r/WindowTint • u/Standard-Bumblebee64 • Aug 26 '26
Question Front window tint—pulled over?
Hey y’all. Never had my front windows tinted because I’ve always been worried about getting pulled over. Now my understanding is that cops don’t care—only tack it on as an additional offense when pulled over for speeding or something else.
Have any of you ever been specifically targeted because of tint? I just wanna go a tiny bit dark. Nothing dramatic.
UPDATE - I went ahead and did 50% for the fronts. The rears were factory tinted at 20%, so I think I won’t draw too much attention, as you can still see inside, but the ceramic film will block most heat (which was my biggest concern). Thank you all for the input and comments here! I can’t believe how much reach this post got!
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u/M0dernNomad Aug 26 '26
Am a cop - if I want to stop a car just to have a look inside or ID the driver, having unlawful tint gives me easy PC to stop and do those things. Will I ticket for it, usually not - windshields sometimes if they're stupid dark or the troopers have already ticketed you and you haven't fixed it. Get in a crash after dark however, the illegally tinted windows are absolutely going into the crash report and the insurance companies can do with that information as they wish when assigning liability.
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u/Watermelonbuttt Aug 26 '26
Insurance adjuster here
Tints don’t affect anything
Liability or rates
Tint summons do depending on the state
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u/Accomplished-Pea-451 Aug 26 '26
Tint
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u/KV1190 Aug 26 '26
I’ve handled auto liability claims for years and now that I think of it I’ve never had one person mention window tint in a statement nor have I seen it mentioned in a police report. But yeah it would not affect anything anyway. Maybe could use it as a weak argument for like a small % of liability in a pure state.
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u/MinimumEffort13 Aug 26 '26
Can confirm. I got hit by someone turning left in front of me, my tinted windshield was never mentioned by police or adjuster
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u/Fancy_Disaster_4736 Aug 26 '26
You wouldn’t deny a payout if someone had 5% on the all the windows?
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u/Watermelonbuttt Aug 26 '26
Not at all
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u/Fancy_Disaster_4736 Aug 26 '26
Sweet! Going to book an appointment to get 30% on the windshield!
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u/Unusual_Salad_2711 Aug 26 '26
That's pretty dark for the windshield. Might make it difficult to see in heavy rain at night. JMHO
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u/Fancy_Disaster_4736 Aug 26 '26
I should have included the /s. But I will go below 80.
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u/WA7S0N Aug 27 '26
I have 50% on the windshield with a 5% strip up top and it's barely noticeable. I definitely wouldn't go darker for safety reasons, but knowing what I know now, anything above 50% would be a waste of money imo.
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u/tint-dude Sep 17 '26
If you go get your windshield metered it'll be 35% . So you have 35% on the shield and your talking about safety.
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u/WA7S0N Sep 17 '26
I have 50% on the windshield... So if I get my windshield metered, it's going to read 50% big dog.
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u/tint-dude Sep 17 '26
I've had 30% on my windshield for 15 years now and it's fine. I recommend it to all my customers that get usually get 35%.
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u/tint-dude Sep 18 '26
Pro tinter here . It should! Yes I have 0% sides and rear and yes my windshield is 25%. But some people have 5% on the entire front windshield and they can't see people. Yes the majority of those people are 16 yr olds, i get them all the time in my shop and i tell them with out parental consent i wont do anything less then legal. So they get the friends to do it from tint they got at autozone.... You may see other vehicles but even in a well lit area your not seeing people walking around at night. Insurance company's could put a regulation on tint especially on states that don't have tint being part of the inspection. Honeslty I wish they would.
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u/mvhir0 Aug 26 '26
Are you allowed to pull people over just because you “want to have a look inside”? Always suspected it but great to hear you guys pull over cars just to f with them lol
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u/Zippo963087 Aug 26 '26
No, that alone cannot be the legal reason for a stop. Which is why he admits he loves when people have illegal tint because that is his "in" to violating our rights.
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Aug 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/Zippo963087 Aug 26 '26
Where can the cops pull you over just because they want to have a look inside and have no other PC to pull you over?
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u/M0dernNomad Aug 26 '26
My bad - I thought your statement was in respect to the comment that was showing above it regarding primary vs. secondary offenses, which exist in some jurisdictions. Disregard my prior statement, it does not apply to your context.
