Got Busted for Tint in Middle of Pennsylvania

[Jerryss]

So, leaving my daughter's college last night, at about 8:30 pm, I was pulled over by a local police officer, in a small town in Pennsylvania. I was confused as I knew (or thought i knew) I had done nothing wrong. He told me he pulled me over because my tint was too dark. It registered on his Tint-O-Meter at 28.3 %.

So, I have 5 days to remove it.

The only amusing part was when he brought back my license/registration, he gave it to me and said, "...wait...this is a Hyundai?". I had to explain what car it was. So that was teeny weeny bright spot. Much like the bright spot the interior of my car will be, once the tint is gone.

 

[Mark_888]

What tint film do you have (brand/model/VLT%) and what are the PA tint laws?

 

[NJTom]

http://tintlaws.com/

In PA - 70% all around except front windshield. Which is basically not having anything.

each state varies. sucks.

Jerryss - were you by PSU?

 

[Jerryss]

Hey NJTom

I was out in Shippensburg, PA. And you are right - 70%, which may as well be window glass. So, it's back to an open Greenhouse for me.

I had 30% tint, from Shades of Grey, in Feasterville PA. Great work, and really good pricing.
http://www.shadesofgraytint.com/selector.html

 

[Mark_888]

Hey NJTom

I was out in Shippensburg, PA. And you are right - 70%, which may as well be window glass. So, it's back to an open Greenhouse for me.

I had 30% tint, from Shades of Grey, in Feasterville PA. Great work, and really good pricing.
http://www.shadesofgraytint.com/selector.html

There are some 70 VLT films that do a good job of heat rejection. These are nano-ceramic tint films. However, if you want your windows tinted just for looks, then probably not worth the expense.

 

[NJTom]

My last car, a maxima, was it Tinted with 20% rear sides and back and 35% front sides by Sunsational in Bridgeport. Never got pulled over but a friend that was a local cop always commented that I was attracting attention.

 

[Mark_888]

My last car, a maxima, was it Tinted with 20% rear sides and back and 35% front sides by Sunsational in Bridgeport. Never got pulled over but a friend that was a local cop always commented that I was attracting attention.

Usually depends on whether the city is in a budget crunch.

 

[Jerryss]

Yeah - actually 3 nights prior, there was a shooting in the town, so I am not sure if that had Officers looking for any suspicious looking cars, and I guess in the dark, a black car with decent tint looked suspicious - I think he was probably bummed to not find hardened criminals, but rather see 2 boring parents on their way home from a basketball game, but he still gave me an order to remove tint either way.

So, as we speak, it is at the shop awaiting it's stripping tomorrow AM. Only $120 to remove all of it. A good deal, as I researched it, Average $$ was $50 per Window.

 

[scottdk]

Can I ask why remove the film? Maybe our laws in MN are different the in PA, but in MN there usually are 2 scenarios if getting a ticket: 1 is you just plain get a ticket for tint.

2 is you get a fix-it ticket. The fix-it ticket isn't a fine as long as you show your vehicle has been stripped of tint to the officer within a few days of the ticket. Then the ticket gets dropped.

Personally, I'd rather have the plain old fashioned ticket. I would rather pay the fine which is a non-moving violation and doesn't effect insurance and still be able to keep my tint. And for people who pay someone else to remove their tint - the tint ticket costs about the same as film removal.

 

[Mark_888]

Yeah - actually 3 nights prior, there was a shooting in the town, so I am not sure if that had Officers looking for any suspicious looking cars, and I guess in the dark, a black car with decent tint looked suspicious - I think he was probably bummed to not find hardened criminals, but rather see 2 boring parents on their way home from a basketball game, but he still gave me an order to remove tint either way.

So, as we speak, it is at the shop awaiting it's stripping tomorrow AM. Only $120 to remove all of it. A good deal, as I researched it, Average $$ was $50 per Window.

The VLT 70% tint laws in some states for front side windows is to allow the police to see inside a car when they approach it for any reason. Usually, this is weighed against the need for tint film due to geography. Northern states usually have stricter laws, since dark tints in those states are usually for privacy rather than heat rejection.

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[Dimitry]

Some states it's a secondary offense to have your windows tinted, meaning you can only get the ticket after you're originally pulled over for something else. Tinting your front windshield/visor makes it a primary reason in many states.

http://traffic.findlaw.com/traffic-tickets/window-tint-laws-state-specific-information.html
http://tintlaws.com/

 

[Jerryss]

Sorry guys - should have been more clear. Upon proof of the removal of tint, I was issued no ticket. So it cost me the 120$ to remove tint.

