Ack...ticket for window tint in CA
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: SF Bay Area
C240
Ack...ticket for window tint in CA
got pulled over for driving in a car pool lane solo (dumb move on my part but just wanted to pass someone and never saw anyone pulled over before) and also cited for an illegal tint on the front windows. I bought my C240 which had tinted windows in March - what should i do? the Cop said i would have to have the tint removed. Can i show that i bought the car recently (7 months ago) and that it was pre-tinted - to get out of the fine? who should i bring as evidence? the guy who sold it to me .. help me out here guys....
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You will need to remove the tint you have no options in Calif. Unless you have a personal friend in law enforcement you will not be able to have it written off. I suppose that was a CHP that gave you a ticket, they are the most rigid of all law enforcement in Calif. 
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From: Vancouver WA
'14 GLK250 Diesel
And I may be the only one here...
...who believes this, but the law about front window tinting in Calif makes sense to me, and I support law enforcement on this 100%. Get it removed.
I run about 5 miles a day in our suburban area, and need to do so defensively because so many drivers are completely clueless during commute hours, obsessing about the kids, the telephone, the coffee, the newspaper...anything but watching out for me. It is critical for me to see the driver and his/her eyes to know we have made contact and that they are not about to run over me in the crosswalk, driveway, parking lot, etc. Heavy tinting on the front door windows makes this nearly impossible. Law enforcement also wants to be able to SEE whom they are dealing with when they approach a car after a traffic stop. This is a good law, and needs to be enforced more often, not less.
I run about 5 miles a day in our suburban area, and need to do so defensively because so many drivers are completely clueless during commute hours, obsessing about the kids, the telephone, the coffee, the newspaper...anything but watching out for me. It is critical for me to see the driver and his/her eyes to know we have made contact and that they are not about to run over me in the crosswalk, driveway, parking lot, etc. Heavy tinting on the front door windows makes this nearly impossible. Law enforcement also wants to be able to SEE whom they are dealing with when they approach a car after a traffic stop. This is a good law, and needs to be enforced more often, not less.
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From: So. Cal
97 E420
removing tint is not an easy task, so good luck to you b/c like everyone else said, you'll have to do it unless you have some 'connections'
if you purchased your car with the tint from a dealership, they should pay for the labor to get the tint removed. and if you still want it, they should pay to have it re-tinted for you.
if you purchased your car with the tint from a dealership, they should pay for the labor to get the tint removed. and if you still want it, they should pay to have it re-tinted for you.
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
doesn't matter if you bought the car already tinted. A illegal tint is a illegal tint. Get it removed. The main reason chp pulled you over is because you made a dumb move to the car pool lane. the cop just slap you one since you happen to have the tinted windows. Usually you won't get pulled over for tinted window, unless you look really suspicious to them.
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From: Sitting behind thing freakin desk of mine. Dreaming I was playing my Taylors, and driving my Benz. Long Live The VRAA!!!!!!
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Yeah, get tint taken off, and retint it legally. Here is a tip, since my cars tint is only legal by 2% if I ever get stopped or go through a lisence check, I turn every light on inside the car. And if you have a coupe with the pana roof, make sure the blinds are not closed. This will help to make the tint seem alot lighter.
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'01 C240/6
Re: And I may be the only one here...
Originally posted by jrct9454
...who believes this, but the law about front window tinting in Calif makes sense to me, and I support law enforcement on this 100%. Get it removed.
I run about 5 miles a day in our suburban area, and need to do so defensively because so many drivers are completely clueless during commute hours, obsessing about the kids, the telephone, the coffee, the newspaper...anything but watching out for me. It is critical for me to see the driver and his/her eyes to know we have made contact and that they are not about to run over me in the crosswalk, driveway, parking lot, etc. Heavy tinting on the front door windows makes this nearly impossible. Law enforcement also wants to be able to SEE whom they are dealing with when they approach a car after a traffic stop. This is a good law, and needs to be enforced more often, not less.
...who believes this, but the law about front window tinting in Calif makes sense to me, and I support law enforcement on this 100%. Get it removed.
