Summer has arrived, and the sun is showing up for duty for most of the day making everything warmer including your cars. Sometimes giant cardboard cover ups aren't enough to keep things fresh, and people resolve to get their car windows tinted.
In practical terms, automotive vehicle window tinting is a method for avoiding high levels of sunlight to pass through safety glass (windshield). Tinting also offers a sense of security by hiding the passengers or their possessions to bystanders. However, there are window tint laws and regulations around how dark your car window tinting can be. Auto window tinting is available in varying shades, but are you in the dark when it comes to the legality of having your windows tinted?
Are Tinted Windows Legal?
State window tinting laws regulate the darkness, location, color, and reflectance of after-market window tinting, or tinting that is applied after the vehicle has been sold, and not by the vehicle's manufacturer, you can ask a lawyer about specific regulations in your state.
Car Window tint laws may also exempt certain people, vehicles, or windows from the law or specific parts of the law, for example, you need tinted sides for medical reasons, depending on the state this exception might be admissible.
Legal Window Tint for Front Windshield
One common thing for all window tinting laws is that your windshield and the front side windows must be clear—not even the lightest tint is permissible there.
In all states, window tinting laws apply only to those whose vehicle is registered within the state. However, out of state drivers are usually required to have tinting that is in compliance with their own state laws in order to avoid a citation.
Also, other parts of the vehicle are regulated, rear-view mirrors, tail lights and side-view mirrors as well, just like there's a myriad of banned colors like yellow and red.
The majority of states allows a law enforcement officer to stop a vehicle when he or she believes that the window tinting does not comply with the law. In the case of a penalty, all the states have fines going from $500 to $5000 and depending on the state they can jail you for the violation of that state tinting law and order to have the tint/film removed.
To determine if your vehicle adheres to the legal window tint limits, ask a Lawyer today!
This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Rocket Lawyer is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.
