I live in Amherst, NY (supposedly the safest town in US so they got nothing else to do other than bothering people for minor auto violations). Anyway, I was making a left turn into a restaurant, cop passes by and turns around and pulls me over. I just got out of the house and forgot to wear my seat belt, so I thought he pulled me over for my seatbelt... He comes over and tells me that he pulled me over for Tinted windows! Meanwhile I see atleast 20 cars that passed by me having tinted windows. Anyway, he checks that tint and it turns out to be 23%. I asked the shop to put 35%, but I guess the original 70% factory tint probably increased the tint.

I got 2 tickets. 1 for front tinted windows and 1 for rear tinted windows. Total fine for both comes to $140! That's insane! He also told me that if I get caught the second time with tints, the fine will double! He told me that I have 1 day to get the tints removed and they can dismiss the ticket. Here's my question, I thought it's legal to have rear windows tinted, why did I get a ticket for that?

Here's what I plan on doing, I will go to the shop and get my tints removed. I will then take it to the police station and have my ticket dismissed. I will wait a week and get the tints on again... what do you think? It's BS that I get pulled over for having 35% tint!

What did you guys do when you got ticket(s) for tints in the past? I'm asking specifically from NY state residents...

 

That sucks man... You can get away with limo tint here in Phoenix and not really worry about getting pulled over..

 

Damn that sux...I really wanted 20% when I got mine done but I went with 35% hoping to avoid what you're going through. As far as your back window question...check the NY tint laws. I know in PA back window tint in a car is legal but only up to 70%. So basically the law says NO TINT on the front windows and nothing darker than 70% on the back windows and rear windshield. I'm guessing NY is probably similar and that's why he got you for that one too.

 

what's it say about NY??

http://www.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/
New York
NO / NO/ NO/ NO / 1993

Note : Very strict law. Replacement glass that is tinted is allowed if and only if the original windows were tinted as well. Medical exemption is provided for with permission from Commisioner of Motor Vehicles.

even without knowing the format of NO/NO/NO/NO, it should be easy to guess what it means.... NO tint.

 

Factory tint? Clarify. Did you buy a car that was already tinted or are you referring to something else?

also, FYI:

http://autowindowtintings.com/main.cfm?action=newyork

 

When I say factory tint, I mean the light tint that my Max SE came with... I don't know if it's 70% or even 90%, but I know there was faint tint...

 

strange...a couple NYC cops told me rear tint is 100% legal down to 5% providing you have 2 outside mirrors...

 

Server has pretty much sucked today and my post got there after yours...crap!!! In any case, you got me on that one...yes your citation refers to 1993 whereas the one I had was from 1991. They sure did get more strict!!

 

where can I go to check the laws for my state (mass) before getting a tint job? Id hate to be out a ocuple hundred for nothing.

 

Im pretty sure you can put any % tint you want on the back three windows except limo. The front windows allow only 70% tint which is basically nothing.

 

Uh, either site 2k2 or I posted. Admittedly his link seems to be more up to date.

 

Not true. It varies state to state but we're talking about NY. I just checked to take the "I think" and "I'm pretty sure" out of the convo. In NY the current law for a car says 70% in the front, 70% in the back, and ANY on the back windshield. Make sure you are looking at the car column when you look it up, most states have seperate laws for cars and SUVs, it's easy to misread it and think you can go darker than you can.

CrownofThorns...try here...

http://www.gilafilms.com/auto/car_tint_laws.html

They are up to date as of 6/03. Putting in "state tint laws" in Google will get you alot of results too.

 

Your link also refers to an old law (1991) even though the site is 'updated' as of 6/03.

The link provided by 2k2wannabe refers to a 1993 law.

 

CrownofThorns, I live in NH and had my tint done in Lowell. Last I knew (6 months ago) mass is 35% all around, nothing on the front windshield.

anyone, EVERY tint shop knows the law. Ask before getting it done! This isn't rocket science... if you take your car and say "put 20% on" they'll probably do it. If you take your car and say "what is legal here?" they'll tell you.

 

You're right jjs, I didn't even notice that. My point was just that it does no good to tell him "Im pretty sure you can put any % tint you want on the back three windows except limo" when that obviously isn't true. And 2k2 is right...just ask the tint guy before he does it. He'll know the correct and current law. My guy had it posted on a huge bulletin board in the garage, you couldn't miss it if you tried.

 

I just got my car done in MA. I did 35 on the rear and 50 on the sides. The installer knew the laws and told me what would be legal. In the long run it's better to obey the law. Sooner or later it will catch up with you.

