After years of no front plate and dark tint I finally got a ticket for them both. Called and said it would be $136. Used a meter on the window which read 14, I guess percent? I thought I had 20% but either way it's illegal.

Motorcycle Cop was pretty much a hard a.s.s, didn't care I had the plate with me, and was also going to write me up for not using my turn signal; I was in a turn lane which I initially signaled but turned it off as it was obvious I was going to turn! Then tells me I can be stopped every day I continue to have illegal tint and no front plate. He made it sound like he would be back tomorrow to write me up again.

 

Sucks. Yeah, 14% sounds about right on the meter. I had 20 on mine, and it read 13%. Remember, the OEM glass has some tint applied to it already. Not much, but enough to do that.

I peeled my tint because I had to renew Safety here in Hawaii. It's completely retarded, because my Z isn't even registered here... Anyway it's over $250 per window if you get pulled for tint here...

Front plate isn't an issue for me, since the Z is registered in NC.

 

Sorry to hear that bro. The thing I don't get is why tint companies make the percentages they do. Why not make the tint so that when you put it on it's the legal %... I don't understand...it just makes sense.

 

That sucks *** man, damn Va Beach cops are *** holes anyways. You should have told him to protect and serve these nutz.

 

They do. You can get films ranging from complete black out to 50+%

 

You know what I mean though Robbie? Like if you know that your stock windows are tinted 1 - 2% and you want to stay legal with 35% in VA. You would need a 36 - 37% tint. Do tinting companies make those odd ball percentages? I thought they were in 5% increments?

 

Gotcha...sorry I miss understood what you were saying. Yeah you're right only 5% increments.

It would be EXTREMELY difficult though to make "exact" as different cars have different factory "tints" to their glass. Take Mercedes for example. The manufacturer of their glass puts a "bluish" tint in the glass (enough to where it's quite visible to the avg person) where as a GM vehicle actually is more green and quite a bit less. Typically Amercian made vehicles will have slightly less factory tint to them (around 87% last I checked) where a typical European car will have closer to 76% and Japanese right in between but closer to the 76% that European cars have.

I haven't been tinting for a little bit but this is very hard to deal with when you're trying to match front windows to factory tempered glass on SUV's, trucks, etc. like MANY want.

If I was in MD and looking for 35% I would apply a 40% to Amercan vehicles and 45% to Euro's and Imports (might test a 40% on an import b/c I think it'll be REAL close).

In VA where 50% on the front 2 is the limit...I've honestly never heard of anyone who wanted it tried and Im not sure that there are films that are light enough.

 

^ Hmm that shouldn't be hard to solve at all. If I'm a professional tinting shop, I'd be damn sure to keep a database of the factory tint info. And take Dorrian's example where your stock windows are tinted 1 - 2% and you want to stay legal with 35% in VA. You would need a 36 - 37% tint. But you could simply slap a 40% on. would you really notice that 1, 2 or 3% difference? If I'm really trying to make my car comply fully to the law, I don't think that <5% of fewer light would matter too much.

 

The more experienced shops should be WELL versed in this honestly and Im pretty sure most are. Most have a glass meter in the shop to test for those who have lost their receipt or can't remember what they had before and need one window retinted b/c it got broken or whatnot and use it to get "legal limits" as close as possible.

 

Most state tint laws will allow leniency up to a certain percentage. For example, here in Hawaii, legal is 35%. They allow no more than 5% difference, so 30% would still be passing, but 29% would get you a pretty nasty ticket.

 

Come on.............People shouldn't complain about tint tickets and no front plate tickets. People know the law and choose to ignore it. Just pay the tickets, make your car legal and don't worry about it in the future.

 

http://www.stillen.com/product.asp?id=STILICBKT01&c=EX

^Solves one of your problems....

 

Not complaining, thought I would post up that the state is looking for more revenue and to watch out!

The front plate I will fix, no biggie. The tint I am going to leave on as I just got it done about a month ago. Reason I got the 20% is the next step was 35% and it was way too light, legal is 50% which is ridicules! Can I claim this as taxes paid, lol

 

I understand. I took my chances with no front plate for about 15 years. I never got a ticket but I do know the police are getting real strict about front plates around here. Therefore, I bought a Zee bracket and put on the front plate. I also have 35% tint which is the legal tint in Missouri. I just don't care to get hassled for either problem.

 

In a crowd of grocery getters, we stick out like sore thumbs. I'm meeting a lawyer on Friday after getting cited for reckless driving. And I was told I was specifically being watched from 20 cars back...

 

been nailed for front tag before but i always ride with my windows down.

60 bucks i never put that thing on.

 

Got tagged again for tint! This time he stop me for speeding (80 in a 65) which was 100% my fault but the tint, damn it!

I think I am going to replace the side windows with legal tint. They don't have a meter to check the rear so maybe it'll get less attention. As much as I like the dark, this is getting ridiculous!

 

i have the 50 on the front and 35 rear, i dont like how it looks but i dont get bothered for it, but i was stopped yesterday too for my inspection and was told my license was suspended because if some DMV screwup. i got pulled down on 45th street at the beach. beach cops are the worst