BlackBaby

I am about to replace the window tinting, but concerning if they are illegal. I heard from somewhere that the California state law changed that front window can be tinted.. but don't know how dark it can be.

ANY CALIFORNIAN DRIVER who knows about this stuff? I want my window to be darker than right now.... also I want all my windows to be tinted in same darkness.

Which one do you guys recommend? (30%? 20%?)
I want 5%, but I am sure that's illegal.

Any good name brand for the window tinting? Is SOLAR GARD good?

xyzpl

as far as i know, it is still illegal to tint the front windows, but cops in southern cali are more easy going than northern cops....

Mind you that you still can get pulled over and get a ticket for 1, but they won't pull you over just for tint, it will be for something else and add the tint to it...

LowRydeR

I got pulled over just for tinted window earlier this year, had to take the tint off on front two windows, fine was $10. Thinking of getting darker tint in the feature.

-Bruce

CLK 69

FROM THE CALIFORNIA LAW

26708.5. (a) CVC - No person shall place, install, affix, or apply any transparent material upon the windshield, or side or rear windows, of any motor vehicle if the material alters the color or reduces the light transmittance of the windshield or side or rear windows, except as provided in subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 26708. (Skip to the most important text below in Red)
(b) Tinted safety glass may be installed in a vehicle if (1) the
glass complies with motor vehicle safety standards of the United
States Department of Transportation for safety glazing materials, and
(2) the glass is installed in a location permitted by those
standards for the particular type of glass used.

26708. (a) (1) CVC - 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 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.


CALIFORNIA TINT LAW ABREVIATED VERSION

ONLINE TINT DEMO

AUTOWINDOWTINTINGS.COM

Hope it helps

ElDiabloJoe

Just to let you know....from a cop's point of view.

1.) you'll probably only get a ticket if the copper is a CHP or a traffic officer (ie.motorcycle cop).
2.) any other cop will probably only give you a ticket if you are an ***, show *any* type of attitude whatsoever, or even appear as though you might beef them or the ticket (then the cite gets written as proof of the violation to protect ourselves from the inevitable and often complaint that the driver was only pulled over because they're _________(fill in racial or age info of your choice). Never mind that often from 2 blocks back we cannot stare at the back of your head through the glare of your rear windshield and know what color/race/ethnicity/age/gener/etc. you are.
3.) you'll probably also get the cite if it is that particular cop's pet peeve. Some have different ones because there are far too many laws on the books to equally enforce them all. Personally, I have this thing about people parking in handicapped stalls, even "just for a second." My old partner hated people that "caboose" through an intersection....going through it when red because of the traffic flow. Another hated people who drove with highbeams on. A fourth hated people without front plates. I don't give a rat's a$$ about the other isssues, but would spend my own chow time to cite the handicapped parker. The others would do the same for their pet peeves.

PS---There IS a justified officer safety issue re: not being able to see into cars that you pull over. You might KNOW that you're not a danger, but we sure as h3ll don't!

My .02
FWIW,

EDJ

mmgrad

pretty much, its illegal to have tint on anything ahead of the front seats. although, you can add a strip across the top front of your windshield, but I forgot what is the maximum size for that.

If you really want to get your front windows tinted in the front, you have 1 of 2 choices:

1: have the glass up front dyed. one of the issues is that if there is a tinted film on the window, it defeats the purpose of 'shatter glass'. In an accident, your windows will shatter, a tinted film would mean you have a wall of shattered glass staying there, potentially ready to fall on the occupant or driver, which is very dangerous. Other issues like night visibility and peace officer safety are other issues. So, a dye would be legal. Just don't make it rediculously dark and say that it is factory dye tint.

2: Have an optomitrist designate you as being sensitive to bright lights. Therefore, if you get pulled over, show the cop the proof that you have sesitivity to bright lights, they will not cite you for it.

CLk BoOst

I have my front windows tinted dark but when i see a cop i roll down my windows but just in case i get pulled over, i have a really good family friend who is a Dermatologist and he wrote me a "bs" note saying that i have skin problems when i have direct sunlight on my arms, i take that to court after i get a ticket and the judge will let me go and i dont have to take off the tint

LowRydeR

That's a good idea mang ! I'm ganna try to get that too.

-Bruce