http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sec...?StoryID=71729

Some of you may already be aware of this but I was alerted to the area crackdown when at Winner's Tint on Friday.

There was a guy there in front of me to get his tint removed because he had just been pulled over in Frederick. Now I am a bit worried after getting my 20% tint done by Carlos! Apparently MD state troopers (but not county cops) can also pull you over and enforce VA state laws regarding tint! Ouch!

I'll be avoiding the Frederick area and will work on getting my doctor's note.

 

Yea I just had some trouble getting my car to pass MD inspection when I bought it. I think it has 35% but they swore it was 20%. Lucky i knew the guy and he signed off anyway. Ive been driving cars with 20% or less since I had my license and have never had an issue. What was the limit in MD? I spend most my time in VA with MD tags so i think im safe.

 

35% is the limit in MD, I think...so your 20% should be ok..

 

Not 100%sure what the MD limit is but I think it is 50% front and 35% back. Pretty ridiculous in my opinion. They can't do anything about the factory embedded tint, which is why SUVs get away with it for some crazy reason.

This is a stretch but does anyone know of any glass company that will custom make pre-tinted windows for you?! That would be one way around the silly laws.

Funny that my situation is the opposite of yours....I spend most of my time in MD with VA tags so hopefully I'll be okay.

 

2-3 cars run every red light and I got grazed in a crosswalk walking into my office this am by a women who floored it and went down the left side of the road to try to squeeze by me on foot in the crosswalk and the d*&#@% cops can't find anything better to do than worry about tint...

 

Holy crap, are you okay?! I have had the same sort of thing happen to me on more than one occasion at this crazy intersection here in Bethesda right outside my office.... Hope you got her plates or something and called the police!

But that's exactly how I feel about the tint laws. Although, I know the cops are just doing their job (although some will be cool about it and others not). I blame the localities that feel the need to waste the cops time and effort and local taxpayers money on trivial stuff such as this simply because it is another way to generate revenue, not because it will actually be found to reduce crimes or make anyone safer on the streets.

 

Yeah, I'm OK. I don't think it even bruised. But it was very very close. She actually broad slid into me sideways in a bit of a drift she was going so fast. Couldn't get the tag unfortunately. I was more than halfway across when she made he left and raced to try to pas in front of me. I'm just glad it wasn't someone pushing a stroller instead of me.

I know officers are concerned with tint being so dark it endangers them approaching a car at a stop. But cars running red lights and weaving aggresively on interstates endanger everyone and they don't seem to care about that. It's eaiser to sit on the shoulder and run radar while working on reports. Then just look up when it beeps.

Sorry for the rant all. After my brush (literally with the side of a honda) I just got wound up about lazy enforcement techniques that don't address the really dangerous problems that are so widespread.

 

Ruh-Roh... I work in Frederick.

 

Guess it's time that I go talk with a friendly doc about my light sensitivity.

That aside, once one does get a dr's note, do you have to go and register it with DMV? Does anyone on this board have something similar?

 

I'm in Michigan, but I've had my, uh, experiences with law enforcement regarding tint laws. Here anything on the fronts is illegal. My old car had 20%, the MINI has 18%. 6 months and I haven't been pulled over yet (sunroof helps). However.. I do have a prescription. I was told to just keep it in the car with my registration, etc. When I got pulled over and didn't have it I had to go to the state police post and get an officer to sign off on my ticket that I had a prescription. I sent it in and it magically went away. And now that I stay away from downtown Detroit, no more problems.

 

http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/med20.pdf
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/ci...sunshading.asp

Unfortunately, even with my doctor's note I'm still illegal in VA. I've never had problems in the past though. If a cop pulls me over and questions my tint I will also say that as a petite female that often drives around alone at night (on 495 and in pg county) I feel safer knowing that people can not so easily see into my vehicle.

 

<head asplode>

no, 20% is NOT ok if the limit is 35%. That's almost 2x the legal limit

 

Thanks, I appreciate the info.

 

Had my eyes checked last month, mentioned "light sensitivity" , hoping
to acquire a get out of jail free card and was basically told that here
in WV you had to pretty much be an albino to qualify.

Wondering if I need to find another doctor, or just dye my hair , forgo
a tan , and get red contacts???

(That would be easier than trying the petite , female line <g>. The beard
and height would give it away...)

 

lol....

well, not that I am trying to condone anyone doing anything that bends the law too much but I was told by a couple people that you can get a note from a dermatologist (think previous or high risk of skin cancer, maybe rosacea) or an eye doctor (glaucoma, light sensitivity, maybe side effects from Lasik) or any general doctor (I'm thinking migraines would be a legitimate reason).

 

No. 35% is the darkest in can be in MD. 20% is darker, as the % refers to the amount of light it allows through.

 

How can a MD trooper have the authority to enforce another state's law against you, when you aren't even in that state. That makes no sense.

 

Actually I received a ticket once in DC for not having an inspection sticker on my car (had VA plates, but bought in in MD). When trying to fight the ticket, I found out that DC can enforce VA and MD laws. So if that is the case and MD can enforce VA laws, then there is probably reciprosity between both states and the District.

 

Actually I received a ticket once in DC for not having an inspection sticker on my car (had VA plates, but bought in in MD). When trying to fight the ticket, I found out that DC can enforce VA and MD laws. So if that is the case and MD can enforce VA laws, then there is probably reciprosity between both states and the District.

 

^ You can say THAT again !

 

Does the same concept apply to front license plates? I wonder if a VA cop could pull me over for not having a front VA tag....

 

I got a ticket for no front plate in DC. I fought it and won (through some creative photography )

 

when you see a cop, just lean closer to the window so he/she can see you better

 

and whatever you do, don't go for the gat in the compahtmint under the dash