I would venture a guess that the majority of cars I see in LA have tinted front windows so it's really not a priority for a cop to pull you over just for tints. Unless there's something else you've done to the car that draws his attention to you (very loud exhaust, slammed, 20"s, or some other outrageous mod), or you're pulled over for another reason, they don't seem to care.

 

my tint actually got me out of an illegal right turn ticket. what pissed me off is that the cop who signed it off barely looked at my car. if i had left the tint on, it wouldve still passed!

 

I also notice more cars in southern ca have tinted fronts vs. northern ca. And yes, most 'modified' cars here tint their fronts. I really want to lower the car for looks...which of course is another attention draw for the cops, even though it's not illegal. Most of the time they see tint and lowering and assume there are infractions for them to find.

A friend told me how he was pulled over and all he did was lower his S2000, aftermarket wheels, and 35% tint. That's it. Cops checked all lights, signals, etc. and even asked him to pop the hood. Fremont police, where I have to drive through everyday.

 

I've always wondered about window tint here in the Bay Area (CA in general). According to the CHP site:

Illegal
Tinting the front side windows and the windshield (except for a narrow band at the top of the windshield). Windows behind the driver's head may be tinted. If rear window is tinted, right-side mirror is required (26708 VC).

But when you look at the actual VC from www.dmv.ca.gov:
26708. (a) (1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.

 

Why are you confused?

The first part states that "tinting the front side windows and the windshield" is illegal. The second part states "no person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows".

It's saying the same thing.

 

Calsonic: sorry about that. Probably mis-stated my question. Its in reference to Acidrane's comment that "70% is legal for the front in Cali". I assume that Acidrane meant "front" as in front windows, which according to the VC is illegal.

Just trying to figure it out b/c would like to tint too (live in east bay, CA) but would hate the hassle from the cops.

 

someone posted a link to the tint laws in the US. in california it said that it is legal to have tint upto 70% on the 2 front windows. no tint allowed on the windshield (except for the top 4 or 6 inches). rear windows, anyhting is game. ill try to find the link again, it was in one of the thread over here.

 

I'm getting my car tinted next weekend and can't decide whether to do the windshield. Gonna do 20% or 35% on the rear and sides, but a few of the shops I've talked to have warned me that even 50% on the windshield is too dark at night.

Anyone here have any issues with tinting a windshield? ...other than it being illegal

peace

 

Damn!!! Cali sucks *ss!!!!

 

I think there is a little more to it and I'm sure most of you will agree. Cops do in fact profile the driver (it's human nature). If you look like you're trouble to them, they'll bend you over ... expecially if you give them attitude. Now throw in a $40K car on top of that and he's already thinking you are spoiled.

The bright side is ... the older you get, the more you can get away with .

 

That's right I had 35% all the way around in the mainland and I still got pulled over and ticketed it's a pain in the butt to have to take the tint off and go to court or just paying the fine which was almost as much as the cost of tinting. I ended up putting 20% in the rear of my old car and that helped...