GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

http://www.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/ http://www.iwfa.com/iwfa/Law_Chart/Stat ... 0Chart.htm

Thanks for those links.I know that certain cities (towns, townships, etc.) around each have their own tint laws. Does anyone know how those laws pass through say if you live in one city with specific tint laws and drive through another city with different tint laws? Could you get in trouble in another city just passing through as long as you have legal window tints in your hometown?

In Ontario the law is that such that you can affix a mild light tint to the front windows and dark in the back. The intent is that the constable can see when the driver has a weapon. Why they aren't worried about weapons in the back is beyond me.Any way I had various cars with tinted windows for years with no problem following the above rule travelling all across Canada. Then I go back to my home town in rural Ontario and I get pulled over. Luckily I was able to wiggle out of a fine but the locals there were interpretting the law very strictly. I would have gone to court but I was able to make it go away.So, yes I would say that a particular jurisdiction could give you grief regardless of where you are from.

I don't know how it goes in Canada, but here in the U.S. I beleive that this is covered by the State's Rights provisions in federal law along with the Supremecy Clause that delegate authority to specific jurisdictions. Under these laws, when a local government (city, municipality, etc.) establishes laws that conflict with laws established by a superior governing body (such as a state), the laws of the superior body shall be regarded as the actual law regarding the issue, except where the superior body has delegated such authority to the lesser governing body.In short, if the state has a law regarding the tint, the state law is enforced and the local law has no binding effect---unless the state gave the local government the authority to make and enforce laws regarding tint within their own jurisdiction. Basically, the city can pass whatever laws it wants, but if they conflict with a state law, then the city's law is powerless. Also, in most circumstances, one city cannot make laws and force them to be adhered to in another city. This is also true of states.I am not a lawyer, so don't hold me to this. I have knowledge of several occasions where a driver had a legal level of tint for one municipality, but crossed into another municipality to go shopping or whatever and was pulled over and cited for illegal tint. This is strange because for every instance I can think of, the state determines the legality of all aspects of automobiles and their operation, and when stopped for illegal tint, you are cited as violating a state law. This is how it often happens here in PA. Most people just pay the fine because they don't know any better and the District Justices and police departments are banking on this to make a quick buck.
[Modified by Stang2Vibe, 4:40 AM 12/4/2002]

This is the most current revision for NJ tint laws I stumbled upon. Unsure if it differs from what's on that link above:Quote »Q: What are the New Jersey tint laws?A: Basic tint laws for New Jersey are as follow:No after market tint may be applied to front driver and passenger windows. After market tint on rear windows may not cover the 3rd brake light. Windshields may only be tinted 20% down from the top to help avoid sun glare. No mirror tint allowed anywhere on the vehicle.

In ontario I think it depends on the city and the type of car. My 96 Sunfire GT had dark windows, I mean dark to the point you could not see the back seat through the windows. Looking through the front window had the same effect. Now I had an eyebrow on the front window also for sun glare. I never got pulled over the whole two years I owned that car for dark tint.I really doubt any officer can make me take off my tint if I'm not from that area anyway... But I think it depends partly on the mood the cop is in. My buddy got pulled over in his modified honda civic. Its lowered, chrome rims, tinted windows... you know, regular rice burner. The cop (female I might add) could not charge him for speeding (he wasn't) and couldn't find anything wrong with his car in the form of illegal stuff. So she charged him for windows to dark. His windows looked clear when compared to my Sunfire. But she labeled him and was just trying to find something in my opinion. This was also in Toronto... she probably thought he was off to some race.Honestly if a cop has the time to pull me over and charge me because of my tint, he needs another occupation. There are actual law breakers out there. I got my Vibe windows tinted today. Limo on all the back windows, a lighter shade on the driver and passanger windows (still nice and dark though) and a 15% window tint eyebrow on the front window. He has not had anyone pulled over in Ontario for that tint. His van has simular tint as well. My car looks sweet (pics will be up soon on it for ya all to see) I do not have the third (highmount) brake light covered... and I'll let you know if I get pulled over heh.