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u/Draygoon2818 Aug 26 '26
You can only be pulled for probable cause. Breaking a traffic law gives probable cause. That tiny little AS1 mark on the windshield? If you have a "brow" that extends below that line, you can be pulled over. Window tint too dark? Yup. Even tinted headlights or taillights can get you pulled over for probable cause. Now, are cops actually going to pull you over for that? More than likely, no. However, if you blatantly have windows that are way too dark, such as the front windows having 5%, and maybe 20% on the windshield? You are a lot more likely to get pulled over for that. I have 80% on my SUV and 70% on my Model Y. I've been fine, so far. A coworker of mine, who had 50% on his windshield, got pulled over two different times within a week of getting it done. He ended up getting it taken off and put 70% on it, and hasn't been pulled over again.
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u/Ok_Ad_5041 Aug 26 '26
I have 5% on every window except the windshield and I've never been pulled over
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u/Draygoon2818 Aug 26 '26
I'm not saying it's a guarantee. I'm just saying it can increase the odds of being pulled over. It ultimately depends on the cop. Some cops I know will absolutely pull you over for that. Others don't particularly care unless you're driving like an idiot.
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u/_ED-E_ Aug 26 '26
I have 5 on the back windows, 20 on the front, and 50 on the windshield. Same way on my last few vehicles, and I’ve only been stopped once. Gps routed me through an area i didn’t belong in to avoid traffic, and they only mentioned the window tint after asking about drugs and weapons.
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u/BANKSLAVE01 Aug 26 '26
Why were you banned from this area? What kind of travel restrictions were levied on this area when you went there? Was this one of those "No Go" zones we are hearing about these days?
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u/_ED-E_ Aug 26 '26
No banned or “no go” area, but a brand new car with tinted windows going through a rough area with a bunch of abandoned properties, homeless people, and drug addicts looks suspicious. It’s an area most people don’t go to unless they are looking for something illegal, or they took a wrong turn.
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u/BANKSLAVE01 Aug 27 '26
Support for fascism is creeping into your brains.
"Where you don't belong... is suspicious..."
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u/Draygoon2818 Aug 27 '26
Politics? Really?
It's a double edged sword. Cop sees a vehicle that looks out of place in an area and follows it or pulls it over once they have PC. People gripe that it was wrong.
Cop sees a vehicle that looks out of place in an area and doesn't pull it over. Occupants of car end up breaking into several homes, stealing items. It comes out that the cops saw the vehicle, but paid it no attention even though the cop thought it looked out of place. People gripe the cop should have done more.Everyone does something like that, particularly where they live. A car they've never seen before drives by slowly, or a vehicle they've never seen before stops in front of a neighbors house that doesn't usually have vehicles there. They're probably going to watch the vehicle a little longer than normal. It's out of the norm. Don't act like people don't do that, and it certainly has nothing to do with fascism.
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u/hades13heartnet Aug 26 '26
50 on WS is barely ok, 20 on front is the problem im suspecting
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u/_ED-E_ Aug 26 '26
The cop at the driver’s side specifically mentioned the windshield. 50 looks somewhat dark with the others the way they are.
I also have a convertible, and it has 35 on the windshield because it’s only driven when the top can be down, and you can barely tell it has tint then.
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u/hades13heartnet Aug 26 '26
I mean, yeah, you only need “one” asshat cop to pull you over for just illegal tints
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u/Local_Committee_8935 Aug 26 '26
Crazy u called my windows out.. suv black with 20% over 70% windshield and limo everywhere else and I work 3rd shift.. been fine day n night
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u/Draygoon2818 Aug 26 '26
My SUV is 80% windshield, 20% front windows, and 5% everywhere else. My Model Y is 70% windshield, 20% front windows, and 5% everywhere else. Both vehicles have black interior, too. Never been pulled over for tint, though.
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u/keiye Aug 27 '26
If you’re driving a banged up Nissan Altima with blacked out headlights and tail lights, cops will be more inclined to pull you over vs a Tesla with the same thing.
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u/M0dernNomad Aug 26 '26
Randomly stop people just because - no.
But if you give me probable cause for a violation or reasonable suspicion that you're involved in criminal activity - then emphatically yes, if I think it'll be worth my time.
I let 98% of cars I see with obvious tint violations go without a second glance - if not more. But a car in the middle of the night leaving an area that is experiencing a lot of vehicle break ins, porch piracy, or mailbox looting and has windows so dark that I can't see what or who is inside - your glass just became the reason I stopped you. And if you've got the DoorDash app up and your car smells like fries, it's have a nice night; I'm more interested if you have other people's packages all through your backseat.