 

I got about 6 or 7 tickets for tint on my old car and I live in Amsterdam, NY. All of my fines were $40 each. As long as you have 2 mirrors your back windows can be as dark as you want, but the front have to be at least 70%. As far as I know the fine doesn't go up with the darkness, mine were all 12-13%. Cops in NY suck, they don't have anything better to do (at least in this crappy city). Good luck.

 

besides enforce the law...

 

No kidding...I love these idiots who make comments like that when they don't even consider that the laws are there to a very large degree because of run-ins with armed suspects who have shot police officers during pull overs, etc. As the son of a retired big city officer, while I would like to have more freedom in certain choices, I can fully understand when measures like this can be the difference between life and death in the right circumstances.

 

I got my tints taken off today, it took them 10 minutes to rip off tints on all 4 windows. I then took it to the police station and the booking officer filled out a form, I then had to take it to the court where they dropped the tickets completely. My tints were not dark at all... it sux that I got caught... I plan on putting them back on a few weeks later. I wish there was some kind of temporary de-tinting device, for example like a light source inside the doors that can be turned on by a switch when you spot a cop or somthing...

 

Well then explain to me why some states have tint laws and some states don't. If it was such a horrible crime it would be illegal in all states. Neon lights are allowed in some states and illegal in others, is this because it is as harmful as window tint? I mainly use to keep my car cooler in the summer, the blinding sun out of my eyes, and to help reduce the fade of my interior.

If somebody was really willing enough to kill a cop, I highly doubt window tint would be much of a factor in their mind. The element of surprise would be in their favor either way if they're that crazy.

 

I don't know... maybe because the public elects officials who do what the public wants done? Want neons to be legal in your state? Vote in people who say they'll reverse that law.

But you're also missing the whole point of my comment... IT IS ILLEGAL. So stop b!tching about "Cops in NY suck" and "they don't have anything better to do." Last I checked, and I'm sure Maxxxed will back me up on this, it is ILLEGAL to have tints in NY so cops are doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing, upholding the law. Don't like it? Get it changed, but until then if you break the law don't get p!ssed seeing as you decided to break the law in the first place.

 

If you ever had to approach an unknown vehicle, often at night, where you can't see what types of movement are happening in it (i.e. reaching for something other than the wallet, etc.) then you will understand. It is a part of police training to expect the unexpected and minimize the 'element of surprise'...these laws are meant to do just that, minimize it.Also, show me in either of the sites listed where ANY state has NO tint laws. Until then you will never understand the motivation to regulate this and continue to make inane comparisons to neons.

Also, show me in either of the sites listed where ANY state has NO tint laws.

 

Having read this whole thread, I just couldn't resist not putting in my 2 cents. Be it known, I am impartial to anyone's opinion - everyone's entitled to one.

I live in NY. I obey the law. My windows aren't tinted. 4 of my buddies are NYC cops. 2 of them have Maximas, all 4 have deep tint all around. Been occasionally encouraged by them to tint mine and yes I do have pba cards and minishields. They never get tickets for having their windows tinted and certainly neither would I if I had them. So much for the f'cking laws, eh?

 

I understand what you guys are saying about it being the law and the cops are just doing there job...but don't you also think it's a completely arbitrary and random thing when they decide to enforce it. That's why it is frustrating. While he's giving you a ticket chances are 3 cars will drive by with as dark a tint as you have if not darker. Or you could drive by the same cop sitting in the same spot every day for a month and he leaves you alone, but then one day he's having a bad day or whatever and he decides to pull you over and give you a ticket.

 

The reality of the situation is that All laws (short of really major crimes) are enforced in an arbitrary fashion. Speeding tickets, tint tickets, etc. are often administered at the discretion of the police/constables/deputies on duty at that time. And, as has been stated many times, they are simply doing their jobs...it is not like they are making up the laws on the side of the road just to nail you. The thing with speeding, etc. is that those often happen for a very short period of time while illegal tints are right in their face everytime you drive the car. Kind of like a 'Hey, are you bored? C'mon and pull me over' billboard.

Fair? No. But look at it the other way around...if they DID enforce all laws at all times, you would hate that even more when you got nailed for every little thing you did. Yeah, we all have indiscretions now and then but really only suffer the consequences a very small fration of the time. I would much rather be pulled over once while others go zooming by than pulled over EVERY time I was 1 mph over the limit. In the overall scheme of things, the arbitrary system is flawed, but not that bad.

