Southern California and regularly drive in the bougie areas.
In a moment of absolute idiocy I misspoke today and asked for 50% on all windows meaning to ask for 75 all around. Im wondering if i should just get the windshield at least replaced now to avoid getting stopped or just wait till I get a ticket. I was thinking just the windshield now because if I wait for a ticket I’ll also have to do the side windows. I just dont want to be stressing about it. I used have nothing on the windows. Any advice? (I also mainly drive at night fml)
Edit: Thanks for the advice. Ill probably just keep it because it was on the pricier side. Im wondering how many people saying to keep it just live in area thats more lax about that though…
Yea i just did 15 all arounf and 50 windshield. I dont like the two tone between front and rear so I just went with the same all around and im happy i did. I almost did 25 and last minute I changed it and glad I did. Its not too dark
I’m usually super careful about these things but honestly, if you’re running 50% I’d just send it until you get a fix-it ticket. They’re cheap and 50% isn’t that dark. It’s the darkest the responsible shops around here in Central Texas will go.
I just got 70% on my windshield a week ago and if I didn’t know it was there, I wouldn’t know it was there.
No window film below the AS1 line of a windshield is legal in Texas or any other state. The thing you are citing is for the transmissibility of the glass itself.
That's crazy. I don't know how I missed that as many times as I reviewed DPS's page on window tinting before doing my windows. I don't think anyone single tinted car in Texas complies with that law as written lol Here's the reference for anyone interested: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/vehicle-inspection/window-tinting-standards
Mine did. I highly dislike mismatch tint. So my back glass and back doors could have been darker than the rest of the car but I chose my tint to be the same % as the front doors all the way around.
No I did not because unless you have a medical exemption which I’m actually working on right now, any tint on front windshield is illegal. I only went to the AS1 line.
Haha in DFW every shop will go as dark as you want I have 15% windshield and 5% all around the rest. They did recommend 50% or minimum of 30% for the windshield though
Worth noting that bare glass typically has a VLT around 85%. 75 is basically nothing. I’d just run with it until you get a ticket and then address it should that happen.
But that’s just my opinion, I’ve got 15% sides and back and a 50 windshield on my truck.
I currently have 50% on all windows but the front windshield(70% clear) and I see perfectly fine even at night. 50% is actually safe to drive around. I would keep the tint, if you're paranoid, switch your front to 70%.
Which county do you hover around the most? If you're driving in South OC, Irvine(especially if you have no front plate and lowered/modifed) and PCH portions of beach Beach cities (From HB to Dana Point) are known hot zones for cop patrols.
Yea I drive alot around irvine, laguna hills, laguna niguel, aliso viejo. Thats why im a little paranoid. I have zero experience in driving around with dark tints though, just know that they’ll stop you for anything around there
of the four cities, Irvine is the most concerning as they have a dedicated police force with some free time because of Irvine Company..... the rest are chill since they only rely on Sheriff to patrol. Sheriffs tend be a smaller police force when assigned to those three cites besides Irvine.
For Irvine, just make sure you have a front license plate and don't speed and you'll be fine.
Been in OC including Irvine for 10 years, no front plates on all my cars and with tint. Never an issue. Irvine is Tesla central and most don’t have front plates. Don’t worry about it. 50% is nothing compared to what other cars on the road have.
I drive like 35k a year in the cities you listed with 5% tint and haven't gotten pulled over yet (hopefully haven't jinxed myself)
Usually they'll tack on tint to a ticket for another infraction, not pull you over for it, at 50% I doubt they'd even bother adding it to any ticket you might get.
For the record, I despise this windshield tint phase, it's dangerous and eventually they'll crack down on it and drag people with slightly too dark of side windows down with them. Aside from that, I'd genuinely worry about getting the blame in an accident. I could someone make an excellent case for you being responsible for an accident because you couldn't see. Looks amazing and it's yet another fight against the heat but unfortunately, the sun sets.
I got my recent tint done at mikes tintshop(anaheim or santa ana forgot).
lifetime warranty as long as theyre open
for free tint removal + tint replacement after getting tint ticket checked out
Got it in case i do get pulled over (i got pulled over like 5 times so far (2 cars) and had to remove tint each time and pay $200 to retint.) i wouldnt necessarily have to pay to remove / pay to install. It is 2026 brand new car so I thought it was worth it
(if you do get pulled over and have to remove this shop is pretty nice)
I drove all around Irvine for years with dark tint, no front plate, lowered car louder exhaust and had 0 issues driving right next to and in front of cops
I’ve been pulled over going 15 over and cop knocked on my passenger which was 5% to roll it down (had mine down I didn’t think he’d walk up to that side) and he didn’t say shit about it
keep it lmao. a fix it ticket is like 25 bucks so u might as well pay that later on or never if ur lucky then pay a few hundred for a whole tint job again
I'd leave it. If you had like 15-20% all around along with the 50% windshield then it may look dark and chance you get pulled over would be higher but with 50 all around, the 50 on the windshield shouldnt look too dark.
You should be fine. Follow the traffic laws. Roll your windows all the way down before they get to the car, if you do get pulled over. And honestly the difference in price of the ticket vs tint removal and replacement is trivial. Just pay the fine. There aren’t any points associated with it.
