California Window Tint Law
Window tint is a great way to personalize your vehicle, keep it from getting hot in the summer, out of prying eyes, and keep the sun and glare out of your eyes while driving.
The sun shines bright in the state, from San Diego to San Jose, so it’s no surprise many drivers would want some comfortable window tint darkness in their vehicle. However, laws in California and other states specify the type of window tint that can be applied.
We’ll review some of California’s most common questions regarding window tinting laws, from tinting on front-side windows to medical exemptions for some drivers.
What Are The Legal Window Tint Limits?
The darkness of tint in automobile window tint laws is measured in Visible Light Transmission (VLT), which is the percentage of light allowed through the tint. For example, tint that allows through 50% of the light is simply referred to as having a percentage of window tint of 50. Very dark tints typically only allow 5% visible light transmission. The lower the percentage, the darker the window tint film is.
In California, state laws say the front driver and passenger window are allowed to be tinted at 70%, meaning that the window tint film will let through 70% of the light while only blocking 30%. That percentage includes any film already on factory-tinted windows. Additional aftermarket film to darken the standard window should not reduce incoming light to less than 70%.
A good window tinting expert should know this and be wary of a window tint installer who never mentions tint rules when you’re in the shop for additional car window tinting.
Can I Tint my Windshield?
It is illegal to tint your windshield in California, aside from a 4-inch strip at the top of the windshield.
This strip must be above the factory AS-1 line (the little line on your windshield on the upper corners) and be a non-reflective tint.
California law also prohibits metallic, reflective window tints that would reflect more than an un-tinted window.
Can I Tint the Rear Window?
Any back seat and rear passenger window on a vehicle can be tinted as dark as you would like. If you prefer dark windows and a dark rear windshield, they can be tinted as much as 5%. But, if your rear window is tinted, then extra attention will be placed on your dual-side mirrors, as they must be in excellent condition in order to compensate for not being able to see clearly through the rear windshield.
What Colors Are Allowed?
The window tint film can be any color except red, amber (yellow), and blue. As mentioned above, the window tint film also can’t be more reflective than the standard window glass.
California Tint Citations
You may be pulled over for an illegal car tint, or you may be pulled over for another violation, such as speeding, and an officer also realizes your tint is illegal.
An officer can do one of two things:
1) the officer can issue you a fix-it-ticket that will require you to have your tint removed from the vehicle and have an officer of the law sign off that your car tint was indeed removed, or you may be required to file an affidavit supported by proof, that shows that you have removed the tint.
2) for a second violation, the officer may issue a regular ticket that requires you to go to court and explain to a judge why you have violated the window tint laws.
Remember, even though an officer can pull you over for illegal window tint, they do not automatically have the right to search your vehicle.
You should not give an officer permission to search your vehicle.
An officer can only search your vehicle in certain situations, which are:
1) You consent to the search of your vehicle.
2) Illegal or contraband items are in “plain view,” meaning that they can be plainly seen by the officer without him having to move or manipulate the item, and it is apparent that the item is illegal or contraband.
3) If you are arrested, your vehicle can be searched incident to a lawful arrest.
4) If the officer has probable cause to suspect that you have committed a crime.
5) If police there are exigent circumstances, they can search your vehicle to avoid the destruction of evidence.
6) If the officer has a warrant to search your vehicle.
Many might be wondering why it is illegal to have dark window tints in California or why window tinting isn’t allowed.
It is believed that having dark window film or tint lessens visibility and makes it harder for drivers to see oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
Statistics show that drivers with dark-tinted windows or windshields are more likely to miss seeing vehicles or pedestrians in front of their vehicle and are more likely to be involved in traffic collisions.
There is another argument for safety, however, for the safety of officers who are pulling over vehicles.
Officers need to be able to see inside the vehicle they are pulling over to ensure their safety.
Suppose an officer is unable to see into the vehicle they are pulling over. In that case, there is a possibility that someone could hurt or kill the officer without them being adequately prepared.
The Window Tint Medical Exemption
Arguments for legalizing dark window tint percentage have mainly been that people would like to tint their windows if they have certain medical conditions.
People with medical conditions feel that they should be able to have medical exceptions to tint their front and side windows and their windshields so as to shade them from the intrusive sunlight UV rays.
The government in California has passed laws that allow people with certain conditions, requiring them to be blocked from UV light, to have darker tints on their windshields and front windows.
Examples of these conditions include lupus, melanoma, photosensitivity, and sun allergies. These people should have tinting allowed on their car windows.
Typically, the window tint exemption application involved the patient getting a note signed by a dermatologist or another physician. Visible light, like UV radiation, can cause a variety of ailments while also speeding up the aging process.
Exposure to damaging UV rays over an extended period of time might lead to skin cancer. Using a high-quality tint film on your car can help reduce exposure to UV rays. Having a legal window tint will lessen visible light transmission and may help people with skin conditions.
It isn’t clear how many tickets are given each year for illegal window tint; however, the California Highway Patrol mentions that tickets for illegal window tint are common.
One source with the highway patrol stated that from January 2015 through August 2015, there were a total of 193,000 tickets given for illegal window tint.
Avoid Window Tinting Tickets
We hope this article helped you with any decision you might take the next time you plan a trip to the window tint installer or whether you even want to add any window tint film to your vehicle.
Remember that California’s window tint laws requirements regarding tint darkness, light transmission, and other factors are precise. If you got caught with too much or the wrong type of window tint and are facing a window tint ticket, or worse, for that oversight, contact Ticket Snipers, and we’ll defend you against window tinting citations or any other infractions!