Window Tinting

[Kurt Rahn]

A friend of mine go a ticket for tinted front windows (i.e the ones right next to the driver and passenger) yesterday and I got hassled by a cop for the same thing a few days ago. I've heard lots of different answers about whether tinted windows are legal or not, but nothing definitive. Here's the CVC section he was written up for:

26708.5. (a) No person shall place, install, affix, or apply any transparent material upon the windshield, or side or rear windows, of any motor vehicle if the material alters the color or reduces the light transmittance of the windshield or side or rear windows, except as provided in subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 26708.

The wording looks pretty clear that it's illegal. But I've heard other people insist that you can tint the side windows as long as the tint is less than a certain percentage. Anyone know for sure (by that I mean can you point me to a section of the vehicle code other than the above that says it's legal)?

[Rick Brown]

I'm sure Toby has the answer.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

A friend of mine go a ticket for tinted front windows (i.e the ones right next to the driver and passenger) yesterday and I got hassled by a cop for the same thing a few days ago. I've heard lots of different answers about whether tinted windows are legal or not, but nothing definitive. Here's the CVC section he was written up for:

26708.5. (a) No person shall place, install, affix, or apply any transparent material upon the windshield, or side or rear windows, of any motor vehicle if the material alters the color or reduces the light transmittance of the windshield or side or rear windows, except as provided in subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 26708.

The wording looks pretty clear that it's illegal. But I've heard other people insist that you can tint the side windows as long as the tint is less than a certain percentage. Anyone know for sure (by that I mean can you point me to a section of the vehicle code other than the above that says it's legal)?

What does it say here: "except as provided in subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 26708"?

[Kurt Rahn]

What does it say here: "except as provided in subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 26708"?

It's a bunch of exceptions. The list is here http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm
The most promising one is that if you get a note from a doctor saying you need to be shaded from the sun.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

What does it say here: "except as provided in subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 26708"?

It's a bunch of exceptions. The list is here http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm
The most promising one is that if you get a note from a doctor saying you need to be shaded from the sun.

This is the exception you're looking for:

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.

(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle, a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this subdivision and the certificate identifies the installing company and the material’s manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material’s manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed according to manufacturer’s instructions ( )3 meet the requirements of this subdivision and the certificate identifies the material’s manufacturer by full name and street address.

(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles, or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed or replaced.

[Rick Brown]

This is the exception you're looking for:

clear, colorless, and transparent material

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

Am I the only one that thinks these items conflict with each other?

[Kurt Rahn]

What about the "colorless" part. Doesn't gray count as a color (no comments from any art majors, please)

[Will Kalman]

This is the exception you're looking for:

clear, colorless, and transparent material

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

Am I the only one that thinks these items conflict with each other?

I think "window glazing" is the term for window glass itself. Hence "double-glazed" windows and the job of the "glazier" to work with glass.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Right, the tint applied 88. The finished product, window + added tint 70.

Now the question.... What does 70 look like? The 335 coupe has LONG side windows I'd love to tint. But the car spends its life in areas with overactive traffic cops with nothing better to do.

[Dan Shaw]

I wouldn't quote me on this, but isn't there' a sticker that gets applied to the window when it is made to meet that criteria?

Food for thought:

My Sister lives in Macon, GA with her husband. I recall her husband telling me about how he has tinted windows on their Mazda 3 because it's a car they use for travel and has lots of techno-gadgetry in it and a nice stereo for long drives up to Maryland. A year or so ago he had been hassled by a Cop for the windows and related a story. One evening my sister and him were at a movie theater catching a flic. Meanwhile in the parking lot, someone was out taking car stereos. They came out to find the person's car next to them torn apart and his car left untouched, most likely because they couldn't see inside to know what he had. He said, "I know the tint law is to protect you, but the tinting is to protect me. I'll take the ticket, thanks."

Fair point.

[Toby Larsson]

Right, the tint applied 88. The finished product, window + added tint 70.

Now the question.... What does 70 look like? The 335 coupe has LONG side windows I'd love to tint. But the car spends its life in areas with overactive traffic cops with nothing better to do.

If you look at the windshield on the E350 that's what 78% looks like http://elitetint.com/Ceramic_Tint.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Lamborghini has the legal tint on the front doors http://elitetint.com/Contact_Us.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Like Bob posted 88% is the only thing legal on the two front doors, it's a clear film designed to reduce UV rays and you need a certificate from the installing dealer.

Steve, if you still have the SRT-4, two of your windows are 50%.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

What about the "colorless" part. Doesn't gray count as a color (no comments from any art majors, please)

No.

So, Dan, does your sister's car have black-out tint on the front side glass? Cops hate that stuff and it's not because of the law.