Just a question about window tint?

[wbrosha]

Hey guys about 2 years ago I bought a used car from the Roseville auto mall, and haven't changed a thing on the car. Today a CHP pulled me over and ticketed me for the front windows being tinted. I didn't know they were tinted illegally when I bought the car, and didn't think that a reputable dealership could/would sell me a car with illegal tinting? I have been pulled over a few times since buying it and have never even been asked about them. Is it really illegal if the car came that way?

Thanks for answering a stupid question, and for your service.

Wylie.

[killathrilla]

Yeppers....risk we all take with tint regardless if it was on there when we bought it or if we put it on there ourselves. Victim of officers discretion bro!

[TWoods450]

No tint forward of the drivers head. Period.

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[FLIGHT762]

Yes, you are responsible for the equipment on your car. Doesn't matter where it came from. Dealers sell illegal equipment all of the time, they don't care. Just get the tint removed and have the ticket signed off.

The Driver's compartment (front seat) side windows and the windshield cannot have any tint that measures less than 70% visible light transmittance. Windows that are to the rear of the driver can be tinted as dark as you want. The rear window can be tinted dark as long as you have a right side view mirror.

[Clutch-n-Throttle]

...The Driver's compartment (front seat) side windows and the windshield cannot have any tint that measures less than 70% visible light transmittance...

Almost. This is a misconception that window tint installers with tell people. But according to 26708(d) V.C.,

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless,

As it states, you can put on a material to block UV rays, but it has to be clear and colorless. It gives a specified light transmittance value to guarantee that the material should be clear and colorless. The 70% value listed is for the glazing of the glass itself along with the material applied.

You can argue the light transmittance portion of the section, but it always comes down to it being CLEAR and COLORLESS.

...Windows that are to the rear of the driver can be tinted as dark as you want. The rear window can be tinted dark as long as you have a right side view mirror.

Heck. You can spray paint the rear windows black as long as you have the right mirror.

Also, you cannot have window tint material even if you have a medical condition. Again, 26708(b)(10)V.C., states,



Tinted material applied to the front windows is prohibited. You can install a "sun screening device" on the front windows. A sun screening device is defined in 26708.2V.C.,

Sun screening devices permitted by paragraph (10) of subdivision (b) of Section 26708 shall meet the following requirements:

(a) The devices shall be held in place by means allowing ready removal from the window area, such as a frame, a rigid material with temporary fasteners, or a flexible roller shade.

(b) Devices utilizing transparent material shall be green, gray, or a neutral smoke in color and shall have a luminous transmittance of not less than 35 percent.

(c) Devices utilizing nontransparent louvers or other alternating patterns of opaque and open sections shall have an essentially uniform pattern over the entire surface, except for framing and supports. At least 35 percent of the device area shall be open and no individual louver or opaque section shall have a projected vertical dimension exceeding 3/16 inch.

(d) The devices shall not have a reflective quality exceeding 35 percent on either the inner or outer surface.

[bcb666]

If this is true and it is illegal, why am i seeing sheriff and LAPD cars with limo tinted front windows???

[TheExpertish]

If this is true and it is illegal, why am i seeing sheriff and LAPD cars with limo tinted front windows???

The same reason you don't have blue and red lights on top of your car. Because it's illegal for you, not us.

[bcb666]

What is the reasoning for it to be illegal? Is it for visibility? Can LEO have limo tint on their personal vehicles?

[TheExpertish]

What is the reasoning for it to be illegal? Is it for visibility? Can LEO have limo tint on their personal vehicles?

It's illegal due to the fact that at night you can't see as well out, and for officer safety reasons for us looking in. LEO personal vehicles are not exempt, only the patrol cars.

[Doheny]

The same reason you don't have blue and red lights on top of your car. Because it's illegal for you, not us.

OK, I know the VC emergency lighting sections, but is there actually something that says police cars are exempt from front window tinting, or is it just that no one is going to give you guys a ticket?

.

[geeknow]

As others have said, tint on front windows is a no go. Whether you get dinged for it is another question.

[geeknow]

BTW, there is a product out there called 'sky blue'. It is colorless, and blocks all/nearly all of the suns UVA, UVB, and IR rays. Great stuff. Cuts the heat and glare...a lot. It's not cheap, but the good stuff rarely is.

[Doheny]

Tinting has been covered a lot here.

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=018149931542195181678%3Apzxbzjzh1zk&ie=UTF-8&q=window+tinting&sa=Search&siteurl=www.google.com%2Fcse%2Fhome%3Fcx%3D018149931542195181678%3Apzxbzjzh1zk#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=window%20tinting&gsc.page=1

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[wbrosha]

I just thought it was crazy that he pulled me out of the freeway during busy 4:30 Sacramento traffic on the way to taking my daughter to soccer practice for nothing but window tint? Do you think he was searching for something?

[JS89]

I just thought it was crazy that he pulled me out of the freeway during busy 4:30 Sacramento traffic on the way to taking my daughter to soccer practice for nothing but window tint? Do you think he was searching for something?

I'm 100% sure that the officer had no idea who you were or where you were headed. Window tint is great PC for a traffic stop. Making sure that your vehicle is completely compliant with the vehicle code will help ensure that these incidents are not reoccurring.