[DTRJ]

I have had my windows tinted for over 20 years on various cars including my 2007 335 coupe and my 2011 335 coupe. All have been 35% all around. Today was driving in Queens NY and saw a police car with all his lights on zig zagging through traffic behind me by about 10 car lengths. I pulled to the side like everyone else to let him by, but he just pulled behind me and stopped. He got out and walked over to me. I rolled down the window, was very polite and said good morning officer , whats going on? He said " those tinted windows look a little dark to me." I explained they were 35% and I was sure when I bought the car not to get them to dark. I also said if you go to the right front window, you can see right thru both sides of the car. He did that and agreed. He said however only 30% was legal. He proceeded to ask if he could check the windows and had what he called a light meter in his hand. (I really had no choice so I said OK). I rolled the window up half way and he put the instrument over the glass. He said it was 28%. He was very nice about the whole thing. I said I didn't know and asked if I could get just a warning. He said, have a nice day and walked away. My question is this. I believe the cop had no idea what the law is. I checked the NYS website and it says tint has to be 70% to be legal. it's a fact that 70% is almost clear and 30% is pretty dark. Was I just lucky or was the cop just playing with his new toy light meter and had no idea what he was doing?

[JN1]

Its illegal to have any front windows tinted here in CA. Only gotten a ticket once and I was pulled primarily for not having plates.

As you have film, depending on what brand it does fade and allows for more light. How long have you had your car tinted?

[chetman7]

You are right 70% is the limit in ny...which is practically clear..for front windows at least. Being originally from Staten Island, I feel cops pull you over for "tint" but they are really l9looking for other things like expired registration/inspection

[Professor///M]

Cops can't pull you over just for tint. There must be a moving violation or another reason. I'd suspect that maybe there was a lookout for a car similar to yours, and maybe he wanted to make sure it wasn't stolen.

[Elk]

Originally Posted by PAMidge

Cops can't pull you over just for tint. There must be a moving violation or another reason.

An officer can pull you over for tint. It is a safety violation. like a light out.

[Steve33]

Originally Posted by PAMidge

Cops can't pull you over just for tint.

Says... who? There's a very clear difference between 70% VLT and 28% VLT.

OP:
To calculate your "mathematical" VLT, multiply the VLT of your tint (35%) by the VLT of the window (Should be >=90%) ==> (.35*.9=.315 or 31.5%). 31.5% is a far cry from the 70% that's legal.

The cop knew the law somewhat but was confused. 30% of the light can be blocked... aka 70% VLT. The 28% reading was the VLT not the amount of light blocked, so you got lucky. Welcome to the world of window tint

[marseille82]

Originally Posted by DTRJ

I have had my windows tinted for over 20 years on various cars including my 2007 335 coupe and my 2011 335 coupe. All have been 35% all around. Today was driving in Queens NY and saw a police car with all his lights on zig zagging through traffic behind me by about 10 car lengths. I pulled to the side like everyone else to let him by, but he just pulled behind me and stopped. He got out and walked over to me. I rolled down the window, was very polite and said good morning officer , whats going on? He said " those tinted windows look a little dark to me." I explained they were 35% and I was sure when I bought the car not to get them to dark. I also said if you go to the right front window, you can see right thru both sides of the car. He did that and agreed. He said however only 30% was legal. He proceeded to ask if he could check the windows and had what he called a light meter in his hand. (I really had no choice so I said OK). I rolled the window up half way and he put the instrument over the glass. He said it was 28%. He was very nice about the whole thing. I said I didn't know and asked if I could get just a warning. He said, have a nice day and walked away. My question is this. I believe the cop had no idea what the law is. I checked the NYS website and it says tint has to be 70% to be legal. it's a fact that 70% is almost clear and 30% is pretty dark. Was I just lucky or was the cop just playing with his new toy light meter and had no idea what he was doing?

You are a lucky guy. I also live in NY and I can't even count anymore the amount of times I have gotten tickets for tints.

[s0nu]

Yeah it looks like you got lucky and the cop was just confused. Never in my life did I get a ticket for window tint, and I always had 20%. About a week ago I was driving in Jamaica Queens and the cops over there were clearly on the lookout for tint. Multiple patrol cops on every intersection and cops walking around too.

I was looking for parking, so definitely was not speeding nor doing anything wrong. NYPD van pulls me over, comes over asks for license and registration. I asked him if I did something wrong. He said "yeah your windows are illegally tinted, you're getting a summons, give me your license and registration." Checked my tint with his machine, came out to 21%. Less than 5 minutes later, I got my license and regi back, along with a ticket and was sent on my way.

Maybe NYPD is cracking down now? Who knows...