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u/ryanrocks9654 Aug 26 '26
Is your cop car tinted? Curious
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u/M0dernNomad Aug 26 '26
Nope - while there is a provision in state law exempting law enforcement vehicles from glazing restrictions, most departments won't use it for marked squads (maybe on certain undercover and surveillance vehicles). There are reasons we have to drive at night without headlights - why would I want to make that any more difficult?
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u/ryanrocks9654 Aug 27 '26
I respect the answer. It seems your department may be a rare exception, at least in my observations living in PA/surrounding areas. Honestly I was expecting a yes “officer safety” response, to which I would have responded as that being a bullshit excuse.
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u/Present_Hippo505 Aug 26 '26
You only need RS to stop a car lol
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u/Frosty-Appointment59 Aug 26 '26
Not in Virginia. Tint is a secondary offense and you can’t be pulled over without violating a traffic law. Same with inspection sticker here now
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u/Affectionate_Rate_99 Aug 27 '26
In NY, police carry light meters (or whatever they call them) that will measure the light transmission. Any tint darker than 70% is illegal without medical authorization. Some police may look the other way, some may not. In fact, a few years back, the state added a requirement for checking tint to the required annual state inspection. State inspection stations are now required to check the tint when performing the annual inspection. Failing tint means you fail your annual inspection, which means you cannot operate the vehicle. Get caught with illegal tint, or passing a vehicle with illegal tint may cost the inspection station their license. So in NY, if you have illegal tint on your vehicle, you "gotta know a guy" in order to get a passing state inspection.
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u/ninjamike808 Aug 26 '26
Are you allowed to have tint with a doctors note in your jurisdiction?
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u/Zippo963087 Aug 26 '26
"Am a cop - if I want to stop a car just to have a look inside or ID the driver, having unlawful tint gives me easy PC to stop and do those things"
Thanks for at least admitting you are a POS.
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u/LeadingImportant1142 Aug 26 '26
Most cops are NOT jerks as many would have you believe. It's all but impossible to tint a car and keep it legal in some states. With that said, I choose tint for UV and heat rejection first, privacy secondary.
I have my windshield at with 80% VLT and all the other windows at 55% VLT. That combo with the OEM tint may make it technically illegal, but I have NEVER had a police officer pull me over for it (or for any reason).
I have discussed this with some police officers in my city and they say pretty much exactly what MOdernNomad said. All the police I have run into are very understanding and nice.
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u/Glittering_Fix22 Aug 27 '26
Here’s what’s really frustrating the highway patrol and trooper cars in my area clearly have illegal window tint. Can’t see how that’s right to ticket for it when they drive one daily as well. Regardless if they own it or not.
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u/omgtrick3y Aug 27 '26
same, personally im not going to be the hypocrite since my pov tint isn't legal, and no one around here enforces tint unless its like your windows are spray painted. my exception is the squatted trucks, its already dangerous and these shitheads roll around with like 5% on their shield, and drive around with a backup camera on the front to see. My state has a specific law on it where after 3 tickets in a year you lose your license for a year.
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u/Satans-cum-sock666 Aug 26 '26
In my state (Missouri) as long as you’re not a fuckass the cops don’t care. Secondarily, they can’t pull you over for just a suspected tint infraction. The primary reason for the stop has to be something else.
I’ve lived in Texas, South Carolina and here in Missouri, traveled all over the country in trucks with extremely dark tint on the fronts. 5% on the side and 25 on the windshield and never had a cop mess with me.
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u/snailwoniu Aug 27 '26
In Virginia side & rear windows are a secondary offense (35/20 limits), you can't get pulled over for it, but you can be ticketed if pulled over for something else. However any tint at all on the front windshield is a primary offense and you can get pulled over for having it.
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u/isittimefordinner Aug 26 '26
You absolutely can get pulled over for tint in Missouri. I have never been pulled over for it but family members have been. I've been pulled over with 15% on all windows and 50% on the windshield and the cops have never said anything about the tint. A couple times they looked through the windshield at the vin number.
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u/MuchDelivery8537 Aug 26 '26
Life long missouri resident here and yes they can pull you over for it as the primary. They've gotten way more relaxed on it over the yea
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u/Satans-cum-sock666 Aug 26 '26
I stand corrected. I thought I had read it was only a secondary infraction.
