PISSED about NYS tinting laws...

[Brent1238]

My question is has anyone gotten a ticket for window tint in NY and gotten away without paying the fine/removing it? If so, how? I have a family background of skin cancer and I might try to fight it with the argument that it protects me from UV rays. I would also be getting a note from my dermatologist.

I was told by the NYS Trooper who pulled me over that he couldn't see whether the passenger was male/female.

My understanding is that the law is in effect (70% of light MUST travel through the glass) because of past incidents where police officers have not been able to see a weapon of someone in a vehicle. It is a safety concern and that is completely reasonable. The reason this annoys me is I think one of two things should happen in NY:

1. They should change the law so that 30% window tint is allowed. It should be stated as a reasonable suspicion for being pulled over, but unless pulled over for traffic violation/crime OR finding an illegal act or property inside OR having a violent/ drug related criminal record they may NOT be ticketed for the tint.
If it is an issue of safety, make it a requirement to either have the windows rolled down when pulled over, or make it required to turn on the inside dome light (on the ceiling). If this is not done, they may be ticketed.

2. Tinting products should not be available in NY state or at least need to state on the packaging to "refer to your individual state's Department of Motor Vehicles website for laws about window tinting"

SUVs and minivans (as far as I understand) are allowed to black out the rear side windows. Cars are not allowed. How does a car poses more risk of safety than an SUV or minivan?

[superpaul3000]

I used to live in brooklyn and I remember a lot of people tinting there windows. Not sure if anyone got pulled over though. Plus that was in the 90s so I don't know whether the laws have changed. My buddy just recently got a ticket in philly for having his front windows tinted too much so I think that is of more concern to officers. I live in rural pennsylvania and cops don't give a fvcX about anything. People here have there windows blacked out, HID kits of any color pink, blue, yellow, and anything in between. I got pulled over the other day doing 70 in a 25 and the cop gave me a warning lol.

[YADDADAIMSAYIN]

^ you got lucky on that one dude.

I'm in Cali but I just got pulled over the other day for window tints too. jerk of a cop was teaching a rookie how to spot import cars and had me sit on the curb while they inspected my engine. I ended up with 3 fixit tickets but shieettt I ain't about to take off my window tints. I tried to see if I could just pay the fine for the window tints and get the other ones signed off but I went to 2-3 police stations and none of em would sign it off til I got the window tints off.

unfortunately/fortunately yesterday my mom got in a car accident and while I was choppin it up with the officer I explained to him the situation and he was like "wtf, who gave you a ticket for window tints?" like it was the most incredulous thing he's ever heard. he signed it off for me... but i don't know how I woulda gotten it taken care of otherwise. gluck with it.

[touringcamry]

Good luck with the dermatologist thing since the factory glass already cuts about 99% UV and already tinted to 70% VLT.

SUVs and minivans can be considered light trucks and fall into a completely different set of rules. Something as simple as having a flat cargo space could be sufficient to qualify as light truck. I think even PT Cruiser is categorized as a light truck.

[superpaul3000]

Tell em you just got it put in and it'll take a couple weeks before the suns radiation fades it away to normal transparency.

[omairtheman1]

My sister in law got pulled over and she said her eyes hurt from the sun and got a letter from a doctor (bs) and they dropped the ticket. She rollin in them tints now!