getting my 03 L tinted tomorrow, nothing crazy, hopefully right at or just under what state law allows (ticket & scraping + retint is a b!tich, been there done that). Anyway, apparently VA law allows tinting down to the AS1 line on the windsheild (not 100% sure about that or how much). i was looking from the inside and i couldn't see an AS-1 mark on my windshield (forgot to look). Maybe it is on the outside? I've seen it on other vehicles on the inside. Anyway, I'd love to see some pics of folks with their windsheild tinted down to the AS1 line, especially a black truck. Post em if you got em please thx!

 

Mine is written on the far left, about 6" down from the top.

It's the exact same area that the stock tinted part goes down to, if that helps any.

 

i taking mine down to the wipers this weekend

 

i'll check that, thx. forgot to mention that my 03 windsheild is not tinted at the top, i guess that's an 03-04 thing?

 

Why not just go all the way if you are going that far>??? -Mat-

 

that is what i meant

 

Hey Sammy, VA state law does not allow ANY tint on the front windshield that is not made INTO the glass by the manufacturer of the glass.

I have an '03 as well. For some reason (probably saved a penny or two) Ford made ALL '03 truck windshields (from ranger to F-350) WITHOUT any tint.

Here's the kicker, if you REPLACE your windshield you can get the factory tinted glass.

I got a tint strip at first, but it was a little ghetto for my taste, and very noticeable to the cops if they want to hassle you. luckily, (sortof) it was only a few months before a got a bad rock chip and had to replace the windshield and got the factory tinted one. This was back in EARLY '03. I actually had to replace the windshield AGAIN about a month ago, and got another tinted one this time too. it only cost like $250 or so to replace the windshield. probably not much more than getting the tint strip then paying a ticket for it?

good luck.

later,
chris

 

FYI

The only time I have ever been hasseled about tint in 25+ years of driving is while passing through VA on the way to FFW a year or 2 ago ...

The tint was legal but they pulled me over for it anyway. Officer had a tint meter in his cargo pocket. I was speeding and they didnt even mention that.

Not sure what they would have done about a Texas plated car passing thru...

Doug

Edit - this was side window tint not windshield - He made me slide the window down so he could put his meter over the edge of the glass...

 

In VA it will pass inspection, to tha AS-1 line, but is not legal. Kinda funny huh?

 

VA is the worst. If your on I-95 passing through, watch out for Emporia. I hear its the speed trap capital of the east coast.

........oh, and my friend got a ticket for they tint on the top of his windshield.

 

Yeah, i believe it. VA is retarded. There are a few things that will pass inspection that are not legal by State Law.

And Ive paid my share of winshield tint fines too... and failure to display front plate...etcetcetc

 

thanks superfords, i guess i'll just have to live with it for now. not really worth $250 to me. if they made a tint that blended from very dark to totally clear in the last inch or two like a stock windsheild I'd go for it. maybe they do, but I'm pretty limited as far as tinting shops go around here. been thinking about ordering one of those "do it yourself" pre-cut tint kits, just for the heck of it. one with some high quality tint. i figure side windows can't be that hard to do. anybody tried this?

 

Where do you live in Chesterfield? I live over in Bon Air off of Buford Road.

 

yeah, VA laws suck. i've had my share of dumb tickets. it depends on where you are though. around here they don't really care much about the little stuff like plates and tint b/c there are so many out of state cars due to Virginia Tech and Radford college students. i haven't displayed a town/county sticker in years. the local deputies were shooting radar down the track last weekend from a staging lane (for fun!). even let my wife shoot radar for a while. most the cops are pretty cool. but watch the heck out for the state troopers for speed traps. especially on I-81 from around Roanoke (150 exits) down to Exit 80 something. they bust people constantly.

 

I tinted from top to bottom, 35%..... side windows are 5% and the back window is 5% over the factory 20%.. with the side windows down, its kinda hard to even tell the windshield is tinted, with all windows up its black as night... cops are ****** around here and ive only got nailed twice with 2 verbal warnings...