So whats the real deal with this? Whats the CVC, I just got stopped by some Newark Officer. Seems like he had nothing better to do. Yes, I do have 6% visibility in the rear and rear quarters but I have 32% visibility on the side windows (car is a prelude). I do understand that this may be a safety issue during a traffic stop, with the decreased visibility, but how far would this go in court when brought in front of the judge. Is this issue, with having your side windows slightly tinted, something LEO's make an initial stop for? Or is this more of a "well son, you're in my town and I'm the Sheriff of this here parts" I'm just a tax paying struggling student trying to get by, and it makes complete sense to want to tint your windows to keep the interior of your car cooler in the warm season. I'm not trying to bash LEO's out there I have respect for you guys, served in an MP unit for 6 years(not as an MP, commo chief). but I don't understand the initial intent.
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Window Tint
- Thread starter VeeAreGee
- Start date
Outta Control
Renegade Drone Pilot
Hope this helps.
"California Tint Law Enacted: 1999
HOW DARK CAN WINDOW TINT BE IN CALIFORNIA?
Darkness of tint is measured by Visible Light Transmission percentage (VLT%). In California, this percentage refers to percentage of visible light allowed in through the combination of film and the window.
Windshield Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 4 inches of the windshield.
-Front Side Windows Must allow more than 70% of light in.
-Back Side Windows Any darkness can be used.
-Rear Window Any darkness can be used "
"California Tint Law Enacted: 1999
HOW DARK CAN WINDOW TINT BE IN CALIFORNIA?
Darkness of tint is measured by Visible Light Transmission percentage (VLT%). In California, this percentage refers to percentage of visible light allowed in through the combination of film and the window.
Windshield Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 4 inches of the windshield.
-Front Side Windows Must allow more than 70% of light in.
-Back Side Windows Any darkness can be used.
-Rear Window Any darkness can be used "
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so I gotta tic for tinted windows (side front) and I read the CVC and it said NOTHING on the front side windows without a note from your mom. err, doctor.
I guess that has changed to an actaul tinting level?
(I'm old, so it might have been a bit ago...)
And dont you have to have two side mirrors to tint the back window?
I guess that has changed to an actaul tinting level?
(I'm old, so it might have been a bit ago...)
And dont you have to have two side mirrors to tint the back window?
Here's the vehicle code section (it's a long one):
Material Obstructing or Reducing Driver's View
26708. (a) (1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.
(2) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle which obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows.
(3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle with the driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.
(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) Rearview mirrors.
(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors which are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the glass.
(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver, signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the rear window farthest removed from the driver, or signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver.
(4) Side windows which are to the rear of the driver.
(5) Direction, destination, or termini signs upon a passenger common carrier motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do not interfere with the driver's clear view of approaching traffic.
(6) Rear window wiper motor.
(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.
(8) The rear window or windows, when the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both the left- and right-hand sides of the vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.
(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite the driver on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and which occupies an area not exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest corner toward the rear of that window and which provides the driver with a wide-angle view through the lens.
(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section 26708.2 (see below for 26708.2) installed on the side windows on either side of the vehicle's front seat, if the driver or a passenger in the front seat has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a medical condition, or has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed optometrist certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a visual condition. The devices authorized by this paragraph shall not be used during darkness.
(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost portion of the interior of a windshield within an area that is not greater than 5 inches square, if the device provides either of the following:
(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle equipped with the device.
(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public or private roads or facilities.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the topmost portion of the windshield if the following conditions apply:
(1) The bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat when measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest with the driver's seat in its rearmost and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface.
(2) The material is not red or amber in color.
(3) There is no opaque lettering on the material and any other lettering does not affect primary colors or distort vision through the windshield.
(4) The material does not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the eyes of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles to any greater extent than the windshield without the material.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:
(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.
(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.
(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.
(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle, a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the installing company and the material's manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material's manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed according to manufacturer's instructions meets the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the material's manufacturer by full name and street address.