 

when i researched this before...most states allow up to 32 or 35% all around. station wagons and suv's were the only one's that could go darker in the back but fronts still had to be 32/35%. i had 20% in my car but drove mostly w/ the windows down. when windows were up, i would open the sunroof to let light in and never had a problem.

if u asked for 35%, i'd go back to them and have them fix it and pay the fine. u should have a receipt if it's 35%. no shop can or will give u a guarantee if it's illegal tints...from my experience. good luck.

 

The law being 70% in NY just sucks, 70% hardly does anything and isn't noticable at all. And why is the law just for the front windows. Bringing up the whole pulling out a gun thing, this can all be done from the time the cop puts his lights on and pulls up behind you (all of which cant be seen with the legal 5% tint in the back) and somebody could just be waiting. I understand things can happen with tint on the front, but anything can happen at any time and we can't make laws for every little thing. Year by year more laws are passed that keep taking away more of our money and rights, someday we'll have nothing.

And the reason I think the cops (and I stated IN THIS CITY) suck is because they don't do **** about any real crimes or problems that happen around here, and just ride around pulling people over for crap. I suppose all the people saying I'm an idiot have actually been to this city, and are talking from their own experiences, correct?

 

In the eyes of the law everyone is equal. It's just some people are a little more equal than others. Do you fish?

 

 

 

maybe some cops don't care about tinting... but its their *** on the line. It is safer to approach an untinted car.

the law is the law, the only law I have a problem with "really" is the speed limit, which here downstate is too low.

Cops enforce what is there, some cops can be ****s about it, but mostly its their job, they don't write the laws.

 

I just think the cops around here suck because they don't think ANYTHING aftermarket can me installed on a car which is bullsh!t. My friend recently got pulled over in his CRX, and the cop gave him a list of things which needed to be removed, some are understandable and some are crazy!

1- Neon lights under the car
2- Neon light in the car
3- Its lowered, the cop says he has to get it raised
4- His body kit must be removed because it wasn't there from the factory
5- Indiglo guages are supposedly illegal in this town, they have to be gone
6- A sticker on the back window. Even though in NY there is no law on how dark the tint can be in the back, even blacked out, a sticker is illegal.
7- White turn signals

You'll have better luck killing somebody and dumping their body in the river than driving a hooked up ride and getting away with it. I'm just waiting to get pulled over for my clear corner lights!

 

While a couple items do seem to be a bit of a stretch, this reeks of another 3rd person story with partial facts.

Sounds like he got pulled over for something else, got mouthy with the officer, and the police then decided not a cut him a break and just write him up for everything they could find.

 

He was only given a warning but told to take it all off. It may be a story, I wasn't there so I can't say for sure, but I have been pulled over and from my experience I was told "If its not from the factory its not legal"

Honestly I believe him because some of the things he got warned for he fixed, but the body kit and indiglo guages are still there. As far as I know these aren't illegal

 

Here's my whole take about cops... I think most of the cops risk their lives everyday to protect others and make sure everything is under control... just think about all the cops that died on 9-11 WTC attack. They got burried under 100 stories while trying to save others, so you gotta give em' credit where it's deserved. Everytime they encounter a stranger on the road, it's full of potential risks to them! Also, they do their job - in 2000 when I was involved in an accident 4 cop cars arrived (within 3 minutes!) and helped us through...

At the same time, I guess like every other branch of government organization, they are some cops that are complete waste... they can be big A-hole's, racists, plain lazy and incompetent... they abuse their power bringing bad rep for the whole law enforcement. Don't forget all the corruption that some cops are involved in.

As far as the ticket I got, to be realistic, it was my fault. I knew tinting is illegal in NY, despite that I went ahead with tints just for the "cool factor". So, basically whatever the stupid reason for absolutely no-tint rule in NY is, I have to live with the ticket. I have no base to be mad at the cop because he was merely "doing his job" but I still think that I was unfairly targetted for this rule... like I said there were a lot of cars that passed by me w/ tints so it feels unfair. Whatever, it's over and I am not really upset. I will get my tints again in a few weeks so it's all good.

 

hey buddy, I live in Tonawanda and my wife got stopped at main & youngs for the same thing. We had 20% all arround, looked sweeeet,until jonny cop decides to pull her over just for the tint. It was only 2wks old man was I POed. I ripped it off and had the ticket thrown out and had the tint redone w/35%on the sides and haven't had a problem. Our old car she was stopped athe same intersection for 20% tint and I did the same thing and never a prob for 35%, I can't see why they hassled you for that any lighter and its not worth even having. We can all sleep safe in upsate NY because Amherst is clamping down on all those people with tint. Give me a freekin break I can see adding it on to another ticket but to pull over just that is BS. Good Luck. maybe I'll see you arround town. Keep alook out for us (2kGLE satin blue)