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state of PA: no amount of tint is legal?!

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Old Feb 16, 2012 | 11:52 AM
  #1  
Duie_Decimel's Avatar
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From: Chadds Ford
state of PA: no amount of tint is legal?!

I just got off the phone with a local shop that does tinting, I wanted to the most tint I can get away with, but I don't need to attract attention from law enforcement. Basically, the guy said that technically (in PA) there is no legal amount of tint.

I was like dude, WTF, and then looked out my window to see two cars parked on my street sporting healthy amounts of tint. A Volvo and a large van. Also, my previous car (a Jeep Wrangler) had a canvas top with tinted windows in the back... What's the deal? Do cops really hand out tickets for this offense, does it raise my chances of getting pulled over?

I really want to tint the windows, but I also do not want the cops up my arse.

Also, I travel around to DE, NJ, MD, a lot and also once per year I travel down to the outer banks in North Carolina (traveling through DE, MD, Virginia (cops are really present and aggressive there) and also NC. One day I might take the Fit cross-country, through many states, out to California. I understand that each state has their own rules, so what I'm really trying to ask is: is it worth the hassle to tint?
 
Old Feb 16, 2012 | 12:04 PM
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I'm pretty sure the "legal" limit is 30% I have had 20% on my fit since day one and have 20% on all my other cars. If you dont drive like an idiot and call attraction to yourself then you will be ok.. Also if you do get pulled over at night be courteous to the cop and roll all your windows down and turn your over head lamps on.
 
Old Feb 16, 2012 | 12:09 PM
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Old Feb 16, 2012 | 12:37 PM
  #4  
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there ya go! 30% if your from chaddsford check out berardi auto detailing let him know Erik from Porsche recommended you
 
Old Feb 16, 2012 | 12:49 PM
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Technically, it's sort of illegal. Vehicles that come with factory tint are legal. Commonly, doing all the windows except the front driver, passenger & windshield at a "legal" 30% (letting 70% of the light in) will not get you pulled over. Lots of people here do tint the fronts, and some end up getting pulled over at some point, unless the fronts are very lightly tinted. I see some people with limo tint on the whole car and always wonder how many times they've been pulled over. Some cops will try to go as far as making you scrape it. It used to be an inspection item, as in you couldn't get your car a new safety inspection sticker with tint unless you knew someone who would look the other way, but thankfully they removed that from being an inspection criteria. Do the back windows lightly and you'll be fine, or do all of them but know at some point you may get pulled over for it... or not...
 
Old Feb 16, 2012 | 01:05 PM
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Uhh all of those links said 70% (70% of the light has to make it through)

Apparently the law is quite open to interpretation: PA Window Tinting Law, Statutes, and Regulations

I'd slap on some 35% (meaning lets 35% through) and not worry too much.
 
Old Jun 22, 2012 | 11:10 AM
  #7  
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just reviving my old thread - I'm thinking about doing the tint soon, very soon. It's getting really hot out and my car is totally baking in the sun. I'm calling some local places to get some quotes and recommendations but still want to avoid being targeted by law enforcement, Any final thoughts from the forum?
 
Old Jun 22, 2012 | 01:11 PM
  #8  
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just got a quote from a local shop. He said don't worry about the back windows and I can literrally go as dark as I want in the back without issues, and that's good because I want to go pretty dark back there.

thinking about doing 35% on the front sides and 15% around the back and back sides. He quoted me $239.
 
Old Jun 22, 2012 | 02:19 PM
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I am 30/15 and no problems for 3 yrs. I paid $100 more but included sunstrip on front and H logo.

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Old Jun 22, 2012 | 02:42 PM
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looks good, thanks for posting those pics - they give me a good reference for what my car will look like after the tint goes on, early next week. I just got off the phone with a shop who happens to be owned by someone I went to high school with, so I'm going with them for the tint job.

I've decided on 35% front and 18% rear, and he even quoted a little lower: $225
 
Old Jun 22, 2012 | 03:32 PM
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Welcome. You will like that 18. No need for a cargo cover I have found and no need for night mirror as tint blocks headlights nicely.
 
Old Jun 22, 2012 | 04:20 PM
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my thoughts are to just trust what your local tint guy says, chat it up with them about tips on how to avoid having the law enforced on you.

Probably just don't be an ass and give the cops a reason to want to hassle you. If you do get pulled over for something, related or for another traffic violation, respect gets respect
 

Last edited by raytseng; Jun 22, 2012 at 04:22 PM.
Old Jun 24, 2012 | 07:45 AM
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Originally Posted by raytseng
Probably just don't be an ass and give the cops a reason to want to hassle you. If you do get pulled over for something, related or for another traffic violation, respect gets respect
Well said. I never known the cops here in Philly to pull someone just for tinted windows. Blowing through stoplights, racing through residential neighborhood, and reckless driving - that'll get their attention. Then they'll pile on a citation for the deep-tinted windows...
 
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