Window Tint Laws: The Most and Least Restrictive States

If you believe one window tint is just like another, guess again. With respect to the state, the laws may vary widely which panes can be darkened, and by how much. Here is a quick sampling of the laws in different state jurisdictions to demonstrate just how uniquely the topic is treated over the country. It may make an impact on that cross-country road trip!

California

Well-known for strict safety regulations, especially as it relates to motor vehicles, the Golden State has one of the most onerous window tint laws in the country. As with most states, the back side windows and the trunk window aren't susceptible to any restrictions on darkness, but they can't become more reflective than the usual standard screen, meaning a mirror finish will get you a solution in a hurry window tinting law. California only allows non-reflective darkening on top four inches of the front windshield and the front side windows, and the cover must allow at the least 70% of the light through. If you obtain pulled over for a violation, the initial offense is a fairly minor affair. The authorities will cite you with a "repair it" ticket, requiring you to create the glass into compliance in just a specified period and pay a nominal $25 fine. In the event that you fail to comply with this initial citation, however, the next stop could cost as much as $200.

Michigan

Up in the Great Lakes state, the northern sun can hit you right involving the eyes in the summer. But you should have to purchase a couple of polarized sunglasses if you intend to completely block it out. Like virtually every state, Michigan doesn't place any restrictions on the amount of shading a driver might have on the trunk and back side panels, but inaddition it doesn't apply its standard as a share of sunlight that can be let through. On the front windshield along with the front side panes, a driver can just have a reel of coverage for the utmost effective four inches. This makes regulations easier to enforce since officers don't have to create a guess of just how much light will be let through. Earlier this year, an interstate drug smuggler was busted after he took a trip from Wisconsin, in which a 50% standard is used, and he was promptly pulled over. Michigan does make an exception for those who have medical needs who're more sensitive than normal to light.

New Mexico

The land of enchantment can also be the land of searing desert heat. In the summers, the days can climb well into the triple digits for weeks on end. In that heat, cars sitting out in the sun can become ovens. It's understandable, then, that New Mexico has the least restrictive window tint regulations in the country. On all sides but the front, a driver's panes need only let in 20% sunlight, essentially limousine level.