 

[Jerryss]

The officer (PA) also told me they are trying to make the Tint Issue be out of the police hands, and into the State's Inspection hands, thereby making it an Automobile Inspection offense. .....Also for some reason, Trucks and SUV's are Tint Exempt, but Sedans and Coupes are not. It makes no sense, and the police (in PA) have gone to the State, trying to change it.

if they have their way, and pass this to the PA Inspection, then if you have a Factory Tinted SUV, it won't pass inspection, and will need to be removed. .....If this passes.

 

[amartz]

That's exactly how it is in North Carolina. Your vehicle won't pass inspections for your registration renewal if the tint is too dark.

 

[Mark_888]

The officer (PA) also told me they are trying to make the Tint Issue be out of the police hands, and into the State's Inspection hands, thereby making it an Automobile Inspection offense. .....Also for some reason, Trucks and SUV's are Tint Exempt, but Sedans and Coupes are not. It makes no sense, and the police (in PA) have gone to the State, trying to change it.

if they have their way, and pass this to the PA Inspection, then if you have a Factory Tinted SUV, it won't pass inspection, and will need to be removed. .....If this passes.

Here is what I found out about existing PA Tint laws starting in 1999:

Tint darkness for sedans:

• Windshield: No tint is allowed on the windshield.
• Front Side windows: Must allow more than 70% of light in.
• Back Side windows: Must allow more than 70% of light in.
• Rear Window: Must allow more than 70% of light in.

Tint darkness for SUV and vans:

• Windshield: No tint is allowed on the windshield.
• Front Side windows: Must allow more than 70% of light in.
• Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used.
• Rear Window: Any darkness can be used.

For back side windows, this is the toughest I have ever seen. The problem for SUV's and many trucks is that the factory tint is much darker that 70%, so the window would have to be replaced if they didn't have different laws for sedan/coupe vs SUV/truck. Factory tints are inside the glass and not just applied to the inside as a film.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Not sure why you paid 120 bucks to have the tint removed. All it takes is a spray bottle with a little soapy water and a razor blade it get it started, then it peels right off.

As for the ticket, if you get one for tinted windows, or anything that is fixable, even if you pay the ticket, you still have to fix the problem. So not sure why one would think that if you paid the fine, everything would be OK. At least with a fix it ticket, there is no fine as long as you fix the problem in said amount of time. Otherwise its a fine AND you have to still fix the problem.

Every state is different in terms of what they allow for tint. And it all depends on the mood of the cop at the time as to if they will stop you or not. I've seen a ton of cars here in Cali that are not within the tint rules but are still driving around.

I've seen trucks with big tires and no mud flaps out driving around as well, but my wife got pulled over in her truck and got a fix it ticket for no mud flaps. The first set I put on and took the truck in, they said they were not long enough. So I got a second set and stapled them to the first set. It passed their inspection, I drove home and removed the stapled on set and returned them. I left the other set on and no issues since.

 

[Mark_888]

Every state is different in terms of what they allow for tint. And it all depends on the mood of the cop at the time as to if they will stop you or not. I've seen a ton of cars here in Cali that are not within the tint rules but are still driving around.

A police officer in most of CA typically has a lot more serious crimes to worry about than a tint violation, compared to a police officer in a small PA town who is trying to balance the city budget. So the difference in enforcement is understandable.

 

[scottdk]

Not sure why you paid 120 bucks to have the tint removed. All it takes is a spray bottle with a little soapy water and a razor blade it get it started, then it peels right off.

As for the ticket, if you get one for tinted windows, or anything that is fixable, even if you pay the ticket, you still have to fix the problem. So not sure why one would think that if you paid the fine, everything would be OK. At least with a fix it ticket, there is no fine as long as you fix the problem in said amount of time. Otherwise its a fine AND you have to still fix the problem.

There is more to the film removal process than you mentioned. Sure the film comes off once you get an edge and use some muscle, but each window will be covered in the films adhesive. Prepare to spend a hell of a lot more time than planned. For a person who has never done this before this could take an entire day. When I remove film I use a steamer to heat up the adhesive while I'm slowly peeling the film off, and most of the adhesive peels off with the film instead of staying on the glass.

As for a tint ticket (not a fix-it ticket) in MN - you pay your fine, which is all that is required, hence the citation. Window film removal is not required, but of course if the film is not removed, then a person would be risking another ticket.

 

[Jerryss]

hey Mark -

You are correct - 70%. It's a slight shade darker than your bouse plate window glass, and pretty much what cars come with naturally. All of your cars basically come from the factory with 70%. In PA, on a sedan, that's all that's legal. No tint.

It's up to the officers if they want to stop you.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

scott, every window film I've removed took no more than some soapy water to dissolve the adhesive. as your pulling the film, you spray the glass behind it, let it sit a little, then continue to pull. the adhesive is water based. Once the film is off, a little more water and a razor blade to remove the rest. I've never had much trouble removing the film.

Same with putting it on, a little soapy water on the window, place the film and position it, then slowly squeegee out the water and bubbles starting in the middle. It's not that hard of a process.