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As long as you don't mind paying the fines if you get pulled over, I say go for it!!!

 

+1

 

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Got my first ticket in my Mini yesterday after 2 1/2 years of ownership for an unrelated matter. Cop didnt say anything about my 35% tint or header and exhaust combo...I have had the exhaust on for 2 years and tint on for 6 months and no problems.

 

if i were a cop i wouldnt think anything of a mini cooper... i'd be much more on the look out for hondas with exhausts and young guys driving them... here in southern ca that is the case.

 

Maybe it's the way you're driving rather than what you're driving that's causing you to get pulled over. A loud exhaust also gets you attention, mostly in a bad way. Go into stealth mode: asphalt color paint, mild tint, and muffled just enough to ensure your arrival isn't announced more than a block away. Brock Yates took the color scheme one step further. He would paint his street cars a dark primer gray and they would look slow at any speed.

 

I had window tint on my Altima (before I sold it for a MINI) and 3 weeks later a rookie cop pulls me over for it, he also said I was speeding but I didnt want to argue because I was on my way to get food and I was HUNGRY. Anyways I was told to take the tint off and yada yada yada. Long story short, $250 down the drain.

Just dont get pi$$ed if a cop does pull you over and tell you to take it off.

 

Just did 20% on my Mini Cooper Clubman/ CR+black. Looks great! Go for it, cops are not looking for paperwork just for tint violations. They might add it on to a speeding ticket or other bad driving issues but, I don't see them pulling you just for tint. (IMO) However as soon as you start adding a "look at me" exhaust system then you are going to draw unwanted attention. Dark tint on the red and black looks so slick though. Good luck

 

What is the "legal" tint?

 

i've always kinda thought cops just hate cars that trump their cruisers...
i was told by a indiana state cop to just put your windows down to let pleanty of light in so they don't question it.

 

Each state has a different law regarding tint.

Here in CT, it's:
front windshield - no more more than a 4" strip along the top
Side windows - 35%
Rear windshield - Anything you want

 

I would recommend you obey all local DMV laws and ensure your vehicle is in compliance for any modifications you make.

 

Legal tint in VA is:

Windshield - Non-reflective, not below the AS-1 line.
Front side glass - 50%
Rear & rear side glass - 35%

If you want to go darker and throw on a loud exhaust, go ahead. But if you get stopped and ticketed, it's all on you. Testing for illegal tint is also good PC (that's "probable cause", not "politically correct") to get you to open your door so the officer can get a good look inside your car.

Remember... You won't get a ticket for what you drive, but for how you drive it. And if you draw attention to yourself, you just kicked up the odds you're going to get picked out of the crowd for a traffic stop.

I'm not surprised that Scions are the most ticketed car in the US. All of them around here are painted in brash colors, with a thumping sound system and fart-can exhaust that can be heard a 1/2 mile away (too dark tint as well). And they happen to be driven by a douchebag, weaving through traffic at 20 over. I'm sure the "Harrassment" threads abound on the Scion forums.

 

I believe for CA back is anything you want, and the front is 80% (might as well just not put anything on).

I have 6% on the back, and 35% in the front. Looks AMAZING on the CR/B.

 

25% tint....

 

25% tint looks good but A little too light. 15% would be nice, but im guessing i wouldnt be able to see Sh#t through the windows at night

 

Haha, funny cause I came from an STi. I ALWAYS got looks from the coppers in the STi and was almost always followed by them. I had an SPT exhaust so it wasn't too loud but I had dark tint in the rear windows. The MINI is still fishbowlin', but I generally get no attention from the cops. It seems like I slip right under thier radar for the most part. I wouldn't be too worried unless the MINI is as loud as the Subaru.

 

Wow, I really like that!! I might have to do that to my MCS!

 

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well, a few yrs ago here in soCal before i bought my mcs, i had a imola red bmw330ci with illegally dark tint. the car had the stock wheels and exhaust and was flashy only in the sense it was imola red and a 2dr bmw. i was on the freeway driving at speed with other cars in the surrounding lanes (in other words, under 80 in a 65mph zone). it was july and i had the a/c on. immediately, when the cop pulled me over, i put down both windows before i came to a complete stop and he approached. he ticketed me for speeding and cited me for the window tint - so in my case, the window down strategy failed. and, given that i wasn't driving any faster than any other car on the road at the time, i remain pretty certain that i was pulled over b/c of the tint - the speed violation was documented as the "just cause" to pull me over. it also debunked my theory that nicer cars can get away with darker tint if you're generally not driving like a butthole.

 

I'm not going to say it all has to do with the color of the car, but in some cases it most certainly does. Case 1: A few years back, I was driving from Florida to Ohio in my wife's 7th gen Toyota Celica. I was in Alabama travelling in a pack of at least 7 other vehicles. Speed limit was 70, but everybody was doing a little over. Cop flies up the highway and who do they target? The liquid silver Celica with the aggressive body kit and bright green dragon painted down the side. Now mind you, they didn't pull me over, but they pulled up beside me to let me know to back down. Even funnier, there was a Chevy Astro van going faster than me. Case 2: The three years I owned my Solid Gold Cooper, not one ticket. Not even once did I get pulled over. I trade that one in for my JB Cooper S.......ticket in the first month. Before you say it's because of the power difference, I'll let you know, my driving style never changed. Did some research and found out cops don't care for black cars. They see it as a sign of rebellion and outlawness. Could be true, 'cus that's what I am. In all seriousness, I've never been hasseled in my JB S for my tint. I have 5% on the 2 front windows and 20% with a layer of 5% over that on the three rear windows. I think it might be how cops perceive the type of car. Would they hassle somebody in a MINI Cooper or a WRX for having illegal tint? Probably the WRX just because of the reputation. So, it doesn't always boil down to color. Lots of factors are involved, type of car, color, cops mood that day, etc.

 

Personally, I would go with what is legal. A cops job is to find reasonable suspicion and/or probable cause to stop you. From there, they find dope, warrants, weapons, and stolen vehicles/property. Many customized vehicles such as MINIs, are driven by the younger crowd who are easy to intimidate into giving up their rights. Do what is right so you don't have the stress of dealing with the long arm of the law. Your ride will still look good to boot.

 

If you get a ticket for illegal tint, it's NOT because of the car you drive... It's because you have ILLEGAL tint.

If you want darker tint, and not paying fines for having it, you have a couple options: Write your state congressman and beg to have the law changed, or go to your doctor, tell him you're photophobic and get a letter saying you need dark tint.

 

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