I got a ticket the other day for tinted windows. I want to remove the tint from front driver and passenger windows so that I am not hassled in the future. The officer did not give me the option to correct the violation so I am confused about the whole thing but don't want to give Johnny law any excuse to pull me over again. The fine is $110 and I think it is BS and that the cops should focus on more serious violations.

I've got some ideas from Autopia.com but am always open to specific MINI advice. So bring it on.

:evil:

 

I am in N. Ca, unfortunately I am waiting for the day I get that same citation and an extra one for no front plate! Here is a site that I found just incase!!!

Hope it helps.

http://www.tintdude.com/remove.html

 

I've had my share of fix-it tickets (1 for an intake, 1 for a euro plate etc) but none for my tint. In CA its illegal to have the 2 front windows tinted but the back 3 ar OK. If you need to have them removed I'd bring them to a tint shop and have them do it.

>>The fine is $110 and I think it is BS and that the cops should focus on more serious violations.

I totally agree with you there.

 

Hello,

My family used to own a window tinting shop in So Cal. If you are just taking the tint off of your driver and passenger widows you can use a spray bottle full of soapy water (dish soap and water) and a razorblade.

Use the razor blade to get an edge started and then keep spraying the area between the window and the tint with the soapy water. The tint is held on with some type of adhesive and you need to get it wet so that it gums up. Keep doing this and scraping it off with the razorblade. It's a pain in the neck, but you can do it yourself.

If you are taking it off the rear window I would recommend taking it to a professional so you dont mess up the defrosters.

 

How dark was the tint? Up to 35% is legal here in Arkansas. If the tint is so dark you can't see in the car I don't think it's unreasonable to have to remove it. Cops have to walk up to vehicles everyday with all sorts of occupants. For their safety they need to be able to see the behavoir of the occupants. Also, when at an intersection it really helps to be able to see if the drivers of other cars see you or not.

It's not just to hassle you...it's a safety thing.


R.E.

 

I don't want to hear about Tint "Busts"....yeah I know my tints are illegal, but the "look" it gives my MINI is soooo sweet....I would really be heart broken to have to take it off !

_________________
Pepper White Cooper,
Black Top & Mirrors,
Sport Seats, Fog Lights,
8 Spoke wheels, Multi-Function Steering Wheel, Proud Member of North American Motoring.com

 

I've got limo tint on top of 35% tint. I can see you but you can't see me!

Of course i don't have a mini, i have a truck could be 1 reason i haven't been pulled over yet.

 

I forget what number it is and how the numbers work but it is a light tint. The Tint shop recommended a darker tint for the front windows but i wanted to play it safe, I think it is 35. The back windows are 5, very dark and in my opinion more dangerous that the front ones because I can't see a thing backing up at night.

Anyway I'm still not sure if I want to do it myself, pay to have it taken off or keep it.

Will amonia stain my interior?

Jimbo-
I hear you, the tint was my first mod and I really like it cuz it looks cool and it cuts down of the light reflected into my eyes from behind.

 

I also live in CA, but purchased my MCS out of state to avoid dealer markup. I paid $140 for my dealer to have their excellent window tint vendor install a 50% window tint to all 5 windows. It looks great, and cops never give me a second look. Here is a photo....

 

Florida 15%

 

Okay here's the deal...

You might not want to hear this but it's really, really, real.

You're a cop. You're late for your morning coffee and donut. Just as you are requesting clearance for a coffee break you are cut off by a car that runs a red light and turns straight into your path. You stop the car to only give them a warning, as you know Betsy has your coffee on the table and is only waiting to see if you want the 'jelly filled' or the 'old fashioned' today. You walk up on the driver to ask him for his driver's license and registration, but because his windows are tinted you don't see the gun in his hand and you don't know that he just robbed the donut shop and killed Betsy. He shoots you through the tint, killing you. You fall down and land on your wallet which hold the photos of your wife of 3 years and your two kids who are just going into their sophomore and junior years in High School.

Okay I lightened it up at the end. But I hope you get my point about tinted windows and why you get tickets for them.

Ken
ps Dark tint all the way round on mine. But then I don't rob donut shops so I shouldn't get a ticket. Right?

