I'm having window tint issues. I'm going to have to have the tint removed from one of my windows in order to fix a scratch.(in the glass) I'm currently looking for a new job. I'm a teacher, so I won't be moving until this summer. The states I'm looking at are California, Texas, Indiana, and New York. My question is....how strict are they about enforcing tint laws in these states. I've heard that California is very strict. Is that true? The reason I ask is because the state I live in now isn't strict at all. You see illegal tint everywhere. There are even cars that have their entire front windshield tinted. My tint is 15%, which I think is illegal in most states, and I'm wondering if I'm going to end up having to remove it all. I'm wondering if I should wait until I find out where I'm going to be before I fix this window. If I'm going to live somewhere that will require me to remove all my tint, there's not much point in removing the tint off one window, fixing the window, then replacing the tint again...if I'm only going to have to remove it again.

 

CA can be quite strict. It's a crap-shoot. In some areas, the cops are very sensitive to tint, expecially cities with gangs.

 

I'd say just leave it as is until it's an issue. And if you're ever pulled over, down both front windows immediately for two reasons:
1) You eliminate any risk to the officer (which is why they have the laws)
2) You reduce the risk of getting a ticket for the tinted windows.

I bought my car in VA with VA legal tint (50%??) and haven't had a problem over the last two years. Haven't had a ticket, either, so YMMV.

 

I live on the west side of Los Angeles. I have 30% tint all around. No issues at all. Now when I had my 03 Honda accord (bought in AZ) it came with tint from the dealer. It looked sweet, but, it had to be darker than what I currently have. Maybe 20%. Whenever a cop was near me, I rolled both windows down immediately. No problems. I was happy I had that % of tint when I accidently drove through compton and watts.

 

Fortunately there aren't many gang members driving MINIs, unless you count NAM'ers. Or those pesky pigmy gangs from Zaire.

 

Here where i am, police dont pull you over just for tint. You normally have to be doing something else like speeding, swerving like a drunk, playing music to loud, doing burnouts...ect..ect...then while they have you pulled over they tack on the window tint ticket along with what they orginally pulled you over for. I see illegal tint everywhere here, so whatever...

I have 13% all around and 50% full front windsheild.

but shhh...dont tell...

Edit: as stated above, roll down your windows when you get pulled over. ALWAYS!

 

The cops don't care what kind of car it is. Recently, a few CHP's were shot and killed on the roadside. They were in no mood to care what kind of car you drove, and if you were over-tinted, you got pulled over in some areas.

 

Yes. I get it. My post was for humour purposes only. I don't really believe there are pigmy gangs.

 

Here are the laws

http://home.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/
http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/

 

It definitely depends on the city, and probably depends on how lucky you are combined with how likely you are to get pulled over for other reasons.

 

Now you've ruined everything!!! Shatterd my illusions of pigmy gangs from Zaire

 

Cali cops have better things to do than pull you over for tint or something like that. However, if you get pulled over for something more serious they'll get you for it.

I drove around San Diego for 6 months without a front plate and never got flack for it, but my friend who hasn't had one in years and never got pulled over got pulled over for speeding and got a ticket for no front plate.

 

you can get away with 30% tints in NY, especially at night, and you could always get those silver/chrome kindve tints and they wont give you problems for it

 

I used to have a Honda Civic in CA with heavy tinting on the drivers window and never got pulled over.