irv_usc said:
instead of getting your information from "tintdude" perhaps perusing the california vehicle code will let you know that any tint on the front drivers or passenger windows forward must transmit at least 88% of visible light. this supersedes the 70% requirement for manufactured glass.
by law you are required to carry a letter by the installer certifying that this front tint meets the legal requirements.
this is the letter of the law, per se. i'm not saying that anyone with tinted glass can't get away with it, but let's try to get the facts as straight as possible.
PS. those of you who happily read the part about a doctor's note giving you exemption from tint laws, keep in mind that vehicles that are tinted as a part of that tint exemption are not legal to drive at night.
I'm glad you read the fine print of the law. While I don't doubt a cop or the station cop would really know that, there are some areas open to a very gray area. Also, anyone having recently installed or previously installed tints, how many received a certificate?
While you could take the laws to the highest appeal or court of law, that would say everyone having any sort of tints that's not okay'd by a doctor are in violation and must be removed.
Facts are: (we're talking the front side windows only). I had discussed this topic over Xmas break with a couple of law buddies (in practice), I had also previously posted about the tint's issue on this site and no, I'm not a lawyer nor in that business nor claim to be.
1). "Clear, colorless and transparent material" must be used: a dark
cellophane is that. Take a piece of it, look at it. One guy was planning to install the dark tint on his Porsche, he takes the argument (like most of them do). Here's how that convo went down: is it clear?, "yes" (such as can you see thru it "clearly", yes), is it colorless? NO, but it's not "red, amber or silver", "it's a bit dark, but nevertheless, "colorless" to what extent, do you define that?" (we admit that's a iffy area, but let them (cops) define that term), is it transparent? "well, it's not opaque and you can see thru it" again.
2). Yes, by law, you should have in your possession in the car (preferred) to have the installer verify it meets all legal requirements or if you installed it yourself, write to get a copy from the manuf. that it also meets those requirements. What does that mean? If you had tints installed professionally, and they're still in business today, get a letter from them now on their letterhead, done. If you DIY'd it, write a letter and hope the manuf. will write you back, stating they meet those qualifications of the material, and of course, you'll state, you installed them exactly like the manuf. instructions said. The letter or certficate must say it's within the percentage of light transmission, etc.
If you mention what specs you need, bottom dollars, the manuf. clerk will do so.
3). If you want to get your eye doctor or optomerist (sp?) or regular doctor to write you a simple form statement, that you need some of window shading because of your vision or for a medical issue, but I seriously don't know how many might to do that. I think most eye doctors or the friendly Wallymart optomerist will do it on your next visit or if you call him, assuming you're a client/patient. Just leave the note (doctor's excuse) in the car, along with the other tint paperworks.
Note to myself: I better take my own advice here and call my doctors, I've gotten three stops so far in the past two years, better not stretch out my luck, lol. "Hi, doc, could you write me up a prescription or note that I need to be in a car that offers some kind of window dressing so that during the daylight hours, it does not make my eyes dilate too much, this way, I also don't need to always wear sunglasses in my car, then." (you get the drift).
Actually, I've probaby could have been stopped for more times, as you can see, in one of the pics, how they look "real dark" from a distance, but once you get with, 10'-15', you can see the passenger or myself. The cop will ride along side, stay within a certain distance, waiting to see what they can pull me over for. I'm not a speeder, no loud exhaust, no loud blaring and booming music, other than just driving a nice car.
But again, if you get a fix-it ticket for the tints, gather your paperwork, make a small case backed up by some evidence, present your case and hope they also see it your way and save yourself some money to not have it removed. I'm sure if anyone got a fix-it ticket, they have a tendancy to put it back on anyways after some time. You can hopefully avoid that first and future ticket, I've saved myself a few hundred clams, plus the hassle to take time to
say, "okay, I removed the tints, take it off my record."
Just stay within the limits, don't try using them limo darks in the front.
