We were driving on I-5 the other day, and saw the CHP had pulled over an out-of-state car with heavier that usual window tinting. Excess tinting is a no-no in CA.

If you plan to tint your Mini's windows, this would be a good time to check your state laws concerning how much tinting is allowed on your car. If you travel to a neighboring state often, check their law also!

 

I recently checked my state, Kansas, and its a boring 30% front and back.
I should probably check MO too since I live within spitting distance from the state line! lol

 

A state trooper can not stop an out oif state car for such violations. If so than most states would be stopping everyone from Florida, Arizona, Texas etc.
They can only be stopped and ticketed for moving violations.

 

CA can, and will stop any car with too much tint. If an officer cannot see into the car, it's illegal to drive on CA highways. I've also known of cars with Mexico plates pulled over for the same thing. Mostly happening just this year,

 

Did someone say Tint

Hey did anyone ever notice that that stock MINI windshield does not have the AS-1 line?

 

^^ Is that 5%? Pimp.

 

I can't imagine how CA can pull over cars running dark tint from other states. Do they pull AZ cars over to see if they comply with CA emission standards?

I run fairly dark tint, but if I get pulled over I simply roll down both windows and open the sunroof to give the officer as much visibility into the car as I can. It's all a matter of being polite and realizing that there is a fair amount of stress for an officer who is approaching people who probably aren't happy to see him/her and who he/she can't see. You can also make matters better by turning off the engine, radio, AC and placing both of your hands on the top of the wheel casually. Making the LEO's life less stressful just may make your life less stressful as well...

Opening the sunroof and windows also has the effect of letting more light into the car, increasing the light making it out of the car and reducing the dark appearance of heavy tint.

 

The CHP does it because it's a case of officer safety. In CA, you are made to stay in the car if you're pulled over. If there's too much tint, the cop can't see what you're doing in the car, and unpleasant things can happen according to a CHP acquaintence.

 

I've heard the exact same thing by a police officer in cali.

 

I'm from AZ, but go to school in Cali. They are extremely strict when it comes to stuff like dark tint, or no front plate. Even though my car is registered in AZ, and I'm an AZ resident, they don't give a care when it comes to tint. Stupid if you ask me.

CA can do whatever the heck they please it seems. They should just become their own country! :-)

I love California and all, but when it comes to auto and driving laws...they are absolutely rediculous.

 

I picked up my MCS on a Wednesday, had the windows tinted the following Saturday. I actually set the appointment to have my windows tinted even before I picked up my MINI! (showing the new car to my Mom):

mom: "it came from the dealer like that?"
me: "no"
mom: "you know you can get a ticket for that"
me: "yes, mom- i know"
mom: "so how are you going to avoid getting a ticket?"
me: "karma baby! karma!" (mom laughs)

Frankly, I've had so many fix it tickets for window tint (ex- mini trucker) I just understand it's comin' eventually, and try not to speed through orange lights or carry guns in the car or bring attention to myself. and crossed fingers.


(this photo was taken 07/23/06)

 

Every state is different.

Beware if you state says 35% and you add that to a MINI, you will be more like 28% and in violation of the law.

Some states require it only of registered vehicles. Other states, like CA, require it of any vehicle on the highway

see http://home.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/

 

Yah! Then we can charge high export taxes for produce, oil, and technology! I like that!

 

One thing that helps is to be sure that the rear window tint is darker than the front - then even if the front is technically darker than allowed, it "looks" lighter than if you uniformly tint all windows. That's what I plan on for my PW Cooper. Karma may indeed enter into it,too. I've had dark windows in my white Audi TT (and no front plate) for about 2.5 years now and no problems. I don't have a front plate on any of my 3 cars - hate 'em.

 

a lot of factory tints are illegal in ca i believe.
i got ticketed for a tint much lighter than some luxury car stock tints.

 

CA law allows for ZERO tinting ... see http://home.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/tint_ca.html

So, for example, the factory tint on most SUVs is already illegal.

Hmm, since MINIs also come with about 8% tint, I wonder how CA lets all those cars on the road ... seems like a giant loophole to collect money

 

Hrmmm....that's funny. Ohio's law is 50% (which is rediculous), yet....everyone I know that has tints, all of them have never been pulled over...

Just one more reason that CA sucks...
-Cody

 

5% tint is limo tint, so 8% is way too dark for auto makers. It is more like 20-35%. The % means the amount of light it lets in. We have 18% front, 5% rear

 

I actually feel sorry for ppl living in OHIO. OH has about the most stringest speeding enforcement (outside of VA) anywhere and has always been notoroious for their speed traps.

Having crossed back and across OH many times, I still drive carefully on their Interstates because I've seen one too many speed traps in places radar detectors did NO good at all.

 

Because the law clearly talks about applying or adding material. Not OEM smoked glass.

 

I dont think so but I made a mistake about the SUV tinting. The are most all tinted in the back ... not the side windows which are always clear ... The law doesn't talk about the back windows.
" (2) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or
material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or
upon the vehicle which obstructs or reduces the driver's clear
view through the windshield or side windows."

 

this is a good thread. i think someone should make a sticky thread about the different tints aloud in all the states.

 

This link has individual links to all the actual state laws:

http://home.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/

I link this link better for quick reference

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

 

What does AS-1 Line mean?

 

My windows are 20% film and my windshield is 5%. I don't even need to lower my sun visors

I guess my windows are somewhere between 13-15% figuring the factory tint.