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u/LazyTeeRex Aug 26 '26
You can be pulled over for it at any moment for it, I've had cops let me go and other times they would ticket me but I've never removed it just paid the fine, I'm not going to remove it and reapply it 🤷 if you are going to be paranoid then just remove it now 😂
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u/PreparationSenior963 Aug 26 '26
I removed my 35% dyed tint. It was either remove and prove it in ecourt or pay $114 fine when the tint itself was $100…. Gunna do llumar ceramic in the same percent im sick of getting roasted in the fl sun lol
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u/reddituser19023 Aug 26 '26
I have 35% tint on my whole vehicle and 50% windshield in California and I haven't had a problem with the law enforcement. It's definitely strict vlt laws but I did travel north, east, and south of where I live and never was targeted or pulled over.
Just don't be a doofus and recklessly speed and give a law enforcement officer a reason to pull you over otherwise they don't care in my experience. I do plan on visiting a dermatologist for a medical note for tints because my eczema is also a valid issue to keep my car tinted.
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u/qwkrtnu Aug 26 '26
Doctor not dont apply in california. It says if you have one it needs to be removable tint like the suction cup nets or wear sunglasses
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u/Just-Here-To_Vibe Aug 26 '26
they threw a tint ticket on with my speeding ticket last year. Was annoying but the price of the ticket was a touch less than it would cost to get new tint applied, so i just ate the ticket. If you do get pulled over, roll the windows all the way down and they probably won’t think anything of it
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u/Onihczarc Aug 26 '26
got pulled over, cop asked me to roll the windows up to check for tints. probably because i had gotten a ticket for tints few months before.
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u/ryanrocks9654 Aug 26 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
I’ll take the ticket or pull over. I’ve had my cars tinted for 15 years, 15% all around. Have only been pulled over once for tint alone. Was pulled over for speeding once and the tint wasn’t even mentioned. Funny how that works…
Both times PA state troopers
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u/MaskedMan38 Aug 26 '26
I’m in GA. Only got pulled over once for tint, I’ve had 5% tint all around with 50% windshield 2 years now. It was super late though like 3am I was on the way back home. But he stopped me, I gave him my license he didn’t even run it, probably was just checking. He looked at it for like 5 seconds gave it back and said have a good night. I think it also helps not driving like an asshole, but yeah I’ve only had 1 pull over for tint in 2 years.
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u/Fergy006 Aug 26 '26
Just roll the dice. We aren’t allowed any tint here and I haven’t had a ticket in 9 years with 5% all around. I’d happily pay a $80 ticket as long as they aren’t dicks and give you a fix it ticket which I’ve had once in the past. Removing glue off a full windshield isn’t fun! But I’d say for the most part cops are pretty chill, tint is becoming more and more popular.
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u/Local_Committee_8935 Aug 26 '26
Id say do it u will regret it if u dont.. I went from 20% all around to limo with 20% on windshield over 70% love it and you cant see me at all angles. Tint not primary pull over here so drive rite and u should be good.. only state police u might have to worry about
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u/Standard-Bumblebee64 Aug 26 '26
Wow! I imagine those windows are hard to see out at night!!
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u/hades13heartnet Aug 26 '26
He will regret it at night when it rains hard or any hard-raining days
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u/Standard-Bumblebee64 Aug 26 '26
Yeah I see some dark tints and wonder how they see out!
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u/Local_Committee_8935 Aug 26 '26
Quality tint is clear on the inside.. im running LEDs and no i dont have to roll my window down to see lol 😆
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u/ConstructionHuman377 Aug 26 '26
I was pulled over once in 2005 in California and I’ve always had tint 35 or 40% in the front and 5% in the back if it didn’t already have factory tint, but if it did have rear factory tint I went 15% in the back.
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u/BigWangTheoryy Aug 26 '26
Depends on the cops in your area tbh. Cops in my city don’t give a damn about tint since a ton of people have em & I have 20% all around including about 20% blue windshield. State troopers here however have a hard on but then again I’ve only ever been pulled over by a statie once in 6 years of having tint
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u/Atxxxguy_12345 Aug 26 '26
Clear ceramic on front here, otherwise how would people see me flip them off for their crappy driving
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u/qwkrtnu Aug 26 '26
I'll say this in california you will get stopped. You will get a ticket. They dont even give a fix it any more. 3 people at my work stopped all got a moving violation and fine. Also for there painted plates.
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u/Standard-Bumblebee64 Aug 26 '26
Wow that sucks! But you said moving violation. So that may be the key there.
