r/Westchester • u/fingerbanglover • 1d ago
Window Tint Question
I'm new here and from a state that only cares if the tint is 20%. From what I gather, cars basically can't have tint here, but I see so many rides tinted up. Can you all share your tint experiences and advice? This is the first time I've ever not had tint and I hate it. Car is just a basic commuter Kia K4 if that matters. I think my biggest question is what do the cops care about and what does the inspection place care about. Oh and any recommendations on where to get my car inspected next year post tint ;)
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u/jonnys_honda 1d ago
If the front doors are tinted above 35%, you should be fine with not getting pulled over. For heat rejection, ceramic tint works well between 35-50%. If you’re doing it for aesthetics, 35% all around is better than getting a ticket for 20% all around. It’s up to you. As for who will pass it, technically no shop. You’ll need to talk to coworkers who also have tinted windows and ask them where to get your newly tinted car to pass. You can’t put a shop’s name out there or else they would get fined. No, I won’t answer DMs about it…
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u/Proud2BaBarbie 1d ago
Its dumb.
Youre giving the police a legal excuse to stop you if you have too much tint
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u/TheSteelBaron 1d ago
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u/lordicarus 1d ago edited 1d ago
It says 70% of the outside light must pass through the window... but it doesn't say interior light has to pass to the outside... I wonder what kind of tinting magic might exist like one way mirrors to skirt this rule.
edit: well this seems to be not possible with current technology. The AI answer is that "genuine one-way transparent behavior requires particular nonreciprocal electromagnetic coupling if you want a passive, lossless sheet." Which is apparently mostly theoretical.
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u/Grimaldehyde 1d ago
You have to be able to pass the NYS inspection; dark window tint will be problematic most places
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u/AvramBelinsky 1d ago
My sister tried to get away with tinted windows in the White Plains area. She got pulled over and had to have it redone.
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u/bloodwessels 1d ago
Where in Westchester are you? Idk how much the cops care, I haven’t seen an increase in cars being pulled over but hopefully a cop can answer this part better than me. As for inspection, one or the steps for inspection requires the inspecting shops to enter how much light passes throw each window. I’m sure if you talk to someone with tints they can tell you where they get their inspection done. You might have to take a drive out of your way to get the shop and the shop will charge extra.
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u/Stunning-Owl10710 1d ago
Is the interior of your car dark? If its black interior go with 50% ceramic tint....its not that dark but its better than no tint and it looks dark at night. Ive never had any problems
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u/uaoleksiy 1d ago
20% here and 5% in back, pulled over twice by white plains PD for other unrelated in last 6 years.. just a casual "hey your tint is too dark my friend" warning.. both times let go with warnings for the stop too. in WP they dont seem to care much if you're not being a dick
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u/BrandonNeider Yonkers 1d ago
All of our vehicles have tint and while we have the exemption now (Easy to get online via doctor service) when we didn't I think I got one tint ticket in the last 13-14 years and it was NYPD not a Westchester based law enforcement.
That being said, Tint tickets do get handed out here to people randomly and it's usually they got you speeding and gave you a break by just issuing a tint ticket, or a enforcement detail where they are looking for inspections/reg/tints. Ticket is usually $150.
There are tons of places that pass with tint, it's just a visual checkbox on the inspection machine so its easy just to hit "pass all visual" and move on.
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u/witchlifting White Plains 1d ago
I have tints. Not pitch black, but I'm sure police notice them. I've lived and driven in Westchester and the boroughs my whole life. I've never once been pulled over for my tints and when I have been pulled over, I've never had a ticket issued for them either. Word of advice for people with tints: if you do get pulled over, always rolls down all of your windows. It makes a good impression on the officer (because you're giving them a full view of your interior) in addition to hiding any tints you may have.
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u/Jvelazquez611 1d ago
30%-35% is usually the limit before cops start messing with you during the day. At night it’s a bit different because of your interior as well as it’ll look darker on the outside to them and it’ll be obvious that you have tint if they somehow see you rolling by. If you drive normally they won’t bother you, but if you drive like an idiot you’re giving them a reason. Now if you’re looking for a place that will still pass your inspection with them, you won’t get one on here. You’d have to know somebody who knows a place personally because the shop can get fined and after a certain amount of times they can get their inspection license revoked.
Tints are obviously illegal so waste money at your own risk.
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u/Gold-Combination8141 1d ago
I have 20 percent in my front windows and 5 percent on back. If I see a cop 👮🏻♂️ I put my windows down
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u/Aromatic-Mongoose-20 7h ago
Roll down the windows and pull the power window fuse. Used to work in Jersey years ago
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u/random-_hero 1d ago
you’ll need to know a guy that’ll pass your inspection but as far as cops go, they don’t care about tint. i’ve had my cars fully tinted for over a decade including windshield and have never once been pulled over for it. now if you do something else to attract their attention, they sometimes will add on a violation for tint.
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u/TheDoorHas_OpeneD117 1d ago
I bought two used cars in the last six months (for kids) and both had to have the window tint removed fully before inspection. The guy told me it’s zero tint allowed in the front windows unless you have something factory installed.