Window Tinting

joejohn · April 6, 2004

I have a 96 Chevy truck and it has factory window tinting. I bought it new. I just received a fix-it citation from a CA patrol officer.

The label on my windows (front drive & passenger)

Solar-Ray

Safety LOF Flow-Lite

278 Tint Solar Tempered

AN-N-T J U

37% Lt. DOT 15 M100

DPS Approved

Is this GM Factory Installed? or dealer after?

I purchased the vehicle in Oklahoma new.

Is this illegal in California?

Please respond to:

[email protected]

bigdogs · April 6, 2004

I know aftermarket tinting on front windows is illegal in CA. I got nailed by the same cop when I lived in LA 2 times (thankfully just warnings) but removed it before there was a third time. I thought factory was ok tho.

Imkunfused · April 6, 2004

Thats illegal. Legal in california is 83 or 87% light transmission.. meaning its d**n near clear.. just for the UV. It almost looks like someone paid to have tinted glass put in the door windows. I run 35% light transmission on my front windows, but i normally roll down the window when i see a cop close by, because when i find the wrong one.. he will pull me over and give me a fix-it-ticket

joejohn · April 6, 2004

I don't know, but I'm not very happy about this at all... especially when I bought it new from a dealer in this condition. Thanks for all the replies.

Wingnut · April 6, 2004

Hmm, the whole time I lived in San Diego (7 years), I never got any hassle over the tint on my truck. I had 20% at the time.

03Bowtie · April 7, 2004

do you now reside in CA? If you bought the truck in OK, there may be different laws regarding window tint there and therefore it wouldn't be illegal in that state. My question to everyone is: How does the law work say if you still have an OK tag and are driving in CA on vacation? Can they still give you a ticket for illegal tint? My truck has illegal tint for FL but I have never been pulled over for it. The tint companies will do it but you have to pay cash and you don't get a receipt, so they are covered. But if I drive my truck in CA on vacation can the cops there issue a citation to me?

gmcjoe · April 7, 2004

I don't know, but I'm not very happy about this at all... especially when I bought it new from a dealer in this condition. Thanks for all the replies.

Is there an aftermarket tint on the windows? Did you buy it used?

*Can someone move this from Product Reviews

bigdogs · April 7, 2004

03Bowtie, I think it depends on your (and their) attitude. Probably less likely to get a fix it ticket if out of state. Like I said I was let off with a warning 2 times (and he even remembered he stopped me the first time) but didn't want to push my luck so it came off that night.

As for joejohn's it said "DPS Approved" Dept of Public Safety so I bet it was legal in OK, just not necessarily in other states.

99GoldSilverado · April 7, 2004

When I got my last SUV tinted, the installer asked

"Do you ever have a few beers and then drive home? If you do, don't tint the front windows dark because you WILL get stopped. And, if it's cold outside and you roll down the windows so they won't see the tint, they will stop you on suspicion of DUI"

I took that advice and haven't had any problems.

gmcjoe · April 7, 2004

When I got my last SUV tinted, the installer asked
"Do you ever have a few beers and then drive home? If you do, don't tint the front windows dark because you WILL get stopped. And, if it's cold outside and you roll down the windows so they won't see the tint, they will stop you on suspicion of DUI"

I took that advice and haven't had any problems.

Lousy advice he gave you IMO

Drinking and window tint aren't even related. I've discussed tinting with officers I know for years...

I have tinted every vehicle I've driven since 1987 and have had no problems

o4yukonxl · April 8, 2004

My question to everyone is: How does the law work say if you still have an OK tag and are driving in CA on vacation? Can they still give you a ticket for illegal tint?

If your tint is legal in the state your vehicle is registered in, then they cannot give you a ticket. If you move the vehicle to CA. and register it there then you agree to abide by the vehicle laws of the state. I was in the military and had fun getting away with my car not having a front plate because it was not required in my home state.

Tucson_02Silverado · April 8, 2004

37% on factory front windows???? that don't sound right. The dealer must have put on aftermarket window glass on the front. 37-40% is about what factory back/side glass is on the "deep dark tinted windows option". The factory description of the option even says it is not the front driver/passenger and windshield glass.

The truck you bought could have been for a government order and never purchased after manufacture and since the darkness was legal, never replaced the glass.

01Burb · April 10, 2004

I occasionally use an obscure website called Google

Tint laws by State.

For an additional $10 per window at time of purchase, the big tinter around here offers to remove the tint for you if you get a fix-it violation.

I think I will still do the front side windows though.

dakhhine · November 14, 2004

My question to everyone is: How does the law work say if you still have an OK tag and are driving in CA on vacation? Can they still give you a ticket for illegal tint?

04yukon is right.

But they can still pull you over. . 26708.5CVC.

.

hogger999 · January 23, 2005

My question to everyone is: How does the law work say if you still have an OK tag and are driving in CA on vacation? Can they still give you a ticket for illegal tint?

04yukon is right.

But they can still pull you over. . 26708.5CVC.

.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As long your vehicle is registered in a state where it is legal your fine. It probably won't keep you from getting pulled over though. Just not fined.

What I think is strange is that I have had a total of 6 warnings for tint on my TA, but my wife who has tint on her Suburban has yet to be pulled over and she drives at least twice the miles I do.