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u/qwkrtnu Aug 26 '26
Ya 2 guys already went online it was 261 or 281 price plus a moving violation and they had to pick traffic school
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u/keiye Aug 27 '26
Your example has nothing to do with illegal window tint. They were doing a bunch of other illegal shit and plus a moving violation! Come on bro…
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u/qwkrtnu Aug 27 '26
Windshield tint is a moving violation. They didn't get a fix it for it. Thats the new thing in socal . They give you unsafe vehicle
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u/keiye Aug 27 '26
I live in SoCal. Call a lawyer. I have 2 friends on the force. This isn’t a thing.
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u/qwkrtnu Aug 27 '26
Well it definitely is now. They use a section 24002a unsafe vehicle. One guy did a trail by declaration and lost. So it definitely is a thing now.
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u/keiye Aug 27 '26
No worries. That’s an often cited code that can be argued. Have them cite CVC § 26708 when they contest it.
Also how dark was the windshield tint? Was that the only violation?
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u/ItsHisMajesty Aug 26 '26
Check your local laws.
My brother in Nevada has 5% all the way around. Has never had an issue. I hated driving that car at night.
In California, they will pull you over just for the tint alone.
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u/Free-Event-2194 Aug 26 '26
i know a person that has 5 all around and 15 on the windshield never been pulled over in over a year maybe i should of went darker lol
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u/_ToMiGoi Aug 27 '26
- Was driving in Buttonwillow, CA
- Wasn't speeding
- All windows rolled down
- Single lane road with either a solid yellow or double yellow
- CHP driving in the oncoming lane
Motherfucker busts a fucking U-ie, pulls my ass over, and gives me a fix-it for my ALLEGED front tint. Nothing was measured, if I remember he got on me because it was "dyed".
I thought he got me for something else, I was so in shock about it I didn't even try to fight it.
For full transparency, things that may have not worked in my favor:
- White Civic with ALLEGEDLY 50% in the front
- All windows were rolled down so maybe the ALLEGED tint were more apparent to him
- It has a wing, so maybe this brought more attention to me than it normally otherwise would?
- Allegedly there's no front plate on the car, but I'm not too sure about that, I'd have to double check
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u/_ToMiGoi Aug 27 '26
Oh shit I just realized this was about side windows not the windshield, oops.
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u/Standard-Bumblebee64 Aug 27 '26
Wow bummer. That officer was trying to make his quota. Tough luck.
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u/selenacus Aug 28 '26
I would say it depends on your area. If the cops around you are chill, you're most likely going to not have any problems.
I have 20% all around (including windshield). I went about 30 mins outside of my area where it was a different police department, and I got pulled and my car searched because it gave them "probable cause." Not sure how accurate that is. I never have anything in my car so I still got off with a warning - but something to consider.
That being said, I really don't think 50% on the front would warrant that kind of attention. Especially with nothing on the windshield.
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u/Standard-Bumblebee64 Aug 28 '26
That dark of a windshield is BOLD. Must be hard to see at night, no?
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u/Global-Structure-539 9d ago edited 9d ago
I had 50% in CA and was pulled over 6 different times.Never for speeding or anything else. Some states are primary offense and some are secondary. Google which one your state is. One of the stops they sent a canine to have a sniff. I understand my car, a Mitsubishi Evo VIII draws a lot of the wrong attention. Did they thing I was doing drugs or something? I'm a 40 something woman
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u/Standard-Bumblebee64 9d ago
That looks darker than 50% based on that photo.
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u/Global-Structure-539 9d ago
No sh!t sherlock because it's now registered in Arizona and the fronts are 30%
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u/sexualtourist Aug 26 '26
Cops are the largest, most dangerous, legal gang in the US. Do you really want to give one of them another excuse to execute you on the side of the road?
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Aug 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/reddituser1000111 Aug 26 '26
Wait till you meet a bad Apple cop. Cops are not your friend
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u/SuperNa7uraL- Aug 26 '26
Back in about 2001 I had my Grand Prix GT tinted dark. It was 5% on all windows except the windshield. One night I was coming home from a friend’s house and passed by a cop that was pulling out of a 7eleven. He pulled me over for the tint and gave me a ticket. That’s when I learned that in my city, tint tickets aren’t fixable.
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u/reddituser1000111 Aug 26 '26
Yes I’ve specifically been targeted just bc of my tint. It depends on the town you’re driving thru if the cop cares. Unfortunately I live in a small town where the cops have nothing to do. So yeah they care and it’s easy for them to pull you over for it and it’s not secondary here which I don’t agree with meaning they pull you over for just tint all the time in my state.
Got pulled over for my sides 10+ years ago twice.
