4/10/2023 0 Comments California tinted window lawThe California law in question here is going to section 26708 of the California Vehicle Code. is sufficient to constitute probable cause that would justify a detention by law enforcement officers.Īnyway, aside over, the most common scenario - at least in my experience - is that the tint is darker than California law allows so that’s what I’ll go over below. There are a variety of court cases in California that hold that any act which appears to violate the California Vehicle Code - including burned out tail lights, expired registration, speeding, stop sign violations, etc. As I’ll explain below, window tinting on automobiles in California is covered by the California Vehicle Code. If you’re interested in it, the reason why you can be pulled over just for illegal tint has to do with Probable Cause and the 4th Amendment to the US Constitution. If it doesn’t, then you could get pulled over by law enforcement officers just because you have illegal tint. If you’re in this second category of car owners - in other words, your vehicle was not sold brand new with tinted windows and you’re getting it installed - you need to make sure your tint complies with California law. If your particular vehicle did not come with window tint originally, you can also, obviously, get tint installed aftermarket or do the tinting yourself. Many vehicles are sold new with window tint from the manufacturer. But remember, this could potentially result in an increased likelihood of interactions with law enforcement so make sure your other documentation such as license, insurance, and registration are all up to date!Īlso of note, (1) a driver is required to have dual side mirrors if the rear window of the car is tinted, and (2) a driver cannot use red, amber or blue tint on any window.In this post, I’m going to discuss California law regarding automotive window tint. So if you are one of the drivers for whom window tint is medically recommended, by all means take advantage of the new exemption created by AB 1303. …And once an officer has probable cause to pull you over, his observations while conducting that routine traffic stop are all fair game. It is important to keep in mind, however, that those utilizing this exemption can still expect to have interactions with law enforcement stemming from their use of tint as officers can still use a perceived violation of the tinting laws as probable cause to initiate a traffic stop. Through the passage of AB 1303, California created a small but important exemption to the window shield tint and object placement prohibition Californians who obtain a signed certificate by a dermatologist indicating the driver has a sensitivity to UV rays can now tint their windshields. For example, despite there being no current limitations on the darkness of rear windows, the front side windows must allow more than 70% of light to pass through into the inside the car, and a car can only have non-reflective tint on the top four inches of the windshield. Whether instructed to be placed on the windshield or hung on the rear-view mirror, based on the language of the law, doing so could be construed as a violation.) Also, other regulations address the darkness and location of the tint. (Ironically, it seems Californians are constantly encouraged to do the complete opposite. Vehicle Code §26708 generally prohibits drivers from placing any material that may reduce or obstruct their view through the windshield. In fact, in 2015, the California Highway Patrol reported a total of nearly 2000,000 tickets issued to drivers for violating California window tint law between January 2015 and August 2017! Although many Californians have their windows tinted, window tinting has always been heavily regulated by law enforcement and can be used a means for initiating a traffic stop. Window tinting is utilized for various different reasons, for example: added privacy, prevent damage to the interior of the vehicle, or-as tinting film can reflect incoming light and therefore reduce the glare and heat inside the car-to keep cool. One of the most common efforts in doing so involves window tinting. As the summer reaches its peak, many drivers are utilizing any available means to stay cool and out of the sun.
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