Good morning all, I am finally gonna get my 01 Grey Lustre AE tinted. Going to the the Metallized FormulaONe film. First car I've had tinted since I bought by "hooptie" 2 cars prior. Virginia law states that ANY reflective (mirror) tint is illegal on WINDOWS... but DOESN'T say anything about the sunroof. So, I have been debating whether to get the sunroof tinted, what percentage (don't want it too light as the whole purpose is to reject heat which would make mirror tint perfect), but also don't want it too dark either.

How would a sunroof with mirrored tint look? From a light intensity/heat rejection perspective it would be perfect as the mirroring would reflect the light and really void the need to keep shutting the sunroof panel to keep it cool inside your car.

I'm getting this done on tuesday afternoon, so I have about 2 days or so to get some opinions. Once again, 1) should I get the sunroof tinted at all, 2) how dark, and 3) should it be mirrored tint?

Thanks!

 

I've got 15% non-mirrored on mine. Looks good, feels good.

 

Isn't the sunroof considered a window?...

G

 

Nope. I got 3% limo tint on mine to keep the sun from beaming down on me.

Dixit

 

I guess, depends on how you look at it. ha ha

Hmmmmm, from what I've seen, VA's laws only refer to the front windshield, side windows, and rear window.... so I might be safe!

This is taken from the VA Safety Office --->

What are the tint laws in Virginia?
Section 46.2-1052 states:

Tinting films, signs, decals, and stickers on windshields, etc.; penalties.

A. Except as otherwise provided in this article or permitted by federal law, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle on a highway with any sign, poster, colored or tinted film, sun-shading material, or other colored material on the windshield, front or rear side windows, or rear windows of such motor vehicle. This provision, however, shall not apply to any certificate or other paper required by law or permitted by the Superintendent to be placed on a motor vehicle's windshield or window.

The size of stickers or decals used by counties, cities, and towns in lieu of license plates shall be in compliance with regulations promulgated by the Superintendent. Such stickers shall be affixed on the windshield at a location designated by the Superintendent.

B. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, whenever a motor vehicle is equipped with a mirror on each side of such vehicle, so located as to reflect to the driver of such vehicle a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle, any or all of the following shall be lawful:

1. To drive a motor vehicle equipped with one optically grooved clear plastic right-angle rear view lens attached to one rear window of such motor vehicle, not exceeding eighteen inches in diameter in the case of a circular lens or not exceeding eleven inches by fourteen inches in the case of a rectangular lens, which enables the driver of the motor vehicle to view below the line of sight as viewed through the rear window;

2. To have affixed to the rear side windows, rear window or windows of a motor vehicle any sticker or stickers, regardless of size; or

3. To drive a motor vehicle when the driver's clear view of the highway through the rear window or windows is otherwise obstructed.

C. Except as provided in § 46.2-1053, but notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, no sun-shading or tinting film may be applied or affixed to any window of a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a mirror on each side of such motor vehicle, so located as to reflect to the driver of the vehicle a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle, and the sun-shading or tinting film is applied or affixed in accordance with the following:

1. No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the rear side windows or rear window or windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highways of this Commonwealth that reduce the total light transmittance of such window to less than thirty-five percent;

2. No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the front side windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highways of this Commonwealth that reduce total light transmittance of such window to less than fifty percent;

3. No sun-shading or tinting films shall be applied or affixed to any window of a motor vehicle that (i) have a reflectance of light exceeding twenty percent or (ii) produce a holographic or prism effect.

Any person who operates a motor vehicle on the highways of this Commonwealth with sun-shading or tinting films that (i) have a total light transmittance less than that required by subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection, (ii) have a reflectance of light exceeding twenty percent, or (iii) produce holographic or prism effects shall be guilty of a traffic infraction but shall not be awarded any demerit points by the Commissioner for the violation.

Any person or firm who applies or affixes to the windows of any motor vehicle in Virginia sun-shading or tinting films that (i) reduce the light transmittance to levels less than that allowed in subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection, (ii) have a reflectance of light exceeding twenty percent, or (iii) produce holographic or prism effects shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor for the first offense and of a Class 2 misdemeanor for any subsequent offense.

