Hey guys,

quick question.
I am in CA and it's illegal to tint the windshield and the driver and passanger side windows. How do you guys drive in sunny days?
It's already kinda painful for me to drive in the day time and it's almost winter. I woner what I'm going to do in Summer.

 

Wear sunglasses

 

In California you can tint the top 4 inches of your front windshield... I can't even do that in MN.

 

Windshield: 4"
Front driver/pass: 70%
Rear driver/pass: ANY%
Rear window: ANY%

BUT, according to the CHP:

Can I put after-market tinting on the windows of my vehicle?
The main requirements for legal window tinting in California are:

The windshield and front driver's side and passenger's side windows cannot receive any aftermarket tinting.
If the rear window of a vehicle is tinted, the vehicle must have outside rearview mirrors on both sides.
The law prohibits any person from driving any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows, with certain limited exceptions.

However, legislation signed into law effective January 1, 1999, exempts from the above prohibition specified clear, colorless, and transparent material that is installed, affixed, or applied to the front driver and passenger side windows for the specific purpose of reducing ultraviolet rays. If, as, or when this material becomes torn, bubbled or otherwise worn, it must be removed or replaced.

 

The tint law in California is:
Windshield: Can only tint the top 4".
Front Side Windows: 70% VLT
Rear Side Windows: Any darkness
Rear (Boot) Window: Any darkness
The tint cannot be any more reflective than OEM.

When I had the windows tinted, in California, I had the front side windows tinted with 70% and the rear side/back tinted with 35%.
Since the front sides are tinted slightly from the factory and I added 70%, my windows are a little less than 70% (legal limit) probably about 65-60% but I have never had an issue.

If I was to do it again, I would go darker on the rear side and back windows.

 

When all else fails, look in the California Vehicle Code. Here is a link, http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
check the vehicle code box and enter 26708 in the section search box. 26708 is the section that regulates window tinting. Bottom line really is that no tint is legal on the windshield, or the driver or passenger window. The enforcement of this law is hit and miss from city to city and town to town. The CHP doesn't like it when they can't see in. If your visible thru the tint you may get away with it more than if you can't see in. Then there are the cloudy or foggy days, that will make the slightest tint look darker. If you read the section, you will see that you can get a prescription, kinda like weed, but read the end where it says "not to be used at night."

 

for what its worth, in so cal a cop isnt going to stop or pull you over for tinted windows. it would be just something extra that theyd just add on to a more serious ticket (speeding, stoplight, reckless etc.)

 

It could also serve as an excuse. Like a missing front plate--if you get pulled over for that, the cop is generally fishing for something else. Like a DUI.

(Got pulled over a couple of years ago for no front plate in my previous car; I was obviously suspicious because I was not speeding...)

 

How about sun glasses.......they work great for me.

-Kevin

 

I have 55% carbon ceramic tints all around. It's light but I didn't do it to hide myself, I did it to reduce the heat & UV rays inside the car. Cops never gave me a problem about them, I figured that as long as they can see you they don't care.

 

Im in So Cal and i am running 5% on the rear 3 and 20% on the front two with a 6" tint strip and have never been hassled.

 

You're right about the enforcement being hit or miss, but my son-in-law was pulled over just for window tinting and got a "fit-it" ticket. He found out that "fixing" window tinting is a tough job. Having said that, I had tinting all around except the windshield on my 335i and never had a problem.

 

and try not to drive in the daytime

 

You do what most SoCal drivers do, you get your windows tinted. I have 20% on the back windows and 50% on the driver and passenger windows. I got the ceramic type that reflects the heat. It makes a huge difference in the summer, my AC couldn't keep up on the 100°+ days before.

 

I live in Cali and have some serious tinting on my Mini....



I bought it used, so I really don't know the exact tint level, but it's essentially pitch black on all windows, and the top 30% of the windshield as well. I also don't have a front plate.

Is it illegal? I'm sure it is. Don't care.

 

Cops got more illegal activity to worry about in Oakland, amirite?

 

im doing my mini one up from limo all around. i dont like everyone looking at because i look like a little kid in a little car. fix-it tickets can be signed off.

 

I just got a ticket for speeding and a fixing ticket for the tint windows.
My tint windows were tint like your and I have to remove the tint for the sign off of the fixing part.
Just my two cents.

 

+1

 

I just want to say your mini is reaaaally sexy and im digging the silver and i do not like chrome but on your car it looks reaaaaal hot ...

As far as the original question I live in jersey and have 5% all around and get harassed every day i drive. its suppppppper illegal in NJ but worth it, so just dooooo it!!

 

In Washington we are not supposed to tint our windshields, but there is a ceramic tint called Airblue 85% that is so light you can't tell its there. You still need sunglasses, but it reduces ultraviolet rays.

 

The problem was the speeding ticket. Once they pull you over for speeding, lights out, etc., everything is fair game, including and especially the tint, front plate, etc. but few cops will pull you over just for the tint alone unless you have limo on the windows. I have a medium tint all around (except the the windshield - no tint). I had the same tint for three years on my 335 that I just sold and never had a problem. Heck, it's CA, pretty much everyone has tinted windows!

 

when i got my tint, they mentioned a similar product that was essentially clear. but they warned that if i ever got in an accident with windshield damage and the insurance company saw that a film had been applied, they could claim the illegal film compromised visibility and thus deny coverage.

 

My wife got pulled over for front tinted windows and that was the only violation. It was near downtown L.A. and even though we bought the car from the dealer with it on there (70% front) CHP didn't want to hear it. I just finished removing it and passing inspection last week. In times of budget crisis rules change I guess.

 

I guess I'll just leave the windows as is for now.. although 35 all around looks sexy, I don't want risk the good $200 go to waste. I would rather use that money towards something else. =) thanks for the heads up!