CA - window tint, what's legal

[Dolphan]

I got the below info off the CA DMV site. Para B talks about luminous transmittance and para C talks about reflective quality. Question tint is measured in percentage of shadeness or reflectivity. In other words - is the tint 30% dark or 30% light transmittance/reflective. I think I am allowed tint upto 35% reflectance.

Vehicle Code

Sun Screening Devices: Requirements

26708.2. Sun screening devices permitted by paragraph (10) of subdivision (b) of Section 26708 shall meet the following requirements:

(a) The devices shall be held in place by means allowing ready removal from the window area, such as a frame, a rigid material with temporary fasteners, or a flexible roller shade.

(b) Devices utilizing transparent material shall be green, gray, or a neutral smoke in color and shall have a luminous transmittance of not less than 35 percent.

(c) Devices utilizing nontransparent louvers or other alternating patterns of opaque and open sections shall have an essentially uniform pattern over the entire surface, except for framing and supports. At least 35 percent of the device area shall be open and no individual louver or opaque section shall have a projected vertical dimension exceeding 3/16 inch.

(d) The devices shall not have a reflective quality exceeding 35 percent on either the inner or outer surface.
Added Ch. 74, Stats. 1984. Effective January 1, 1985.

 

[jimbo74]

that is sun screening devices like actual window shades that stick on with suction cups and the like.... not tint.... tint is a whole different issue

 

[section525]

Tint is legal as long as its not on the windshield or front side windows. You can't have any sort of colored film on those windows, right Jim?

 

[jimbo74]

nothing at all...... on the front sides.... can have a liitle strip on the top of the windshield, but cant do anything else.......

 

[Dolphan]

Mikes Tint Shop
Mikes is located in Anihiem CA just about a half mile from Knotts Bery Farm, they were recommended by my local Ford dealer. YEP, everyone is right - NO tint is legal on the front sides. I had tint put on anyway, seems like everyone in CA has it. The shop (Mikes tint) sells different levels - including a warranty against tickets, that is if you get a ticket they will take it off, you get the ticket fixed and then they will put it back on again. What I got was light anyway it matches closely to the factory tint on the backs - it's not limo tint.

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

The cops around here usually don't care as long as the windows aren't blackout with like 5%. As long as the driver is visible through the tint they don't care.

 

[X~FACTOR]

3,000 miles away, on the other side of the country, I see way too many vehicles with their entire front windshield with light to medium tints. It's only a matter of time before the cops crack down on this and start ticketing them.

I was in one of my friend's Expedition who has his windshield tinted and double limo tint all around. Man, it was like night inside. Makes you feel like you have privacy all away around. He said its perfect for a sunny afternoon drive but very dangerous at night.