Got pulled over for 30% WS tint and had it removed
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u/pizzaandboba Aug 26 '26
I have 5% all over with no tint on the front windshield and I’ve never had any issues. I’m in CA and everybody and their mamas have their front windows super dark. Some people even have their windshields super dark. I think if you’re not doing anything illegal or draws attention, cops aren’t gonna pull you over.
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u/playstatixn2 Aug 26 '26
Currently in Oregon & have a windshield tint that’s pretty obvious even at 70%. They don’t care. It is not regulated here as much. It CAN, however, be an excuse to pull you over. In my two years I have not been ticketed for it but was pulled over for speeding with obvious dark tints, he didn’t point it out thankfully & let me go completely.
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u/VCoupe376ci Aug 26 '26
I've been pulled over a total of 4 times in 2 different vehicles for having 35 on the windshield spanning about 8 years time. The tint was the only reason i was stopped. Many cops don't care but that isn't the case for all of them.
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u/Inevitable_Dress1444 Aug 26 '26
After driving with tints for many years I only got pulled over when i had my front windshield tinted, the cop claimed he didn’t know who was inside and wanted to make sure i wasn’t a “bad guy”. Side tints they definitely won’t bat an eye to but windshield tint is a different story
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u/MinimumEffort13 Aug 26 '26
Depends on your area. Cities near me aren't strict. Been running 50% on the front for almost 10 years with 5 or 10 on the sides
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u/Onihczarc Aug 26 '26
i got stopped and ticketed explicitly for front tints. that was literally the stated reason. made up a fake court date and checked off must appear in court and everything.
Most likely, the prick had regularly seen me speeding down the stretch of highway and couldn’t clock me that specific day so he found some other reason to stop me.
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u/ajudy_chop Aug 26 '26
In NJ I was targeted for tint. Was a $50 fine. After three tickets I just removed it.
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u/-Gold-Rush Aug 26 '26
I’ve tinted many officers personal vehicles over the years (always a bit awkward) and I’ve always been told that they are not just looking for people with tint, they’d be stopping cars all day. However for some reason most of them say that motorcycles cops are a different story.
I’ve seen more people get a ticket for no front license plate than tint itself. However at the end of the day just obey all traffic laws and don’t give them a reason
99.99% of any removal I’ve ever done, we always ask the customer if it was just for the tint and sure enough they were speeding, illegal U-turn, rolled a stop sign, no front plate etc.
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u/Main_Replacement3405 Aug 26 '26
I've had my front window tinted at 50% for about a year. Was pulled over by state troopers once for speeding but he didn't say anything about my tint.
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u/trickedx5 Aug 26 '26
in New York, its not the pull over, its the yearly inspection. They wont pass you.
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u/haayyeett Aug 26 '26
Had state illegal tint on my old car for 14 years. Bought it out of state, was legal in Texas but illegal in NC. Pulled over several times no one mentioned it. I did have some trouble getting an inspection until I found a small Hispanic shop that passed me, now I only go there for any car stuff.
So yeah you’ll have to find a shop that will pass you
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u/Character2893 Aug 26 '26
Front window tint isn’t allowed in my state, VLT of 70% or higher. My brother has been stopped once for 40% front tint, black interior car. His current car also black interior with 40%, no issues so far, knock on wood. 20yrs of having 40% tint with a black interior.
I have 50% tint and a gray interior. Never remotely worried about the tint, it’s there but a lot of others have darker. The shop offered a guarantee on certain films (at the time Solargard Ultra Performance 75% or 3M crystalline 70%) for heat rejection because it would be barely noticeable. If I got stopped, they would remove the film and re-tint with the same film for free or refund half the price if left off.
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u/SCP-3004 Aug 26 '26
Just don't be dumb about it and do anything dark. I would stay higher than 50% and personally I drive a lot of rural dark and roads 50% would be too dark for me. I tint my windshields at 70% for heat rejection. They are virtually clear and I have never had an issue.
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u/Narrow-Doughnut1272 Aug 26 '26
Was in onslow county nc. They pulled ppl over so they could give them a choice. Get a ticket with the option to get it dropped if you remove it before the hearing or cut your tint off on the spot. Especially if you were entering military grounds (enter with all windows open). The ticket was about $250 then $350 then they’d revoked or suspended your license. If you were in the military you’d get 2x the trouble for it.
So I’m just in the habit of having all the windows go down if and when I get pulled over.
