Legality - Window Tint, Taillight Tint, Headlight Tint
Senior Member
Joined: 07-19-2008
Posts: 183
From: Somewhere
Nebraska:
Can not use red, amber or yellow colored tint
Windshield Non-reflective tint is allowed along the top of the windshield above the manufacturer's AS-1 line.
Front Side Windows Must allow more than 35% of light in. No more than 35% Reflective
Back Side Windows Must allow more than 20% of light in. No more than 35% Reflective
Rear Window Must allow more than 20% of light in. No more than 35% Reflective
Can not use red, amber or yellow colored tint
Windshield Non-reflective tint is allowed along the top of the windshield above the manufacturer's AS-1 line.
Front Side Windows Must allow more than 35% of light in. No more than 35% Reflective
Back Side Windows Must allow more than 20% of light in. No more than 35% Reflective
Rear Window Must allow more than 20% of light in. No more than 35% Reflective
Senior Member
Joined: 12-14-2007
Posts: 2,964
From: Toronto ON Canada
Ontario law states:
Colour coating obscuring interior
(3) No person shall drive on a highway a motor vehicle on which the surface of the windshield or of any window to the direct left or right of the driver's seat has been coated with any coloured spray or other coloured or reflective material that substantially obscures the interior of the motor vehicle when viewed from outside the motor vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 73 (3).
Windows to afford clear view
74. (1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon a highway,
(a) unless the windshield and the windows on either side of the compartment containing the steering wheel are in such a condition as to afford the driver a clear view to the front and side of the motor vehicle; and
(b) unless the rear window is in such a condition as to afford the driver a clear view to the rear of the motor vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 74 (1).
Application of cl. (1) (b)
(2) Clause (1) (b) does not apply to a motor vehicle that is equipped with a mirror or mirrors securely attached to the motor vehicle and placed in such a position and maintained in such a condition as to afford the driver, otherwise than through the rear window, a clearly-reflected view of the roadway in the rear or of any vehicle approaching from the rear. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 74 (2).
Colour coating obscuring interior
(3) No person shall drive on a highway a motor vehicle on which the surface of the windshield or of any window to the direct left or right of the driver's seat has been coated with any coloured spray or other coloured or reflective material that substantially obscures the interior of the motor vehicle when viewed from outside the motor vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 73 (3).
Windows to afford clear view
74. (1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon a highway,
(a) unless the windshield and the windows on either side of the compartment containing the steering wheel are in such a condition as to afford the driver a clear view to the front and side of the motor vehicle; and
(b) unless the rear window is in such a condition as to afford the driver a clear view to the rear of the motor vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 74 (1).
Application of cl. (1) (b)
(2) Clause (1) (b) does not apply to a motor vehicle that is equipped with a mirror or mirrors securely attached to the motor vehicle and placed in such a position and maintained in such a condition as to afford the driver, otherwise than through the rear window, a clearly-reflected view of the roadway in the rear or of any vehicle approaching from the rear. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 74 (2).
And, while still at the officers discretion, the limit that most accept is 35% on the front doors.
Senior Member
Joined: 04-12-2008
Posts: 527
From: Cedarburg, WI
Great topic! Very timely for me as I just bought some 20% tint for my front door windows this week. I agree with 09_SS that here in WI they don't seem to enforce it... Unless you give them a good reason to pull you over of course. If your ride looks like a gang-bangers car 
and you are cruisin' the hood with the tunes rattling the neighborhood windows they may just want to check you out though! 
and you are cruisin' the hood with the tunes rattling the neighborhood windows they may just want to check you out though!
Senior Member
Joined: 04-19-2009
Posts: 385
From: Green Bay
Great topic! Very timely for me as I just bought some 20% tint for my front door windows this week. I agree with 09_SS that here in WI they don't seem to enforce it... Unless you give them a good reason to pull you over of course. If your ride looks like a gang-bangers car and you are cruisin' the hood with the tunes rattling the neighborhood windows they may just want to check you out though!
and you are cruisin' the hood with the tunes rattling the neighborhood windows they may just want to check you out though! 
Joined: 02-04-2009
Posts: 6
From: USA
so i have a question regarding the tint laws.
Lets say I get my windows tinted, I live in Indiana, so I can tint my front sides to a certain amount. Then I drive to Michigan (which i do quite often)... What happens? Can I get a ticket for that? I always wonder because it is their state's law, but my vehicle conforms to the laws in the state which it is registered...
I really want to tint my front sides a bit but i drive to Michigan a lot, and the cops in my Parent's town can be a$$hats. I haven't had a problem before but know a lot of people that have.
Either that or I need to go for an eye exam soon and was going to ask them about the doctors note for window tint. It would probably be beneficial anyways since my eyes are extremely sensitive to light, i wear sunglasses almost all the time outside. Sunny, cloudy, overcast, all the time.