I run about 5 miles a day in our suburban area, and need to do so defensively because so many drivers are completely clueless during commute hours, obsessing about the kids, the telephone, the coffee, the newspaper...anything but watching out for me. It is critical for me to see the driver and his/her eyes to know we have made contact and that they are not about to run over me in the crosswalk, driveway, parking lot, etc. Heavy tinting on the front door windows makes this nearly impossible. Law enforcement also wants to be able to SEE whom they are dealing with when they approach a car after a traffic stop. This is a good law, and needs to be enforced more often, not less.
You are an anomoly here.
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From: SF Bay Area
2002 C230 K
Originally posted by TimmyC230boy
Yeah, get tint taken off, and retint it legally. Here is a tip, since my cars tint is only legal by 2% if I ever get stopped or go through a lisence check, I turn every light on inside the car. And if you have a coupe with the pana roof, make sure the blinds are not closed. This will help to make the tint seem alot lighter.
Yeah, get tint taken off, and retint it legally. Here is a tip, since my cars tint is only legal by 2% if I ever get stopped or go through a lisence check, I turn every light on inside the car. And if you have a coupe with the pana roof, make sure the blinds are not closed. This will help to make the tint seem alot lighter.
Frank's right though, usually you won't get pulled over for just this - unless it's ridiculously dark. Usually cops let little things (tint, no front plate, etc.) like this slide so that they can pull a car over later if the occupants in the car might be involved in some other suspicious activities.
- BT
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From: Orange County, CA
2002 C230K Sportcoupe
I have also found that even if you get pulled over, if the front windows are tinted a lot less than the rear windows, the police will usually not bug you about it.
But it's very specifically illegal in CA. Most tint shops can remove the tint for you for a few bucks (the local shops here charge $20-30 for it).
Driving in the carpool lane solo is a bonehead move; that's one of the most expensive fines on the road ($273 minimum), and CHP _lives_ for the chance to nail people for it.
But it's very specifically illegal in CA. Most tint shops can remove the tint for you for a few bucks (the local shops here charge $20-30 for it).
Driving in the carpool lane solo is a bonehead move; that's one of the most expensive fines on the road ($273 minimum), and CHP _lives_ for the chance to nail people for it.
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From: South Orange Co., CA
'03 W211 aka E-500
gotta agree with the others...
1. Solo in carpool lane= big mistake.
2. Tint in California...NONE on front two windows. Can only tint rear window if you have BOTH side view mirrors. You can paint the rear door windows black if you want to regardless of mirrors.
3. CHP will NOT ALLOW any other agency police officer to sign off on a CHP issued ticket. Trust me on this one (I can no longer sign off my friend's CHP cites).
4. CHP lives for the vehicle code. All those infractions and misdemeanors leave very little time for the four (count em.4) felonies in the CVC. Repeat Drunk driver, Felony hit n run, Stolen vehicle, and registration theft (license plate tabs/forged registration). Three of their 4 felonies are WEAK, so yeah....they live for the tint and front plates and stuff.
God knows when they find dope or guns, they usually call the Sheriff's to come handle it for em.
EDJ
<tip o' the hat and big hearty smile for my friends in the CHP---both of em>
2. Tint in California...NONE on front two windows. Can only tint rear window if you have BOTH side view mirrors. You can paint the rear door windows black if you want to regardless of mirrors.
3. CHP will NOT ALLOW any other agency police officer to sign off on a CHP issued ticket. Trust me on this one (I can no longer sign off my friend's CHP cites).
4. CHP lives for the vehicle code. All those infractions and misdemeanors leave very little time for the four (count em.4) felonies in the CVC. Repeat Drunk driver, Felony hit n run, Stolen vehicle, and registration theft (license plate tabs/forged registration). Three of their 4 felonies are WEAK, so yeah....they live for the tint and front plates and stuff.
God knows when they find dope or guns, they usually call the Sheriff's to come handle it for em.
EDJ
<tip o' the hat and big hearty smile for my friends in the CHP---both of em>
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From: Orlando, Florida
2003 C230K
I say dont worry about it. Last time i got pulled over for tints in florida was, a long time ago. And i had limo tint on. Never took it off my old car, and i never got pulled over.
