Window Tinting in California

[Paul Ferradas]

I'm thinking about getting my windows tinted but i know that California has a law that requires 70% of light to pass through the front side windows. If I tint my car i want to tint all my windows, not just the rears, it just doesn't look right to me.

Does anyone have a picture of what 70% tint looks like? I'd like it dark enough to make the car look nice.

Has anyone gotten pulled over for tints in CA? Is the heavily enforced?

[lfot]

You won't get pulled over for it, but they might tack it on if you get pulled over for speeding or some moving violation.

In LA, there are PLENTY of cars with full tint, almost Limo style.

[rnln]

tinting windows is not something heavily enforce. If you got pulled over for this, you are unlucky, but that doesn't mean you won't get pulled over. I got it, years ago, yes for only this reason. Cost small amount of $$ and a day of running around to take care of it.

[Paul Ferradas]

So if you get pulled over for it, does it mean just pay a fine or does it also mean you have to strip the tinting off the car before they clear you?

[SoCal70RSR]

I think it is considered a "fix-it" ticket... so you would be required to take it off, go by a police station and have someone sign-off that the tint was indeed removed. You could choose to install it again, I don't think they keep very good track of fix-it tickets.

[Paul Ferradas]

A fix it ticket is what I'd be afraid of because it could get costly to take it off and to reinstall it again. I have no clue what it would cost to tint the car. If it's as simple as paying a fine and leaving the tints on then i'm OK with that.

[therotman]

If you get a ticket you need to remove it and have it signed off.

I have dark tints on my wifes car and have not had any cop say anything even when they gave my wife a ticket for an illegal u-turn. I know other people who have been pulled over simply for having the dark tints and given a ticket. Just depends on the cop.

[chris57]

It depends on where you live. In the city of sacramento I have been pulled over a number of times by city police and university police (uc davis hospital is down the street) for tinted windows and no front license plates.

[ikarcuaso]

Originally posted by lfot
You won't get pulled over for it, but they might tack it on if you get pulled over for speeding or some moving violation.

In LA, there are PLENTY of cars with full tint, almost Limo style.

Don't know about SoCal, but in the Bay Area, I've heard plenty of stories of guys getting pulled over JUST for tints. Not saying it's gonna happen (many also go years w/o getting tagged), but all it takes is THAT one cop.

Weekend-only car, I would worry less. YMMV.

[jtkkz]

my friend owns a tint co. in fremont, they do great work

I have used 50% on my front windows with some of my cars with no problems whatsoever...

His 50% is s till very visible.. not dark at all...

[TerryH]

CHP can and will stop you for tint only. Much less chance from city police.

[ZOA NOM]

Just tint the rear three windows. It will make a HUGE difference in cabin temperature. I rarely drive the car with the windows up anyway, and I think it looks great.

[Evans, Marv]

I had all of the windows tinted for my car including the front windshield, but it was the lightest they had. I was mostly interested in keeping UV out. I'm hoping with the light tinting being the same for all windows, the fact that the windshield is tinted won't be noticed. The whole thing cost me $160, but that was with the windows out of the car. I carried them into the shop & picked them up.

[slodave]

No problems for me in the last 15 years. When I have been pulled over, I roll both the windows down as I pull over. Only once have I been questioned about the tint, but the let me off. Rear window is limo tint, side windows are light, but illegal. The windshield has a limo tint strip that I think is legal.

I think you will be more likely to be given a fix-it ticket, if you are 18.

Dave

[Wayne 962]

It's a fix-it ticket. If you get pulled over, be sure to roll down your windows on both sides before the officer walks up to the car...

-Wayne

[911pcars]

The view from inside is not the same. Tinted windows look darker when viewed from the side as you're then looking through two windows. I thought I'd add that since that is the gendarme's POV.

Sherwood

[rnln]

has anyone ever tint the rear plastic windshield on the cab?

[mthomas58]

I had mine done with FormulaOne Premier 35 film (metallic). Huge diff in heat rejection. This is the middle film - not lightest or darkest.

http://formulaone.com/

[ZOA NOM]

It should be mentioned that the metallic films may reduce the effectiveness of a radar detector.