That's a great lookin' truck, JBinSD!

35% is legal in Tennessee. I had my front windows tinted the day after I bought my truck. They look darker in this picture but without the glare from the sun they're not as dark as the factory tinted rear windows.

 

We tinted the front windows on our truck. The tint is a tad bit lighter than the rear. No problems with Johnny law at all.

 

I just thought I would let everybody know what I have on my SCrew. Granted I don't live in CA, but I have had no problems with mine and the cops don't even look twice when they ride by. I have 15% on my front 2 windows. I got a layer of 20% put on top of the factory tint on the back 2 windows. And I got a layer of 15% put on top of the factory tint on the very back window. It just makes the truck look better to me. It is a little hard to see out of at night sometimes, but my last truck was almost tinted as much so I am used to it by now.

 

bccomer,

In other words, the look of a truck is more important than the safety of others.

 

No I never said that. I have gotten used to the dark tint, and the only time I really have a problem is when I am backing up and I just roll down my windows when I do that. Any other time I don't have a problem. If I thought at all that it would put anybody else in danger I wouldn't have gotten it that dark.

 

Oh but you do put others at risk. This is why there are limits on amount of tint and also why Ford does not tint the front windows much. Other drivers cannot see you or get an indication of your intentions. This reduces the ability of other drivers to react defensively. Yeah I know, you're a good driver and you never screw up... sure. I think the laws allow way too much tint.

 

I understand your side of the argument, but people don't have a reason to look in my truck anyway. The main reason the laws are the way they are is to protect the police men so when they stop somebody they can see in the window and tell if they have a gun or some other weapon. I don't think the tint bothers anybodies driving, and unless you are just being stupid and doing something crazy I don't think a policeman anywhere will stop you just for the tint.

 

Oh, come on! Get over it!! If I had to rely on seeing the other driver thru his SIDE window in order to determine what actions I was going to take, it's already too late. And even if I do see him, what clues am I supposed to be looking for? The way they're turning their head? The direction they're looking? Checking for frothing at their mouth? Trying to determine if they're loading an Uzi? Again, if I had to base my actions on which way they're craning their head or they direction of their eyes, I'd have been dead long ago.

Half the morons on the road today are concerned only about what's going on no more than a car length or two in front of them -- nevermind what's going on behind or beside them. Being able to see a driver thru a SIDE window doesn't make me more defensive, nor does it signal their intent. How many times has some dork looked your way at your approach, then pulled RIGHT OUT anyway? The biggest reason excessively dark tint is illegal is for the safety of law enforcement officers. And speaking of that, if Officer Bob pulls you over for any reason -- and you have ANY tint on your windows -- you best roll down both front and back windows before he gets to your tailgate. And if it's dark outside, have that interior light on too.

 

Seems like some may have an axe to grind with law enforcment... I have no problem with the police and support their efforts to keep our roads safe. If no law addressed the tint issue, I would believe that folks would do something even more dangerous. So agree or disagree, many laws do have your best intrest in mind.

I drive a truck in NYC for a living and have used eye contact many times to get some clue as to a drivers intentions. Mind you not a fool proof method but, better than looking at a black window.

I think the trucks look great with the tint and for those willing to take a chance, fine. If I was involved in a accident with a vehicle with dark tinted glass, bet your bottom dollar that this would be a factor in any police report or legal procedings in my favor. Now with that said, I still like the look of the tint - not the risk tho.

Mick

 

Point well taken, Mick. My contention only is that having tinted windows does NOT make me some sort of heathen, unconcerned with the safety of others. If someone has difficulty driving defensively and MUST rely solely on if they can see the other guy's head or not certainly has other driving issues that should be addressed. Otherwise, I must assume these same folks don't drive at night because they can't see the other guy's head. What's the difference? I personally don't think the government should be in the Safety **** business. Helmets. Belts. etc. We do dangerous things. Driving is dangerous. If you havent got the sense that God gave a rock and don't put on a seat belt, you deserve the consequences. BTW, Mick, Dad was a State Trooper in the great state of Ohio. No axe to grind. Dropping your left-side tinted windows (and flicking on the interior light at night) is a courtesy and tremendous comfort to an approaching officer.

