appled to whatever the window had originally. Any decent tint shop will know the law.

Here's the code:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm

I've attached a Word file wherein I have indented the paragraphs in the code to make it more readable...

[Mongo]

Funny. I got pulled over at dusk.

[Mongo]

Originally Posted by Bill Ball

Not so.

Wait a minute. Your tint only transmits 15%?! Jeezuz. 35% is still a violation on the front side windows.

Yup 15%. Massive violation and I have to hide my celebrity status ya know..


I had 35% on a 944 with a tan interior like my car and never got nailed by CHP before. Then again, that was then, this is now. Tint will have to wait. I just want the damned things removed so I can get this sh*t over with.

BTW, the CHiP put a 13 day appearance notice for me. I have no time to get the tint removed and everyone I have called up here with a tint shop is booked this week. I'm going to ask for a continuance/postponement until I get the tint corrected.

[BBX]

A heat gun should take if off quickly right?

Firemed, since when is a 52 foot Cheoy Lee considered a "boat?" That's a ship mon!

[White Lightnin']

I seem to recall a newer kind of tint that is a verifiable 32-35% but appears much darker (or reflective) on the outside. I would never say to go with a 'chrome' tint but if there is a 'black chrome' that measures out to be legal... and you can get a written affidavit from a tint shop with a light meter -you're golden!

Don't just roll over on this one Mongo... we Rennlisters sympathize with you having to live in Kommifornia and look to you for inspiration and methods to combat our own bureaucrats...

[scottzj]

I have "a little" under 5% on my Lexus and Tacoma. My Porsche has around 25-35% mix around. In TN we have 35% for the front 2 windows and the rest can be as dark as you choose.

[Mongo]

I called the courts this morning to see if they have received the notice yet as I have such little time and found out bad news. They do look at the "correctable" boxes to see what is checked. If it's checked "no" there is no correction and I have to pay the same price as removing and reapplying tint.

I guess I have to pay the fine. I'll still keep the window tint on but will be driving with the windows down more often.... even if it's 30 degress out.

[Randy V]

You were just looking for trouble with a 15% tint.

Learn to fly under the radar, grasshopper.

[Mongo]

Believe me... I have seen darker on these roads than 15%.

Lesson well-learned now on how to fly under the radar.

[White Lightnin']

Here's a 'fly-under-the-radar' tip for you...

You say you don't have A/C? Why didn't you have the windows down already... it is Summer right?

Hmmmm...

[Mongo]

Because I was less than a mile away from home.