lol well sorry then for that remark. its just this post is a 2003.

 

The tinted window ticket happens all too often. Every time it happened to me I just payed $20 to remove the tint and then re-tinted afterwards. Also there are NO MEDICAL EXCUSES, no excuses period for having tinted windows. It's the law and you can't have the front windows tinted even at 95% unless it is factory tint. California sucks, in a lot of other states its completely legal.

 

Sure, these laws are about officer safety....at least that is the initial premise used to pass the law. It is also about revenue, just like most laws that are passed these days. Go download the vehicle code and then tell me that 90% of the crap in there is about officer safety. Ask an officer. If he is honest, and not a complete douchebag, he will admit this is true.

Defensive driving is about leaving yourself a way out of any given situation. I know this, as I am a defensive driving instructor, and a driving trainer for various size govt. vehicles. For us everything is defensive driving, since we are at fault regardless of the accident circumstances.

There IS a legal tint in California, it is 70%.

There ARE medical exemptions for tint, but there are regulations stating that it must be removable for night driving. However, there are a lot of lazy cops who don't know the law well (amazing huh?), will accept your excuse, or just won't want to deal with it.

This goes along with the "pay to play" saying that I hate with a passion.....if you want to look cool, be prepared to be harassed by haters Of course 99.9999999999999999999999999999999 % of us tint users are legit, but just like gun laws it only takes a few *******s to screw everybody.

 

Let me reiterate there are no exceptions in California.


From CHP:Can I put after-market tinting on the windows of my vehicle?

The main requirements for legal window tinting in California are:

1. The windshield and front driver's side and passenger's side windows cannot receive any aftermarket tinting.
2. If the rear window of a vehicle is tinted, the vehicle must have outside rearview mirrors on both sides.

 

The CHP has the over-simplified version of what the law really says. The vehicle code is vague in places, and not all related codes are in the same section. Try looking the specs on a cracked windshield lol. I think it comes down to the fact that 70% (which the vehicle code says is allowable) does not block a noticeable amount of light. This is why most tint shops don't even carry it.

From the cops side, I think anything that is reflective at all indicates polarized tint.

26708.5. (a) 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.

(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.
Amended Sec. 2, Ch. 476, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.


26708.

(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. (I believe this pertains to a strip across the top of your windshield)

(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.

SOURCE:

CA Vehicle Code Section 26708

CA Vehicle Code Section 26708-5