tint question (from a legal standpoint)

[bodhi_tree777]

So the family & I spent the last week in PA (funeral ) but I happened to be in Lebanon while my brother's tint guy was in town. My bro called in a favor and had the guy tint the Vibe for free as a birthday gift to me . Looks good, I'll try to get the exterior cleaned up and shoot some pics soon.Now my question..I'm back in WV and after doing some research I've discovered that I am definitely not legal. WV law states 35% all around (with a decal or label between the film and the glass). I'm not sure what exactly I've got but its dark. Maybe 15-20% (?) all around (front & back windows and cargo area, nothing on the windshield). No label. So my question is: have any of you guys ever been stopped strictly for your tint? Or is that more the kind of thing that a cop might tack on if you're already being ticketed for some other infraction? How would a cop judge this on-the-fly on the side of the road? either way, I like it (never had a car tinted before) and I'll keep it until I absolutely have to ditch it. I figure I'll claim ignorance and take it off if I need to (it was free, after all). Or am I setting myself up for a stiff fine?

[zionzr2]

that would depend on the laws in your state. I think in most cases they would have to stop you for something else first. But this is not always true. the burden of proof is also on the state to prove what the level of tint you have.I'd say dont draw any attention to yourself. There are factory tints darker than 35%. Worst case you have to pay a small fine and remove it.

[lowincash]

i don't really think cops will pull you over just for tint...usually if you are driving wrecklessly or if your car is crazily modified then they will have a reason to pull you over.in cali you can not have any tint on your front windows...but on my previous car i had 20% all around and 70% on the whole windshield for over 2 years and no problem. only one time when i changed lanes very quickly and i guess i cut someone off and didn't notice a cop behind me...that's when i got pulled over...the cop gave me a ticket for my tint that time...wasn't even a fix it ticket...it was a $120 ticket =/ only for front windows tho, don't think she noticed the windshield tint because it's so light. on my vibe i have 15% rear and 35% front and 60% on windshield and another layber of 40% on my sunroof. during sunny day it's not too dark and you see in the front just fine. only at night it looks super dark. black interior makes the tint look darker too. but yeah i guess it also depends on the area and cop and if they need to meet their quota by the end of the month or something lol

[Houston]

Years ago I had the windows tinted on my Chevy S-10. A Michigan State Police trouper pulled me over in Flint and gave me a ticket for the tinted windows. The ticket simply said to remove the tint and to afterwards have the windows checked at any Michigan police department within a certain number of days, that if I did this there would be no fine. I did it and that was it.

[VivaVibe]

Yes! I was pulled over specifically for too dark tint, and ticketed. I bought it only 3 weeks prior from a dealer and it was already tinted. Since they sold me a car with illegal tint, the dealer covered the cost of the ticket. I then had it tinted again with legal percent.

[irishroach77]

I've been thinking about doing a light tint. I have had one of my friends actually had his car lets say a little over tinted, but i guess the cop decided to be a (removed) and actually gave him a razor and told him to scrape it off right there, not sure if that's completely legal or not, but my buddy might have mouthed off too.

[rAERRK]

yes they will pull you over just for tint if its dark enough to attract attention. i dont think 20% is though.they use handheld tint meters to find out, btw. since you didnt pay for it, id just leave it on and see. 80% chance you will just get a warning the first time.

[abbotlex]

In Utah they now check tint during the annual safety inspection before you can register for the year. I don't think cops here pull people over for it much any more, you just won't be register your car.Probably a good solution. Cops don't have to mess with out of state cars (unless they want to be jerks I guess). Plus no fines, just fix it to renew your registration. I guess if you have the money/talent, just put the tint back on after the inspection.