[Mr.G20 M340]

I got pulled over in my school parking lot, he followed me. he was a little nice, but he was a motorcycle cop, and he asked me to roll up my windows half way and he put his hand behind the window and flashed his flashlight in. after doing this he asked me what tints i got and i said 20 and he said it's too dark. I'm pretty sure if i lied he would have said something but i wonder if it was actually 35 if he wouldn't have given me the ticket. And also there was no sun in the car

[DTRJ]

Originally Posted by PAMidge

Cops can't pull you over just for tint. There must be a moving violation or another reason. I'd suspect that maybe there was a lookout for a car similar to yours, and maybe he wanted to make sure it wasn't stolen.

As I said in my original post, I was pulled over only for the tint. He must have been parked or something and saw me go by. He never asked for license or registration. Maybe the city cops now have light meters and are trying to give them a workout. My windshield is not tinted, only the sides and back. I have only been stopped once in the last 20 years for the tint and that was about 8 years ago at a DWI checkpoint. He let me slide back then as well.

[chetman7]

All my past cars were 20% and I would get pulled over 1-2x a month. But for my bimmer I got 35% and *knock on wood* haven't been giving a second look from cops..not sure if its because im driving a bmw and my past cars were all loud stage 3 turbo swapped wannabe racer cars

[w3rkn]

Why do you guys need so much tint..? All-the-way-around..?


It is not needed, so why bitch if you get pulled over. Make zero sense.

Secondly, (baffled) Why not just tint your fronts with 30, etc.. everything else darker, if your ego needs such protection.

[rallybull]

Originally Posted by w3rkn

Why do you guys need so much tint..? All-the-way-around..?


It is not needed, so why bitch if you get pulled over. Make zero sense.

Secondly, (baffled) Why not just tint your fronts with 30, etc.. everything else darker, if your ego needs such protection.

because the car looks better that way and texting while driving kills more people on the road than darker tints, while the cops are busy apprehending tinted cars. Nothing really about id, ego or superego here !!

[eekthecat]

My father-in-law is a retired California Highway Patrol officer (as others have stated, no front windows tint is legal in CA) - when I told him I was going to tint my windows, he asked if I planned on tinting my windshield... I told him "of course not" (visibility). He then asked "then why would you tint the others?!" Couldn't argue with the logic, but I got the sides and back tinted anyway.

[w3rkn]

Originally Posted by rallybull

because the car looks better that way and texting while driving kills more people on the road than darker tints, while the cops are busy apprehending tinted cars. Nothing really about id, ego or superego here !!

lol.
My friend, know thyself. Dark tint is nearly 100% about ego.

After you factor out the sun, the remaining (extra) tint is self-serving. You are not in a Limo, nor a Celeb. I know it's very kewl to think people are trying to take your picture & all... but the reality is, if we can't see you, it's because you need it.

[Thlian]

It`s legal to text while driving but laws varies upon state how much you can tint?

And they have to pull you over to check the registration and if it`s insured?? That`s just plain stupid!

[chetman7]

Originally Posted by w3rkn

lol.
My friend, know thyself. Dark tint is nearly 100% about ego.

After you factor out the sun, the remaining (extra) tint is self-serving. You are not in a Limo, nor a Celeb. I know it's very kewl to think people are trying to take your picture & all... but the reality is, if we can't see you, it's because you need it.

unsure how ego comes into play. With that mentality, you can put that twist on anything in life
You bought a BMW for your ego
you bought nice clothes for your ego
yada yada yada BS BS BS

[infinitigor]

in NYC you can be pulled over for just having tints. I had tints on my last two cars, but got sick of paying the "tint tax" so just rocking the fishbowl look for now.

I do miss my tints tho..

[DTRJ]

Originally Posted by s0nu

Yeah it looks like you got lucky and the cop was just confused. Never in my life did I get a ticket for window tint, and I always had 20%. About a week ago I was driving in Jamaica Queens and the cops over there were clearly on the lookout for tint. Multiple patrol cops on every intersection and cops walking around too.

I was looking for parking, so definitely was not speeding nor doing anything wrong. NYPD van pulls me over, comes over asks for license and registration. I asked him if I did something wrong. He said "yeah your windows are illegally tinted, you're getting a summons, give me your license and registration." Checked my tint with his machine, came out to 21%. Less than 5 minutes later, I got my license and regi back, along with a ticket and was sent on my way.

Maybe NYPD is cracking down now? Who knows...

How much is the ticket in NY for illegal tints?

[chetman7]

Originally Posted by DTRJ

How much is the ticket in NY for illegal tints?

Anywhere from 75 to 120

[s0nu]

Originally Posted by DTRJ

How much is the ticket in NY for illegal tints?

I haven't paid it yet, but I believe its like 90$

[w3rkn]

Originally Posted by chetman7

unsure how ego comes into play. With that mentality, you can put that twist on anything in life
You bought a BMW for your ego
you bought nice clothes for your ego
yada yada yada BS BS BS

You... do those things.

Get enough tickets & see how quickly you'll eat that ego and remove the unnecessary tint. Just sayin..