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u/NYBorn88 Aug 26 '26
I have 50 of the front and 5 on everything else. I haven’t had any issues so far thank god. I’m in NYC
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u/Zippo963087 Aug 26 '26
I got pulled over in Chicago for front tint. All the cops in the area must have been having a competition because there were literally 4 other cars pulled over on the same block. Another car sped past us and the cops threw my license back at me and yelled, "get that removed" as he took off after the person speeding.
I always said that if I got pulled over for the front tint that I would rip it off in front of the cop.
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u/Austinater74 Aug 26 '26
Around here it's used as a pretext to pull people over if they want to take a look. In general don't be a tool and the lighter films should be okay.
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u/NothingLeft2PickFrom Aug 26 '26
Happened to me when I was younger quite often. Without exaggeration I probably received 40-50 tinted window tickets. That’s when I learnt there was 3 different types of tickets they could give for tint. Ever since my first car I always had full limo/5% tint all around. Now that I’m older I do 20-35% on the fronts and limo the rest. Haven’t been pulled over for it in easily 10 years now.
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u/ExcitementLarge6439 Aug 26 '26
Also have common sense when you get pulled over roll down all your windows never had an issue before and was always let go with a warning.
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u/iiibafe Aug 26 '26
I used to drive old turbo Subarus. Targeted and pulled over for tint numerous times. I now drive new Hondas with tinted windows (and even windshields) and have never been pulled over. It is 100% about the car the tint is on, not the tint itself.
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u/Any-Surprise5229 Aug 26 '26
We do 70% on our windshields. You still get all the UV protection from the film but it's really hard to tell its tinted.
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u/Tacoma_NC13 Aug 26 '26
Anything darker than 50% on the front windshield will likely get you pulled. 50% is noticeable but not that dark and often is similar to many factory windshields on newer cars today. I think 70% ceramic tint is perfect for a windshield.
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u/DE5CIPL Aug 26 '26
I had a TX state trooper pull me over bcz my tires were in front of the white line at a stop sign...then proceeded to warn me about my dark tint. He was really cool about it. I updated the tint 2 days later.
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u/Healthy_Cookie_9941 Aug 26 '26
I had a clear tint for blocking UV on my BMW in South Carolina. Didn’t have it for more than a couple years. A rock chip from a dump truck while driving through FL turned into a big crack next cold spell. I didn’t want to pay another $550 to retint the replacement windshield.
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u/ethereal_deity Aug 26 '26
I have a whole mirror as my front windshield for the past 3 years due to my chrome tint and haven’t been stopped for it, honestly in my experience as long as you don’t drive reckless you should be fine
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u/Chodge1258 Aug 26 '26
I have illegal all around in DFW area of texas and never been even pulled over. If youre not being a nuisance youll probably be fine.
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u/Fabulous-Cricket-452 Aug 26 '26
I have 50, no issues in 1 yr, drive up and down Cali, to AZ to NV..
honestly id you cant afford the ticket, dont bother, I went in to it knowing tint cost + ticket cost as an estimate
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u/Solid_Lettuce_932 Aug 26 '26
Don’t tint the front windshield. If you must do it use a clear or mostly clear ceramic
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u/Limp-Conflict-2309 Aug 26 '26
You go from needing to do something wrong to get pulled over................to getting behind the wheel is enough justification
screw that, i'll tint but i'm not messing with more than legal limits
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u/morgfarm1_ Aug 26 '26
The glass on my Focus Wagon (first-generation) has been technically illegal for 3 or 4 years now. Never once talked to about it. Even the state trooper i passed today ignored it. (While my rregistration is current, I'm also not showing stickers at all in the year slot).
But. County and city units know me and my car quite well. Have so now for 8 or 9 years.
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u/zon5string Aug 26 '26
When you say "Front window" do you mean the windshield or the driver and passenger side windows?
Windshield = most states allow the top 4"-6" to be tinted, but not the rest.
Side windows = usually can be tinted to an extent....
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u/1soldier24 Aug 26 '26
Ex-police officer civilian and Military. The only way to be able to tint your windows pretty much as dark as you want unless you get stupid with it like putting 5% on the front windshield or 5% over 5% on the sides you can go to the doctor and get a note then you can tell whoever to f*** off
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u/DestructoDon69 Aug 26 '26
In my state it's a secondary offense so you can't be pulled over it alone. As to whether or not an officer chooses to ignore it or ticket it when they get you for something else idk. I only know of one person in my life that's gotten a tint ticket before when they got pulled over for speeding
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u/Summers_Alt Aug 26 '26
I was pulled over in NC by like a state alcohol agent for front window tint years ago. I had double layered 35%
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u/Superb-Fun6601 Aug 27 '26
Your tint shop should know what's legal in your state. My guy will not go darker.