(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles, or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed or replaced.
Sun Screening Devices: Requirements
26708.2. Sun screening devices permitted by paragraph (10) of subdivision (b) of Section 26708 shall meet the following requirements:
(a) The devices shall be held in place by means allowing ready removal from the window area, such as a frame, a rigid material with temporary fasteners, or a flexible roller shade.
(b) Devices utilizing transparent material shall be green, gray, or a neutral smoke in color and shall have a luminous transmittance of not less than 35 percent.
(c) Devices utilizing nontransparent louvers or other alternating patterns of opaque and open sections shall have an essentially uniform pattern over the entire surface, except for framing and supports. At least 35 percent of the device area shall be open and no individual louver or opaque section shall have a projected vertical dimension exceeding 3/16 inch.
Clear as mud huh? Any questions?
Material Obstructing or Reducing Driver's View
26708. (a) (1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.
(2) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle which obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows.
(3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle with the driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.
(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) Rearview mirrors.
(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors which are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the glass.
(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver, signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the rear window farthest removed from the driver, or signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver.
(4) Side windows which are to the rear of the driver.
(5) Direction, destination, or termini signs upon a passenger common carrier motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do not interfere with the driver's clear view of approaching traffic.
(6) Rear window wiper motor.
(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.
(8) The rear window or windows, when the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both the left- and right-hand sides of the vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.
(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite the driver on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and which occupies an area not exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest corner toward the rear of that window and which provides the driver with a wide-angle view through the lens.
(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section 26708.2 (see below for 26708.2) installed on the side windows on either side of the vehicle's front seat, if the driver or a passenger in the front seat has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a medical condition, or has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed optometrist certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a visual condition. The devices authorized by this paragraph shall not be used during darkness.
(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost portion of the interior of a windshield within an area that is not greater than 5 inches square, if the device provides either of the following:
(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle equipped with the device.
(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public or private roads or facilities.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the topmost portion of the windshield if the following conditions apply:
(1) The bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat when measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest with the driver's seat in its rearmost and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface.
(2) The material is not red or amber in color.
(3) There is no opaque lettering on the material and any other lettering does not affect primary colors or distort vision through the windshield.
(4) The material does not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the eyes of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles to any greater extent than the windshield without the material.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:
(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.
(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.
(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.
(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle, a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the installing company and the material's manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material's manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed according to manufacturer's instructions meets the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the material's manufacturer by full name and street address.
(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles, or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed or replaced.
Sun Screening Devices: Requirements
26708.2. Sun screening devices permitted by paragraph (10) of subdivision (b) of Section 26708 shall meet the following requirements:
(a) The devices shall be held in place by means allowing ready removal from the window area, such as a frame, a rigid material with temporary fasteners, or a flexible roller shade.
(b) Devices utilizing transparent material shall be green, gray, or a neutral smoke in color and shall have a luminous transmittance of not less than 35 percent.
(c) Devices utilizing nontransparent louvers or other alternating patterns of opaque and open sections shall have an essentially uniform pattern over the entire surface, except for framing and supports. At least 35 percent of the device area shall be open and no individual louver or opaque section shall have a projected vertical dimension exceeding 3/16 inch.
Clear as mud huh? Any questions?
deaconblues
Roads Scholar
Man, it's a good thing I didn't bring my old pickup down here from Washington, you guys would have had a field day.
If you like having tint on your front windows, try the brand Formula One. I have the reflective film on my mustang but its not as dark as the conventional films. I have the darkest in the back and lightest in the front. Cops have pulled up next to me and nothing. No hassle from CHP. They can see thru the back and well in the front but tint for me is just a lil added protection from the thieves out there. Hope this helps.
Bruce
New member
My wife got a fix-it ticket for having tint on the front,so no more tint on the front.I agree about it keeping thieves eyes from
quickly spotting something you may have left in the car.
quickly spotting something you may have left in the car.
RickyHayden
Active member
Most officers have an "officers safety issue" with window tinting...