D. The Division of Purchases and Supply, pursuant to § 2.1-446, shall determine the proper standards for equipment or devices used to measure light transmittance through windows of motor vehicles. Law-enforcement officers shall use only such equipment or devices to measure light transmittance through windows that meet the standards established by the Division. Such measurements made by law-enforcement officers shall be given a tolerance of minus seven percentage points.

E. No film or darkening material may be applied on the windshield except to replace the sunshield in the uppermost area as installed by the manufacturer of the vehicle.

F. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the affixing to the rear window of a motor vehicle of a single sticker no larger than twenty square inches if such sticker is totally contained within the lower five inches of the glass of the rear window, nor shall subsection B of this section apply to a motor vehicle to which but one such sticker is so affixed.

G. Nothing in this section shall prohibit applying to the rear side windows or rear window of any multi-purpose passenger vehicle or pickup truck sun-shading or tinting films that reduce the total light transmittance of such window or windows below thirty-five percent.

H. As used in this article:

"Front side windows" means those windows located adjacent to and forward of the driver's seat;

"Holographic effect" means a picture or image that may remain constant or change as the viewing angle is changed;

"Multipurpose passenger vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is (i) designed to carry no more than ten persons and (ii) constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road use;

"Prism effect" means a visual, iridescent, or rainbow-like effect that separates light into various colored components that may change depending on viewing angle.

"Rear side windows" means those windows located to the rear of the driver's seat;

"Rear window" or "rear windows" means those windows which are located to the rear of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and which are approximately parallel to the windshield;

I. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, sun-shading material which was applied or installed prior to July 1, 1987, in a manner and on which windows not then in violation of Virginia law, shall continue to be lawful, provided that it can be shown by appropriate receipts that such material was installed prior to July 1, 1987.

J. Where a person is convicted within one year of a second or subsequent violation of this section involving the operation of the same vehicle having a tinted or smoked windshield, the court, in addition to any other penalty, may order the person so convicted to remove such tinted or smoked windshield from the vehicle.

K. The provisions of this section shall not apply to law-enforcement vehicles.

L. The provisions of subdivision C 1 of this section shall not apply to sight-seeing carriers as defined in § 46.2-2200 and limousine and executive sedan carriers as defined in § 46.2-2500.

 

WOW, 3%? You may as well have the tray pulled forward! that's cool though!

 

Hahaha true, but I like it like that. Still can see out though, more like as if you had on sunglasses.

Dixit

 

Not to get off the subject of my original post, but who makes that sweet looking muffler you installed the the dual 4" tips?

 

Powertech. Go to my website for more info on it. The link is in there also.

Dixit

 

Hey, in that 7 second video you made, is that smoke coming out of your exhaust, or just moisture?

 

I guess you should be ok then, cause to them a "window" refers to the side windows, and "windshield" is the front, of course. Although, they could also say that the sunroof is a window... who the heck knows?

But howmany cops will notice anyway?

Tell 'em "that's how I bought it! And if that doesn't work, then floor it!

G

 

God no I hope it aint smoke........

It is moisture from the start in the morning.

Dixit

 

Why would it be illegal to tint the sunroof? Alot of cars don't have sunroofs and they aren't used for any sort of visibility purposes. The only reason you can't tint side windows and windshields really dark is because the police have to be able to see into your car (to see what exactly you are doing in there.. hiding stuff? pulling out a gun?)

The sunroof on my old 98 Nissan Maxima was tinted first with really dark tint (cut into flames) then covered over that with a lighter tinting (I don't remember the numbers, as my husband is the one that does all the tinting). The back window had flames rolling down it (done with tinting). I have night blindness and don't like my rear window to be to dark. The front windshield had flames from the bottom up..(enough to block the sun from shining on the dash, but not enough to make it impossible to see out the window) It made the car look like it had flames rolling from the front to the rear.

My new Maxima will be tinted in a few weeks just as soon as I get off my butt and go buy the tinting.