But I live in California and don't want to get a ticket. Has anyone else tinted there front windows in Southern Cali and have you had any problems with the cops?

I want to get it as dark as possible, the 20% smoke I read is as close to the back windows as you can get, but that would almost definatly get the cops attention.

Any thoughs?

 

Before you consider tinting the front windows, consider this ... Not only is it harder to see in from the outside, when it's dark outside, it is just a difficult to see out. The darker the window, the harder it is to see through.

My prior vehicles front windows were tinted at 20%, and I stopped counting the times I've missed making a left turn because I just couldn't see the street. Ended up rolling the window down every time I wanted to turn left.

The factory tint on my 2000 F150 Lariat is perfect.

 

California law is 70 percent. See

http://www.tintdude.com/laws.html

Personally, I hope you do get whacked by the cops, and often, if you put that really dark stuff on your windows. I hate it when I come up to an intersection and have n way of telling whether the person in the other car has looked my way or seen me.

 

I had my front windows done to match all the way around. I believe they were done with 30%, that's illegal here in texas, so the tint place left their decal off and told me that there was no warranty. It is definately harder to see out of at night but after a few weeks you get used to it. I would caution against it b/c it can be a danger, just depends on your level of caution and eye sight.
That's just my experience.

 

i dont know how the cops are in cali, but here in ontario, for the most part they are fairly lax about it. of course if u are doin somethin stupid, then they are goin to nail for the windows as well, but i know of VERY FEW cases where they were pulled over just for the windows. Plus, bein in cali, wont ur windows be rolled down most of the time ne-ways, no way they will be able to tell.

I am runnin, i believe 32 on my windows, and i dont like it at all. it looks nice but not what i wanted, i wanted to get close to the back windows. I plan on gettin mine redone this summer to 20 percent most likely.

Lastly, i dont want to start a royal battle here but i think dcovell wishin for you to get many tickets as friggin rediculous man. i think you should relax a little, 20% aint all that bad, and plus it makes the cars look nicer. We should hope that more of society would take as good care of their cars as the people on this site.

 

They are very lax here in Florida too. The only place I've seen cops check is on Daytona Beach, and if you cruise down the beach with your windows closed, you should get a ticket anyway. I have 18% on my front and I put another layer of 35% on the back windows, which is illegal here, but no one cares. It's almost a requirement here in Florida, and I did mine mostly to prolong my King Ranch leather's life. From what I've seen before, California is strict about everything. I don't think I would ever want to live there.

 

If I can't see you, then you aint being very neighborly on our roads, and I don't like that. I see no difference between having windows too dark, headlights too bright, or having burned out headlights at night. You are a safety menace. I hope the cops can get their ticket quotas on folks who don't care about others on the road.

PS: It was BEASTRIDER (me) who wished for the tickets.

 

BeastRider is correct in referring you to that website, and 70% is allowable per the California Vehicle Code (CVC).

Per CVC section 26708(a)(2) "...No person shall drive any motor vehicle with ANY object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle which obstructs or reduces the driver's CLEAR view through the windshield OR SIDE WINDOWS..."

Also:
Per CVC section 26708(d)..."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 followings conditions are met:
(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88%
(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #205, including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70%...."

So, you can only put clear, colorless and transparent material on your front windows, and only if it has a minimum lifht transmittance of 70%.

dcovell, if you install tint of any kind on your front windows you run the risk of being pulled over for it. That doesn't mean that you will receive a ticket, but you run the risk. The cops in San Diego are usually not going to pull you over for it. But, you never know..............JB

 

And as you can see from my Signature I have full tint all around. I know that I run the risk. I've shouldn't get a ticket. I've got a hook-up............JB

 

Wow got a lot of replies on this one and quickly! I may just do a light tint on the fronts, depends on the cost etc. I generally don't care what the person is doing in the car next to me so when there windows are tinted it dosen't bug me at all.

One more question? Has anyone done additional tint to there rear windows for more privacy? I don't think I would do this but it's worth asking...

 

I have had no problems with my tint (20%) in Ventura County. I believe cops won't mess with you unless you **** them off. I am always sitting next to cops at a stop light and not one has given me a second look. The worst that can happen is you get a $10 fix-it ticket and have to pull off your tint. Once a cop signs off on it, you go back and drop your $40-50 bucks to get it tinted again. Unless your a speedy driver, the chances of you getting pulled over for just the tint is slim (as long as it is not 5%)

just my $.02

 

I'm new.....

Anyway, I recently tinted mine a shade or two below limo tint. On hot sunny days the truck stays cooler. While driving near sundown it helps the glare. At night, I don't have to adjust the side mirrors so as to help with the glare from headlights behind me.

As for not being able to see me when you pull up next to me. Quit looking at me anyway.... I'm ugly you wouldn't want to catch glimpse.........and I'm not looking at you ........

 

So SDScrew, no tickets yet apparently, right? Also do you have pics so I can see how cool your screw looks with the tint?

 

I've had mine tinted since I bought the SCrew (16 months or so) and have had no problems. Mine are only 35% but it does make a difference. As for safety concerns, I actually think mine are easier to see through than my other un tinted car. The tint really cuts the glare. Just be careful to get a really high quality job done.

BTW I commute through LA and Orange counties daily and have seen many many more cars tinted (much darker than mine).

 

dcovell -

I'll get get a pic or two up tomorrow so you can see.

Just put in K&N air filter two days ago. And besides the bug deflector the truck is just as I bought it.


SDScrew

2001 F-150 Super Crew XLT
Deep WedgeWood Blue, 5.4, 4x4, Towing Package, Sliding Rear Window, Bed Extender, Factory Bed Liner, CD changer, Pwr driver seat.