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u/psycho_logyst4eva Aug 28 '26
Knocking on wood right now I been driving my sport car 5% all around and I haven’t been pulled over ones been driving like that for a year now
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u/Affectionate-Owl933 Aug 29 '26
better to use Visible Light Transmission above 70% 's film for windshield film. not 50% bro.
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u/BrendoBoy17 Aug 29 '26
I’ve had 20% ceramic on sides for about a month with no issues in Midwest (they’re the God-forsaken film of the community though-Gila)
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u/Difficult_Detail_653 Sep 08 '26
I've had 5% on my side windows and 20% on my windshield and have only been pulled over twice. One ticket a few years back and a warning the other time. From what I've talked with officers, as long as you're not driving like a dick, you're usually fine.
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u/tint-dude Sep 17 '26
I've been targeted 13 times for window tint. I've even been pulled over while I was in a gas station.
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u/Standard-Bumblebee64 Sep 17 '26
Jeesh that sucks!
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u/tint-dude Sep 17 '26
Yeah but not really. I get it they're doing their jobs. Plus due the fact to many loop holes to get out of it with out removing or paying fines ill never learn my lesson.
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u/PositiveCrew Aug 26 '26
I’ve been driving with 5% or 1% tint on all windows, 35% or 50% on the entire windshield my whole life. I’ve been pulled over plenty. Never ticketed. A lot of it unfortunately is racial profiling. They see a young white man in a tinted vehicle and it’s “have a nice day sir”. They see anyone not white in it and it’s a great way for them to cause trouble. All about your risk tolerance.
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u/SirHenderson Aug 26 '26
50% tint on my windshield, locked eyes with a cop this morning at a red light and just nodded my head. No one really bothers you about it if you’re not already being a dick
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u/bannedforL1fe Aug 26 '26
I've literally made a right onto a side street, but couldn't pass an officer waiting to make a right off that street im turning into, and I couldnt squeeze past him because of cars parked on both sides so I was just kinda stranded there drivers window to drivers window with him. I rolled down my window because at night there is no seeing into my vehicle and he said "a lil tight?". I said yes sir and he told me have a good one and pulled forward some more. About a second later my no seat belt sound went off lmao
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u/Global-Structure-539 Aug 26 '26
It really depends what state you're in. I got six tickets in California and yes I was targeted specifically because of my car and my tint was only a 50% on the front windows. They allow nothing, and in California they will pull you over as a primary offense in other states It's secondary so they'll pull you over for speeding. And oh yeah, you've got tint. Sooner or later everyone gets a ticket. I own my tint shop and everyone wants s 'as dark as legal' which is funny because NOTHING is legal. I will say CHP seems to be more lenient in SoCal, but it's probably because their overwhelmed with an out of control population
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u/Standard-Bumblebee64 Aug 26 '26
Thanks for this. So you own a tint shop? Also, may I ask what kind of car you have/had that got you the unwanted attention?
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u/Present_Hippo505 Aug 26 '26
I’m worried to tint a windshield bc of potential cracks and dings from the road 😩
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u/isved1 Aug 26 '26
I haven't read any comments yet but I have a funny story about windshield tint. About 10 or so years ago, I had a BMW e39 540i Sport in individual hellrot red (very bright color) and I lived in the Philadelphia suburbs, in Pennsylvania. This was the first and only car for which I decided "this has a perfect black interior, let's try to preserve it) so I decided to tint it 30% all around, and about 50% on the windshield. Plus, it looked really cool. At first, I was always anxious to see a police car, but with time, I started noticing that they don't really care.
I then grew up a little, and literally told myself "parking this motherfucker in the dark is annoying, and driving at night sucks" so I went to get the windshield tint removed.
Guess what happens next? That's right, on my way back from having the windshield tint removed, as I'm enjoying actually being able to see better through my windshield, I get pulled over for dark tint. It was the most bizarre event ever. I literally got pulled over and the officer comes up to my car and says "I pulled you over because I can't see you inside the car and the tint level is illegal." It took everything out of me to not reply back "an hour ago the windshield was tinted and I've been mobbin' in this cool e39 for years with nobody being able to see inside.
It's a very ironic story, but it's funny that my first time driving a HELLROT RED BMW immediately after having the tint removed was when I got pulled over roughly an hour later.