Tinting windows...

[geezerstiva]

how dark should i go? i realize that this is an opinion question, but what is the usual tint?

[Gforcefd]

I think anything darker that 20% is illegal in most states? Every state is very different though. I think its some odd number like 23% in NY on front windows.

[Pu241]

Google is your friend my son!

http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/TN/

[skeeters_keeper]

Theres a thread where people posted pics of their festivas w/ various tint levels, search can be helpful!


My rear 3 are all 20% and it seems just right to me.

[geezerstiva]

thanks yall. sry, guess i should have tried a search first. i know i've seen people around here with at least 20% tint, and a few with metallic tint too. :? maybe they just dont care. :lol:

[25Horseplay]

Your state allows 35% tint. Here is a picture of my car with 35% tint (illegal in my state).

[Damkid]

i have 5% on the rear 3 windows and 13% on the front windows, i don't find it too dark at night but then again i'm used to it

[geezerstiva]

25horsplay, have you ever been pulled over because of your tint? cause i've also seen a lot of cars with like 20% and mirrored tint too (illegal here also), and never seen one get pulled over for it.

[skeeters_keeper]

some cars come factory with dark or mirrored tint, they are legal

If you have after market tint thats when the laws are enforced... or at least thats the way i understood it, though it is dumb. In some states you need to have a "sticker" showing that the tint was installed by a certified shop or something like that... dumb laws, IMO.

[25Horseplay]

25horsplay, have you ever been pulled over because of your tint? cause i've also seen a lot of cars with like 20% and mirrored tint too (illegal here also), and never seen one get pulled over for it.

Nope, not yet. Although I have been stopped they never said anything about the tint.

[SimonTuffGuy]

FestY - Actually, PA says anything under 70% tint is illegal (The laws don't specify that exactly, but that's what the guidelines say)... 70% is... CLEAR! Haha...

I ran 15% on all of my windows and liked it. Nice and dark, easy to hide all of the illegal things I did in there. *rolleyes*

Got hassled by 1 cop in particular in the next town over. He gave me a fix it ticket the first time around... I went to the junkyard and got a set of clear windows on $1 day. Got away with 5 windows for $5. Went home, installed them, had the ticket signed, went home and put my tinted windows back in. The same guy pulled me over about 5 days later and was even more mad than the first time, said he was going to fine me $500, etc. Never saw anything about it.

[FestYboy]

^ there's no spicifc number to pass glazing guidelines in the official inspection book, but they hint at about a 20% limit (my inturpretation).

repost:
wow, 35% is illegal in ohio?! that stinks. PA allows 35 in the front and anything you want behind the front doors unless the cop who pulls you over is having a bad day. (not from personal experiance) I run 35% on all windows i tint as it's enough to cut the glare of direct sunlight or headlights, but isn't too dark to see well at night. i would run 50% in the fronts if i could find it localy (sometimes 35 is too dark at night to be comfortable) and 35 or 20 in the rear side glass, and nothing darker than 35 on the hatch due to rearward visibility issues.

[Festiva_tunner]

In IL the laws state that there shall be no tinting on the drivers windows, you can tint the top four and bottom four inches of the windsheild, the back can be blacked out if you like however if you go darker than 20% on the hatch glass you need to install a side mirror on the passenger if you dont have one because your blocking the veiw of the rear veiw.

Saying that however I have 5% Limo tint on all three back glasses and 20% on my front, I have been stopped its a non-moving violation and usually only wirtten by a by the book cop or one in a bad mood, or if they cant find something else to ticket you for.

Just check your State Laws and your County Laws as well (some countys have tighter restrictions, usually if you live in a metro area)

[25Horseplay]

In Ohio you are legally allowed to go with 50% light transmission. That isn't very dark at all.

[SimonTuffGuy]

^ there's no spicifc number to pass glazing guidelines in the official inspection book, but they hint at about a 20% limit (my inturpretation).

Dude - Why are you fighting me on this? Trust me, I've looked into this a LOT, I've read all the laws.

http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/PA/

Windshield No tint is allowed on the windshield.
Front Side Windows Must allow more than 70% of light in.
Back Side Windows Must allow more than 70% of light in.
Rear Window Must allow more than 70% of light in.

The inspection book provides inspection stations with a "table X" guidelines for tint:

TABLE X—ACCEPTABLE LIGHT TRANSMITTANCE LEVELS
FOR VEHICLE GLAZING
All light transmittance levels listed below assume a 3% accuracy (±3%).



Front Side Rear Side
Vehicle Type Windshield Windows/Wings Windows/Wings Rear Window
Pre-1998 Passenger Cars 70% 70% 70% VESC-20*
1998 & Newer Passenger Cars 70% 70% 70% 70%
Trucks & Multi-Purpose
Passenger Vehicles 70% 70% No Requirement No Requirement
Medium/Heavy Trucks & Buses 70% 70% No Requirement No Requirement
All Other Vehicles 70% 70% No Requirement No Requirement

However - No inspection station wants to take on the responsibility of buying a tint meter and going through that hassle.

Now... There is a site that digs deeper into the laws and codes at http://www.berksweb.com/users/dmv/tint/ - What that person says (I believe he is in the tinting profession) is that the laws don't really say that anything under 70% is illegal... But that you must be able to see in the windshield, side wing, or side window.

At any rate... Let me know how it goes when you get your ticket for illegal tinting. And let me know when you fight it and win.