Hi all,

I'm awaiting my ship to dock in Southampton as I write.

So, I look forward to meeting my fellow NJ NAM Mini Motorers.

As I get ready for it to arrive, what is teh consensus and thought about window tinting in NJ w/ our wonderful tinting law? I'd like to tint all the way around to keep it uniform, but understand theh restriction on windshield, and front driver/passenger windows. Is there some minimum that can be done safely? Who have you used?

Thanks in advance!

 

I had 35% all around on my old BMW E46 330 (brought it back to NJ from CA)... got ticketed once in three years.

I think it all depends on how strict the municipalities you generally drive through are.

That being said, I can't imagine 50% all around would be much of a problem, but all it takes is one hard-*** Johnny Lawman to wreck your day. I'm probably ordering a new MCS very soon, and will probably just go without tint this time.

 

if you get stopped by a nice state trooper on our lovely highways, not only will you get a speeding ticket (while getting passed, doing 70 in a 55), you'll also get a ticket for the tinting.

It wasn't me, but a friend in his BMW 325 from Florida (with NJ tags)

the nice chaps at the inspection station may also bust your *****.
(they gave me ***** for a 5-pt harness, eventhough the 3-pt was still in the car and functioning.)... granted you have quite a few years before ahving to deal with that headache.

 

Well that's no fun! Ah well, I may inquire with an auto glass place as well as a friendly local constable. Even 50% all around would be nice -- except 0% on the windshield and maybe 35% on the back hatch window. I'm getting DS and I can't help but admire other DS w/ tinting. I certainly wouldn't really dark I'll have to do some more research.

Thank you both!

 

Welcome ! And congrats on your Mini !

We do get togethers every so often here in NJ so just check this forum here for updates on local GTG's etc.

Im sorry we seem to have so many MINI owners here in NJ, but they are all too shy to post and welcome new members. Shame on them!

I myself have a light tint on my car (i think its 20? ... not sure though) and it can be seen through and not dark. I see darker tint on cars on NJ streets all the time! I had mind done on RTE 1&9 (my mechanics suggestion). My back hatch window is dark bacause i have the MINI window shade in the rear.

 

Welcome =D

 

Welcome..

If you have a shop tint your windows, they'll know the maximum tint allowed in your state. If it's a DIY, a call to a State Highway Patrol station will get a correct answer.

Good luck,

gaminis

 

Thanks all, for the helpful replies. PortMCS, thank you for the welcome. I'll be even more pleased when I have Mini in the garage and feel like a genuine member. I skulked on the NJ threads before and saw the GTGs. They sound great. Just what the doctor ordered in this busy NJ life. I'll look for the auto glass place you mentioned. I'll try to find someone savvy with what is passable w/ the law. Hoping to have my MINI the first part of February. We'll see ...

 

welcome aboard!

35% on the rear quarters are legal the last time I checked. nada, zero, zilch for the windshield and front driver and front passenger sides. Why make the LEO's trigger finger twitchy if they can't see in? That said, I have OEM sun screens on the rear windows which approximate a 35%. And they are removable, as some clubs do not allow tinting for track day cars.

 

Congrats on your MINI - hope your time spent waiting at the docks go quickly!

 

Thanks for the welcomes! So far the dock wait is excruciating. My ship has been sitting in port at SH since yesterday and isn't scheduled to leave for hours yet today. Then it goes to Halifax and then to NY, all supposedly by 1/24 -- doubtful.

 

Wow, in NJ it is illegal to:

"Install or apply any such material or film on or to the windshield or the windows to the left and right of the driver of any motor vehicle registered in the State"...

PDF

I didn't think it was that strict - even in NJ! I figured like 15% or so would still be fine.

 

Did you ever notice how much tint is on some of these township police cars? But then if you get a Dr. note you can do just about anything.
Oh Well, That's life in the "Garden State"

 

I believe tint law for NJ is no tint whatsoever on the front 3 windows, but the rear can be any %. With that said, I have 20% all around and havn't had any problems with the police. I have heard 2 recent stories from friends of being pulled over just for tint. I can't imagine the fine being severe.

 

Thx Marco, I read the pdf above. I'm thinking 20% rear 3 and then something really light on 2 front sides to show some contrast, but still have a little uniformity. Not sure how it would look. I just know I don't like perfectly clear windows. I'll have to talk to a window guy.

Saw a JB 50 or 53MC w/ tinted rear 3 and clear front. Looked god from behind. But it was at night, so it's hard to tell what it really looks like.

Can't really blame them for that law, which is probably a result of State Police being unsure what's on the other side of the glass when they pull someone over on one of our wonderfull pass-through highways.

 

Hey FD,

When you and russr get your machines (and maybe I get mine before the Spring), we should meet somewhere for a cup o' mini-joe. Invite the rest of the folks on this NJ thread.

You're close now!

 

Congrats on your new arriving MINI. NJ tint law s#$%^@, like evryone else said only the back three. I'm thinking what to do also.
and.....Welcome to NAM! Jersey in the house!

Mr. Jim

 

Back when i lived in the Princeton Area i had 15% windshield and 20% all around and never had a problem with it. good luck with yours. have you spotted any good roads for motoring yet? i love river rd. along the pa nj border. just keep an eye on some of those potholes.

 

Greengbln, I'll try and feel out the window tinter to see what is "passable" in their experience. (Probably won't tell me given the NJ law.)

There are some super roads near here. River Road in PA is minutes from where I work. I ride a road bike across the river on Rte 29 btwn Stockton (above Lambertville) and Frenchtown. In terms of deserted back roads, there are a few in my area. It will be fun scouting them.

I bet there are a few nice roads near you.

 

Several years ago I was in a friends car when we got stopped by local cops someplace in central jersey and the cop handed the driver a razor blade and told him to take the tint off right now or the car is impounded. All he was doing was 20 over the limit, and the cop decided to make a point. I'd guess the tint was somewhere from 35% to 50%. All it takes is one cop that was ticked off before you even drove by. Clearly he's done this before... I mean why would he have a razor blade otherwise..

We scraped off enough of the tint for him to be grumpy but let us go with one speeding ticket, one tint ticket, and one ruined tint job on both front windows (none was on the windshield). I have 50% tint on the rear side windows, but the fronts are clear.

 

I currently have 25% on all of my windows (but not the windshield) of my MINI Cooper S. But my friend has a MC40 (a fellow NAMer) (along with a bunch of other friends who drive SUVs and trucks--they have the same tint job), and he has 5% all the way around with a 15% windshield banner/visor strip, and when i saw that on his car, it made my car look like the windows weren't even tinted! So this summer, I am thinkin about getting the 5% all the way around with 15% windshield strip. I cant wait!!