you can get away with 70% tint on the front windows.

 

FWIW, I've got 20% on the rear 5 and 35% on the front two and I've never been fecked with (and I've been rocking that same tint since '97).

-Brian

 

best image san mateo ca!

 

Yes, horsecut54 didn't quote the entire section. The code for windows is rather long so here are the links.

California Vehicle Code Index - V -
VISION
Windows, 26708-26708.5 (26708, 26708.2, 26708.5)
Windshield, 26708

The gist of it is, provided that you have working side mirrors you can have any amount of tint on the rear windows. i.e. you can paint them black and it would be legal as long as you have both side mirrors. For the front driver and passenger windows and windshield there can be no tint. You can have a transparent colorless material may be applied as long as the material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent. Now that is a little hazy because technically tint is not colorless, it is black.

I have 20% tint on my front windows, I know it is illegal. I like it, it's nice, it makes the car look nice, and it makes things very comfortable inside the car. If I get pulled over for tint, I know I am looking at a $184 fine if I don't remove it. However if I do remove the tint (or have the ticket signed off by a police officer) the fine is waived and I have to pay a $25 processing fee. So far I have gotten 1 tint ticket and I was lucky enough to get it signed off and it only cost me $25.

 

I had to take the tint off my front windows cause of a ticket, however, after reading the law, (after I bought clear glass, I still have my tinted ones siting in my garage) none of my tint is legal.

Cops wont hassle you though, b/c imo they dont want to write tickets for all the tint b/c most people have some form of tint on their back window, and the law would be struck down if everyone was getting tickets.

I say buy 'tinted safety' glass, and when you get pulled over have documentation, and laugh right in the LEO's face.

 

I'm thinking of doing that. I really like a 70% or so all around. My back three are too dark IMO. I wish I could just trade them!

Well....I guess I am willing to trade my super dark tinted side ones for untinted or slightly tinted rears.
I figure I can just rip the rear window tint off if necessary.

 

[QUOTE=JourdanWithaU;2848941]Yes, horsecut54 didn't quote the entire section. The code for windows is rather long so here are the links.

California Vehicle Code Index - V -
VISION
Windows, 26708-26708.5 (26708, 26708.2, 26708.5)
Windshield, 26708

Why not just buy tinted glass, and not have to worry about any of this?

 

70% is much too light, like near OEM. 50% is great tint that nearly isn't. 35% usualy won't get you pulled over, even though it's definitely tinted. 20% gets you real dark tint, and will get noticed. 5% is limo tint.

 

I got 5% on my rear 3 windows...i'm pretty sure. :P

 

Which is part of the reason I went with 35% on the front two.

-Brian