Others may just use it as a reason to pull you over and identify you.
Others may just use it as a reason to pull you over and identify you.
I have a "rider safety" issue with window tinting. I already can't see through vans and pickup trucks to the traffic ahead. Blacked-out rear windows just increase the problem.
I'm already invisible to most car drivers; why they gotta make sure of it?
I'm already invisible to most car drivers; why they gotta make sure of it?
bmwjoe
New member
I have documentation allowing me front side tint, however it has to be removable? Are they strict with this law?
silversvs
Lean, Twist, repeat.....
bmwjoe said:
Can be. That documentation allows you to place a temporary/removable sunshade on your side windows. It does not allow you to have it there at night.
I worked OT yesterday doing nothing but writing seatbelt/carseat citations. I saw tons of foks with tinted windows that did not allow me to see into the passenger compartment at all. This is a safety issue for fellow drivers/riders and police officers.
Jakemate
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So........ I can have a 10% tint on my front windows, as long as it's not the cool-guy reflective stuff, and have my back windows purt-near spray painted 'cause I have side mirrors? 
motorman4life
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NoTime2Ride said:So........ I can have a 10% tint on my front windows, as long as it's not the cool-guy reflective stuff, and have my back windows purt-near spray painted 'cause I have side mirrors?
When you say "front windows" are you talking about the forward/side windows or the windshield or both?
The VLT numbers above refer to NET tint. My Blazer came with a 24% glazed tint on the forward/side windows and 12% net tint to the windshield. Adding a 10% tint film to either would be unlawful in CA because my NET tint would be above what is allowed.
I hope this helps.
Jakemate
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motorman4life said:
Uh....... Side windows........ Can I assume that a pro shop will know wtf the law is and keep me within it? I don't think my sides have any tint.........
Damn, why does everything turn into a whole thing!
Iszlandsnow
Break yourself
Outta Control said:
Is this somewhere in the back pages or fine print of my VC book? UTL on this one.
motorman4life
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Huh??
That is just a summary of 26708 VC. And the only caviat is, the 30% net tint allowed is for a GLAZED window tint that meets federal regulations (abrasion, clarity, neutral color, etc.. as per Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 as found in 49 CFR 571.205). Most applied/adhesive and do-it-yourself tint films do not qualify. Technically, it needs to be a glazed tint to be that dark.Iszlandsnow said:Is this somewhere in the back pages or fine print of my VC book? UTL on this one.
And, the sides and back can be any level of neutral tint (or even opaque).. but only if there is a right side mirror mounted and visible to the driver.
Outta Control
Renegade Drone Pilot
FrigginChi
New member
my friend got a ticket riding through king city for an iridium windscreen on his gixxer, everything else was stock even the big ass mudflap...cop was talking about he could even impound the bike...mean ticket but i guess justifiable by the letter of the law...btw friend removed his helmet and took out the keys and was all yes sir and no sir...what do you LEO's think?
Diezel
كافر extraordinaire
NoTime2Ride said:
Uh....... Side windows........ Can I assume that a pro shop will know wtf the law is and keep me within it? I don't think my sides have any tint.........
Damn, why does everything turn into a whole thing!
motorman4life said:
I believe he is refering to a "Tint Shop" or Professional window tint installer, weould know the laws. Some do, MOST don't give a shit. Your paying either way.
In California you CANNOT sign away your rights? Even if they make you sign a consent form, they can be held liable to a point as well I believe ?
I'd like another LEO's opinion.
I've had officers tell me that, if my windows are tinted, and I roll them down when they are within visible range, and can see into my vehicle they are less likely to hassle me about it. Whats the truth to this? I've got a NICE car, I belong to a "legit and clean" car club. The car looks great with DARK tint. Plus it keeps people eyeballs off things that are in the car, AND a huge benefit YES it does help keep the car cooler, allow the A/C to cool it quicker inside. Also blocks UV rays from fading stuff and damaging plastics. I'd love to keep my tint, but not get hassled.