Lets say I get my windows tinted, I live in Indiana, so I can tint my front sides to a certain amount. Then I drive to Michigan (which i do quite often)... What happens? Can I get a ticket for that? I always wonder because it is their state's law, but my vehicle conforms to the laws in the state which it is registered...
I really want to tint my front sides a bit but i drive to Michigan a lot, and the cops in my Parent's town can be a$$hats. I haven't had a problem before but know a lot of people that have.
Either that or I need to go for an eye exam soon and was going to ask them about the doctors note for window tint. It would probably be beneficial anyways since my eyes are extremely sensitive to light, i wear sunglasses almost all the time outside. Sunny, cloudy, overcast, all the time.
Senior Member
Joined: 04-12-2008
Posts: 527
From: Cedarburg, WI
you gonna do it yourself? How much will it cost you to do it yourself. I can get it done at a local shop that gives our company a discount. It will be $70 for the driver and passanger side windows. I wont do it myself as I have seen too many cars w/ the do it yourself purple tint that is bubbling, or just looks bad.
I have done it myself before and it turned out very nice. You just have to buy quality tint, and take your time doing it. This is one job you do not rush!
I figure if I can save myself $50 why not do it. Tint for the fronts cost about $20. I prefer to do all the work on my own cars as much as possible as I also enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done! 
Senior Member
Joined: 04-19-2009
Posts: 385
From: Green Bay
My son bought a car in Oklahoma. It came from the dealership with tinted windows. 100 percent legal in OK, dealers sell them this way all the time. He drove to California for school, and LAPD promptly gave him a ticket for tinted front-side windows. Car is a plain 4-door hatchback Nissan, completely stock otherwise. No other infraction, no speeding, just stopped him for the tint. Now I know why crime runs rampant...The stupid cops are too busy with this kind of stuff to track down real crime. Oh, they try to tell you that sometimes a "routine" traffic stop nets a killer or drug dealer...BullCrap. My son is a good man, never drank smoked or used drugs, devoted Christian, but because of this stupid episode he is now a cop-hater and so am I. If you are a cop and reading this, now you know why so many people hate you. My MVR is perfect, not even a parking ticket, but I will never have the same respect for the law.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-19-2008
Posts: 1,454
From: Indiana
from what I have been reading up, that in my previous example if my car is registered in another state they shouldn't hassle me on it, but that doesn't mean they won't.
Consulted an eye doctor on getting a medical exemption to allow tint. However while reading up on it more, found something that didn't even cross my mind before. If I did get medical exemption, and the car was in Michigan, my wife couldn't technically drive it. If they did decide to pull her over, then she's in trouble. I know a lot of people drive with tinted windows where they're not supposed to etc, but i really don't want to give anyone a reason to pull me over. Plus if i paid to have it done, i really don't want to get a ticket and have to remove it.
So I guess I am just leaving it as is, it is just too much hassle.
Consulted an eye doctor on getting a medical exemption to allow tint. However while reading up on it more, found something that didn't even cross my mind before. If I did get medical exemption, and the car was in Michigan, my wife couldn't technically drive it. If they did decide to pull her over, then she's in trouble. I know a lot of people drive with tinted windows where they're not supposed to etc, but i really don't want to give anyone a reason to pull me over. Plus if i paid to have it done, i really don't want to get a ticket and have to remove it.
So I guess I am just leaving it as is, it is just too much hassle.
Member
Joined: 10-24-2008
Posts: 62
From: St. Louis, Mo.
My son bought a car in Oklahoma. It came from the dealership with tinted windows. 100 percent legal in OK, dealers sell them this way all the time. He drove to California for school, and LAPD promptly gave him a ticket for tinted front-side windows. Car is a plain 4-door hatchback Nissan, completely stock otherwise. No other infraction, no speeding, just stopped him for the tint. Now I know why crime runs rampant...The stupid cops are too busy with this kind of stuff to track down real crime. Oh, they try to tell you that sometimes a "routine" traffic stop nets a killer or drug dealer...BullCrap. My son is a good man, never drank smoked or used drugs, devoted Christian, but because of this stupid episode he is now a cop-hater and so am I. If you are a cop and reading this, now you know why so many people hate you. My MVR is perfect, not even a parking ticket, but I will never have the same respect for the law.
Your son is a devoted Christian and now he's a cop hater for getting a ticket?
The last time I checked it is you and/or your son's responsiblity to know the laws of the state in which you are living or driving in. It is not the officers responsibility to tell you the law if it was, no one would be going to jail for breaking the law or getting tickets. Also the keywords here are It came from the dealership with tinted windows. 100 percent legal in OK well it apparently is not legal in CA.
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