I just say leave it, If you get pulled over say the installer said it was legal, and they should let you off the hook.
I just say leave it, If you get pulled over say the installer said it was legal, and they should let you off the hook.
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Joined: May 2002
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From: SF South Bay
2002 C230 Coupe
I'm curious: why didn't you roll down the windows after you got pulled over? You still have to roll down the windows so that the cop can talk to you anyway. So why not roll it down before he walks over? This way the cop won't even know that you have the tint!
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From: Chicago
Volvo V90 CC
Mercedes101, sorry to hear that ticket, it looks like you are gonna have to remove the tint no matter what, and they might dismiss the fine if you prove that it had it b4 you bought it.
My wife loves tint, she actually goes limo tint all around (is that like 20%?), here in texas it is legal to tint but not that much, she's been lucky and never gotten a ticket.
My wife loves tint, she actually goes limo tint all around (is that like 20%?), here in texas it is legal to tint but not that much, she's been lucky and never gotten a ticket.
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From: Las Vegas
2001 SL500, designo blue and 2004 C320S
Originally Posted by pocholin
Mercedes101, sorry to hear that ticket, it looks like you are gonna have to remove the tint no matter what, and they might dismiss the fine if you prove that it had it b4 you bought it.
My wife loves tint, she actually goes limo tint all around (is that like 20%?), here in texas it is legal to tint but not that much, she's been lucky and never gotten a ticket.
My wife loves tint, she actually goes limo tint all around (is that like 20%?), here in texas it is legal to tint but not that much, she's been lucky and never gotten a ticket.
Went for Titanium metallic and didn't screw around with changing out the door "wipers." Instead (to protect ourselves against grand kids who tend to screw up tint with toys) paid $25 for a lifetime, no questions asked, nationwide, replacement guarantee.
Chuck
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From: Delaware, United States. (First ~little~ state)
Mercedes-Benz
Fight the ticket! The car comes with it, common sense should tell the idiots running your state that. Just take in proof that mercedes-benz cars are already that way when you buy them off the lot. Proof as in a signed statement from the dealer, dealer sticker showing the tint and how much, or even the owner of the lot you bought the car from. Go way up, Cops love giving you more tickets then you should get. How much is the ticket for any way? If you have a good job, and make money, then I would just pay it and go on your way and have less stress. If you are someone like me, goes to walmart and buy exactly to the penny in your pocket, then I would fight it.
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From: Anaheim California
2001 C320ss, 2005 Ford F150 Supercrew, GSXR,
Originally Posted by rockintunes23
Fight the ticket! The car comes with it, common sense should tell the idiots running your state that. Just take in proof that mercedes-benz cars are already that way when you buy them off the lot. Proof as in a signed statement from the dealer, dealer sticker showing the tint and how much, or even the owner of the lot you bought the car from. Go way up, Cops love giving you more tickets then you should get. How much is the ticket for any way? If you have a good job, and make money, then I would just pay it and go on your way and have less stress. If you are someone like me, goes to walmart and buy exactly to the penny in your pocket, then I would fight it.
It must hurt your head saying so many stupid things
It hurts mine just reading your post 
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Mr. Rockintunes23
I know who you are.......... You have proved that a person can change their name but not who they are on the inside........
I know who you are.......... You have proved that a person can change their name but not who they are on the inside........
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From: Delaware, United States. (First ~little~ state)
Mercedes-Benz
Originally Posted by Anaheim_Drew
Mr. Rockintunes23
I know who you are.......... You have proved that a person can change their name but not who they are on the inside........
I know who you are.......... You have proved that a person can change their name but not who they are on the inside........
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From: San Diego, CA & San Jose, Costa Rica & Stuttgart, Germany
1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
Originally Posted by rockintunes23
Fight the ticket!
this entire issue is DEAD ! Who cares ?
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From: San Diego, CA & San Jose, Costa Rica & Stuttgart, Germany
1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
Originally Posted by rockintunes23
Tell c4791p that! That person is the one who brought this topic back up. LOL
C4791p,
considering, he got the ticket in November 2002
this entire issue is DEAD ! Who cares ?
how's that rockintunes23 (aka *?*?*?*) ?