 

>>Okay here's the deal...
>>
>>You might not want to hear this but it's really, really, real.
>>
>>You're a cop. You're late for your morning coffee and donut. Just as you are requesting clearance for a coffee break you are cut off by a car that runs a red light and turns straight into your path. You stop the car to only give them a warning, as you know Besty has your coffee on the table and is only waiting to see if you want the 'jelly filled' or the 'old fashioned' today. You walk up on the driver to ask him for his driver's license and registration, but because his windows are tinted you don't see the gun in his hand and you don't know that he just robbed the donut shop and killed Betsy. He shoots you through the tint, killing you. You fall down and land on your wallet which hold the photos of your wife of 3 years and your two kids who are just going into their sophomore and junior years in High School.
>>
>>Okay I lightened it up at the end. But I hope you get my point about tinted windows and why you get tickets for them.
>>
>>Ken
>>ps Dark tint all the way round on mine. But then I don't rob donut shops so I shouldn't get a ticket. Right?


Cops will pull you over for anything, it's a game to them. I say screw them and make it darker

 

When you get pulled over the proper procedure is to have your window down and your hands on the steering wheel. I work with a bunch of cops and that's what they said. They work in the meth capital of the US, but they say that's the courteous, safe way to do it. (I work at a ski resort and the patrollers are cops & paramedics).

I have 20% all around. At night I open the sunroof shades so that I can see out easier, it also makes it easier to see in. I think 35% is the limit in Missouri for the front windows. The runroof's make a huge difference in the light thats allowed in vs a nonsunroof car.

 

Hey where do you live? Huntington Beach cops are real jerks about that stuff, they mark all the violations as "non-fixable" so you have to pay the full amount. I got a ticket for my tinted tail lights and I removed them, and they also hassled me about my tint. I got it re-done though

 

to add to elbee's post, turn on your dome light right away if you get pulled over with tint. helps the cop see what you're doing.

 

>Cops will pull you over for anything, it's a game to them. I say screw them and make it darker <


Sounds like a bunch of tickets would be the perfect attitude adjustment for you.

Concerning the very dark window tint. Other than the cops, it's also a safety factor for other motorist. They need to be able to see in the car so they can tell if the driver sees them or is too busy on the cell phone, eating , reading or combing their purple hair to notice anything. Motorcyclist especially need to see if they are being seen, makes survival a lot easier.

Yeah I know, "screw the cops, the motorcyclist, old people and everyone else that interferes with what I want to do" is cool, right?..........wrong.

:evil:

 

Wow!!! Your white mini is beeautiful, speltzer.

Makes me want to get a tint on mine (when i get it!!!)

 

>Sounds like a bunch of tickets would be the perfect attitude adjustment for you.

I disagree. This will only foster more feelings of persecution against the police for "violations" that are nothing more than money making schemes.

>Concerning the very dark window tint. Other than the cops, it's also a safety factor >for other motorist. They need to be able to see in the car so they can tell if the >driver sees them or is too busy on the cell phone, eating , reading or combing >their purple hair to notice anything. Motorcyclist especially need to see if they are >being seen, makes survival a lot easier.

The cops in NC have these really bright lights on their lightbars that blast in the back window, no problems seeing whats going on inside. As for the other people on the road, drive defensively. If you can't see the driver assume he/she can't see you and act accordingly. There are more accidents caused because someone thought the other driver saw them but really didn't. Don't try to use "I thought the other guy saw me puling out" as an excuse for negligent driving habits.

 

Sorry,

The logic that says I'm safer if I can't see what the other driver is doing than if I can doesn't compute. Neither does breaking the law just to look cool.

We agree to disagree.

 

In my state they don't seem to mess with tinting. Not getting eye contact with a blacked out driver may play into the law but I have found a different safety issue. Trying to see through a heavily tinted car parallel to you. At an intersection you might miss motion like a pedestrian nearing your path or oncoming traffic.

Common sense tells you to pull slightly ahead and look around the obstruction before gassin' her. But if you are the visual obstruction you have to assume other drivers may pull a stupid trick. Now you have to driver for them, i.e. covering the horn like a zen master.

So...be cool

 

Exactly! Also i can see out my windows just fine, sure it's a little dark but i can see fine. People need to drive and not worry about my car when they are driving, and it gives me some privacy if i decide to eat or anything like that

 

UPDATE:

paind the $106 and left the tint in tact! finally got my license plates and left the front one off.

I'm a very very bad citizen.

 

speltzer, do you have a side view pic of your 5-window 50% tint? I'm kinda thinking of getting that on my CR/W MC.

I know that darker would probably look better, but I have enough nighttime visibility issues as it is...