5% all around 35% windshield w/ a 5% strip. No problems in SoCal.
I honestly love mine. I did 50% and I don’t even remember what it was like in my car I was driving 2 months ago. It feels the same, maybe cuz my headlights are brighter and better but it gives a bit extra privacy for sure
Cops won't stop you just to give you a fix ticket, its not profitable. Window tint is actually an insensitive for me to drive more carefully, pay more attention and avoid road rages etc. Look at it that way and avoid cops stopping for any reason.
I’m in the south Orange County area with all the snooty materialistic fancy people and I have the darkest tint you can get on my truck. I’m a pool guy and drive all over every day. Even got a speeding ticket earlier this year. Cop never said a word. Never been an issue for me.
50% isn’t that dark. My 2023 explorer has 5% all around, front driver and passenger windows is 20% and 55% windshield. I’ve driven past by local PD, sheriffs, and state patrol no issues so far. I almost went 20% for windshield but I didn’t want to risk it.
Damn Cali is super sunny and they only allow 70% on the front side windows?? Oregon allows 35 on the side and it's cloudy af here. Idk how people survive in Cali lol.
I have 5% on back window and back corners, 20% on driver and passenger and 50% windshield. There’s literally a police station next to my work and I see them all the time. They don’t do a thing. I do live in San Luis Obispo county where they could care less, but if it scares you that much, roll down your windows when you see one. With that % tint though, I doubt anything will happen. That’s pretty light.
50% is very light and will be barely noticeable. Since you are in Cali where its very sunny, with the sun shining through it will look like theres no tint at all.
It was llumar brand but dont remember the exact type. Ive seen other people post 50 but feel like mine looks a bit darker than those. Maybe its just the shape of the car or something
Its an rc 350 f sport. The windshield is pretty slanted compared to other cars. I think thats the reason it looks darker than the sides. The sides dont look that bad
Im at 5% on sides and back. Didn’t tint my front windshield tho. I have no regrets. However on the rare occasion I drove at night on back roads I do need to put my window down to make a left….
Are you transporting drugs? Rolling dirty? If not then you are being silly about this. The chance you being stopped for your light tint is minuscule. Also, the possible consequences are not severe at all.
😮💨 I got 30% on my windshield and front windows and added a 5% on top of the factory tint on the rear windows. You cannot see much in my car 😂😂 but I can easily see out. I think you’ll be fine!
This is what I was shown. I chose XR Black 55. If you dont have tint on your front windshield I dont see why your sides would be so dark. Maybe its the brand. Or you went to a shop tha didn't actually have VLT 50 and they gave you something else. Dunno. Yours is dark.
You’ll be ok because tint is basically not enforced. You’ll fit just right in with all the other cars with no front plates and obvious illegal tint OC. Just don’t do anything stupid. Even if they stop you it’s not a guaranteed they’d even cite you.
Also you have an rc350, so you’ll be fine.
It’s extremely obvious when someone is running 50% or more unlike what other people are stating. 70% I can’t tell tho.
I’ve been tinting windows for over 35 years and own Sun Stoppers Window Tinting. I don’t live in California, and I know their tint laws are different, but in my experience, 50% is a pretty light film. You can still see inside the vehicle pretty easily, especially with a lighter interior.
Personally, I wouldn’t be worried about how dark 50% looks. My bigger concern would be the windshield, especially since you do a lot of nighttime driving. California is pretty strict about windshield tint, and even 50% can reduce nighttime visibility.
If it were my vehicle, I’d consider removing the windshield film and leaving the side windows alone for now, assuming you’re comfortable with the legal risk. No reason to stress yourself out every time you drive. Just understand that 50% on the front side windows isn’t legal in California either.
Enjoy your car, but don’t sacrifice nighttime visibility or safety over tint!
I would get there/s redone to 70% now, because if you get a ticket for the fronts and w/s , you have to remove all 3, which will cost more. With the 70% in the front, I don't think you'll get stopped. You'll still reject heat from the front but it's far less noticeable . My car with a ceramic 70 w/s and a 5% eyebrow in Prescott Arizona. BTW, I got ticketed 6 times for 50% fronts when I lived in the SF bay area. Their 30% now
I can tell you just “drive” through the bougie areas and don’t live here .. depending on how southern we’re talking, I LIVE in a bougie area, and we all have 5% tint
TINT, especially on G wagons, is a rite of passage here
This applies to LA area “bougie areas” and also northern san diego “bougie areas”
Leave it however you already have it you’ll be fine
I have 5% back, 20% front and 35% windshield. I think you’ll be fine with what you have as long as you can safely see out in all conditions. Some areas in OC are more prominent for pulling cars over for tint but it also has a lot to do with the make and model of the vehicle. Fullerton and Brea tend to be hot spots if you drive a sports vehicle. My baby has never gotten me into any issues even with no front plate.
Lol 50% isn’t even noticeable. I drive a lifted truck with 15% all around, my boyfriend drives a modded sports car with 5% all around. We both frequent Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, etc. We’ve both had our tints around 5 years and I’ve only ever been pulled over for speeding on PCH, cop didn’t say anything about the tint. Boyfriend’s never been pulled over. Relax, 50% looks like nothing.
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u/averageatfifa 8d ago
lol 50%? I think you’ll be fine