 

Safety laws are in place to not only protect the people directly affected but also to protect those who are innocent bystanders.

Seat belts. Not only do they protect the persons in the vehicle, but it also protects those outside. A driver held in the seat still has a chance at controlling the vehicle in an accident. Flying bodies in a vehicle can cause serious injury and fatalities. Persons not belted in either die or get seriously injured causing insurance rates to go up.

Seat belts saves lives. Seat belts and airbags saves even more lives. No seatbelts and airbags increases the possibility of a fatality. If you got airbags and don't properly use your lap and shoulder belt, you're being an idiot 'cause you obviously don't care about your own safety and what your death or serious injury would do to your loved ones and friends.

Tinting. Too dark and it's a danger, especially at night. If a car is heading your way and the light is hitting inside your vehicle with dark tinting, try looking out to the side. Chances are that you won't see anything but glare. At an intersection, you may not see a car running the light. You may not see the kid running towards you. This can also be an issue when the sun is low on the horizon. Compound this with the fact that your pupils will react to bright lights in your face. It seriously degrades your vision to the sides.

If you got a white garage door like I got, try backing up with the door down and your headlights on. I challenge you to see out the back through tinted windows. The glare off the white surface is enough to light up the inside of your truck more than the outside.

Tinting also makes it dangerous for law enforcement personnel. They can't see inside so will approach such a vehicle with heart pumping and adrendalin surging. Not exactly how I'd want a cop walking up to my car.

As a previous poster said, the laws the law. You break it, you deserve to get caught. You get into an accident and the tinting becomes an issue, you deserve to be held liable. If somebody here tints their windows because of something you said and they get into an accident, you can be held liable.

 

For those of you that tint your windows darker than what is legal, keep in mind that your insurance MAY NOT cover you if you get in a wreck and it can be determined that dark window tint hindered your visibility.

This is a big reason that any window tint shop worth its salt, would never install an illegal window tint. They can be liable as well.

I'm speaking for Arizona law, don't know about other states.

 

Hey all, I haven't been on much anyway. I totally disagree with people wishing tickets on other people because of tinted windows. I agree with mick on some issue's but don't agree with the eye contact thing. the law states that the person on the right has the right of way. I am tinting the windows on my white screw to be like 20 or 35 %. I live in NYC and had limo tint on every truck I have owned except the most recent. true that I have missed a block or two but I knew that when i tinted the window's. I really don't care if people can see me when i am next to them. they should be minding their business anyway. thats another reason to tint em. One reason I am tinting the windows on the screw is when my daughter is in her car seat the sun smacks her in the face. I can't have that!!!!!!!!!!!!

I say tint the windows and by the way, those of you that wish bad on people because you don't like their views get a life. there are worse things in this world to worry about!

 

JB,
What do you have on your front windows (%)? I like the way it looks.

For everyone else who is worried about the other guy breaking the law (oh my ) Are you saying it's safer to have tinted windows in New Mexico (20% permitted) than it is in Cali (70%)? How's that figure? I am, as I am sure a lot of you are, concerned for the safety of our police officers faced with limo tint on a car they pull over. But as a courtesy for them (plus safety for both of us) I roll down ALL my widows when stopped. They can see in a lot better, and they are more at ease. Believe me, they will appreciate it, and maybe even give you a break on your ticket. I've been pulled over 6 times in 14 years and only got a ticket the first time I was pulled over (85 in a 55).
I'm not telling you it will work every time, but it won't hurt either.

 

May you be ticketed daily for windows that are too dark. We have these laws for the common good, but there is always somebody that decides they have a right to **** in the punchbowl.

If you think the law is bad, then change it. Meanwhile, if you are running tint that is darker than the law allows, I hope you get whacked. Ditto for overly bright lights, misaligned fog lights, and exhaust systems that violate noise limits.