Tinting the driver and passenger window

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McSquashy

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I also tinted my front glass to match the rear tint. I'm in MA where the legal tint limit is 35% on the fronts. I pass several state police (police barracks near my house) every day and haven't been cited yet (knock on wood).

There's a place near me that does annual safety inspections. I pull up with my windows rolled down and they don't bother to roll them up to check tints.
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bbulkow

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Check your local laws before making a decision.
You may want to check the laws of any state you drive through, or may intend to sell the car in.

CA's law is manufacturer only tint on passenger and driver side (no aftermarket tint may be applied), and that law is in effect for any vehicle being driven on public roads.

The only time it's ever enforced is to create pretext for a stop AFAIK. Many people have front tint, cops don't care, unless they want to pull you over. Just avoid carrying contraband in a car with tinted windows.
 

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My personal view is anything darker than 35% is a foolish safety risk because then you can't see out the side windows at night.

I tinted mine at 50% which is the legal limit. Ceramic tint helps a lot with the heat without blocking too much light.
 

thenew3

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You may want to check the laws of any state you drive through, or may intend to sell the car in.

CA's law is manufacturer only tint on passenger and driver side (no aftermarket tint may be applied), and that law is in effect for any vehicle being driven on public roads.

The only time it's ever enforced is to create pretext for a stop AFAIK. Many people have front tint, cops don't care, unless they want to pull you over. Just avoid carrying contraband in a car with tinted windows.

I think it depends on the area and the mood of the police officer. I have been pulled over for tint and I didn't have it unreasonably dark (30%). I see people with completely blacked out windows (on all glass) all the time here in CA streets. But in my area and surrounding towns (in a touristy area) the policy will pull over for any reason.

I didn't get a ticket, just a verbal warning about getting it fixed.

After that incident, I've been getting only 50% on front driver/passenger windows. Haven't had any issues in the 15 years since. I know others who have gotten pulled over for tint. Some got a fix it ticket (basically remote tint then take it to a location to be inspected). While others have gotten a verbal warning like I did.
 

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bbulkow

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I think it depends on the area and the mood of the police officer. I have been pulled over for tint and I didn't have it unreasonably dark (30%). I see people with completely blacked out windows (on all glass) all the time here in CA streets. But in my area and surrounding towns (in a touristy area) the policy will pull over for any reason.

I didn't get a ticket, just a verbal warning about getting it fixed.

After that incident, I've been getting only 50% on front driver/passenger windows. Haven't had any issues in the 15 years since. I know others who have gotten pulled over for tint. Some got a fix it ticket (basically remote tint then take it to a location to be inspected). While others have gotten a verbal warning like I did.
My experience being stopped is officers are looking for pretext to do a stop. The $25 ticket isn't the point. How much you worry about getting stopped, and the officer doing whatever they might decide to do (hold you up for a police dog sniff), would be the risk.

My understanding of CA law is any tint gives the officer a reason to pull you over, and that's worth considering - or to your point, keeping to more modest tint levels.
 
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My experience being stopped is officers are looking for pretext to do a stop. The $25 ticket isn't the point. How much you worry about getting stopped, and the officer doing whatever they might decide to do (hold you up for a police dog sniff), would be the risk.

My understanding of CA law is any tint gives the officer a reason to pull you over, and that's worth considering - or to your point, keeping to more modest tint levels.
My neighbour is a patrolman for our small city. He said just do not bring attention to yourself. Loud boom boom music, drive with the flow etc I should be fine.
 
 







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