$154 ticket for my tint

Keep them tinted! I'm all for pushing the limits.... I was ticketed in my 3000GT VR-4 a few years back for my tint (only a month or less after I'd moved to this state). It was seconds after a beat-up pick-up truck flew around me at least 40 mph above the speed limit.....in front of the cop who was sitting on the side of the road. So, the whole principle of the matter REALLY pissed me off that he actually pulled out and ticketed ME......for my window tint. So, I just paid it and carried right on like nothing had ever happened! Secretly gives me a sense of satisfaction knowing I left my tint on.... lol

 

Tint laws are as selective as they get. In Southern California you almost never see a celebrity or athletes car not tinted all around and dark. Unless they are doing something stupid most officers leave them alone to avoid the confrontation.

Tint laws don't stand up to the safety reasoning. If someone is inclined to harm a peace officer the presence of window tinting isn't going to encourage or discourage them. Apparently bad guys with guns never ride in the back seat since you can go as dark as you want behind the driver. Let's ban panel vans while we're at it and semis, you can't see sh*t until your right at the door or the driver opens the cab door. All bad guys need to buy old semis and wreak havoc at every street corner.

If they were really interested in safety, ban the sale of tint over a certain darkness on any window. There is no legitimate reason for full limo tint unless your a vampire.

Just because something is a "law" doesn't mean it's a good law or unchangeable.

 

Do you care to address the other safety concerns?

 

I'm addressing the govt's reason for the law, officer safety. I'm saying that's not a legitimate reason for banning tinted windows. I have no problem banning tint that you can't see through but banning a nice medium tint that keeps the driver visible is pointless and meddling on the governments part. You can't legislate the human condition, we're the cruelest animals on earth and no volume of laws will stop us from being Aholes to each other.

In CA we have lots of knee jerk laws like this. They limit your weapon to 10 bullets, is that so the police have a fighting chance? If the criminal (likely prevoius offender) already has a gun chances are he has an extended magazine. In the mean time I have to reload more often at the range because some politician wanted to pound his chest on how he's protecting the public good with a ridiculous law.

 

I guess a large majority of tint tickets are because people were speeding in the first place. An officer pulls you over for speeding and then notices you have darker tint on your front two windows.

One solution could be to roll down the two front windows while pulling over to the side of the road. That way cop can't notice your tint unless he stopped you for the tint

 

I though that government reasons also included the other road users -- drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians whose safety is related to the ability to make eye contact. From pedaling experience, it is very obvious that numerous drivers with tinted windows don't realize how invisible they are to those of us on the other side.

Maybe CA is different -- making eye contact with other drivers betrays weakness, and there are fewer pedestrians and cyclists.

Your misfortune goes all the way back to your state constitution not having an RKBA provision. Not only is ours stronger than the federal version, but before the so-called AW ban of '94, we even had a state supreme court ruling protecting a specific so-called AW by name.

But look at it this way -- you should be proficient with quick reloads. Your state law insures that you get the practice. And this limit isn't an issue if you use revolvers to retain the brass.

 

What "some people have against window tint" is that it IMPEDES vision. I just represented and won a case for a client that was hit
by an IDIOT that had dark window tint and claimed "to have not seen" my client in a crosswalk and hit her while making a right hand turn. The jury justifiably awarded SIX FIGURE damages after IMPEDED vision was proved based on the degree of tint and the fact that the degree of tint was ILLEGAL ! NO PERSONAL PREFERENCE AT ALL. FACT AND REALITY ! See you in court !!!

 

Yogi, go on a few ride-alongs with a CHP,Game Warden or other patrol officer. It may change your opinion. It did for me.

 

In CA wanna be Lance Armstrong's are everywhere. In beach communities they have actually been given entire car lanes. Typically they are obnoxious, almost daring you to clip them by riding well outside the lane.

CA is an interesting liberal stronghold. The Libs claim to be for for civil rights and equality, vote for Obama, but against gay marriage. Guess hypocritical instead of interesting is more accurate. Our governor just approved free tuition for the kids of illegals. I'm glad the weather is nice, otherwise zero reason to live here as time goes on.

Ahhh, that feels better . Take care

 

I had illegally dark tint (20%) for many years without issue. I did, however, have to roll the window down at night sometimes because I couldn't see well enough. If you look at things from a police standard, pulling a car over at night without the ability to see inside would be very uncomfortable. The tint puts the police at an unfair advantage to defend themselves from a prick with bad intentions. I wouldn't want the cop to lose in that situation, would you? conversely, it gives the ability to profile to the police. thankfully, they've promised not to do that. (sigh) also, @LTZR1, not sure about your heated reply, but please, pump the brakes, this is just a prius forum. Whatever you decide, know that you can get pretty good sun protection from legally tinted windows and polarized sunglasses and you won't have to worry. also, you can get precut HP tint from ebay for the front windows for about $15. just take it off, get inspected, and replace it yourself. it's a lot easier than people think to tint your own windows.

 

My friend.....if your tint requires you to pay MORE attention to yur surroundings than without it.....IT'S A DISTRACTION !

Good visibility is always necessary for safe driving, and anything that detracts from that in any way is an unecessary distraction, especially in nightime driving. In preparatin for the case mentioned, we had an engineering company scientifically measure the visibility reduction for various degrees window tinting and it was substantial. I accompanied them on a couple of the tests and at times ( especially at night ) could NOT see anything out the side windows and I have perfect 20/20 and nightime vision.

Your statement of "some people can't handle tint" implies that some can. That's not true at all. All healthy human eyes handle light and it's impact on "seeing" in the same fashion. Restricting light reduces ones vision ability, plain and simple.

Finally, yes, it was an "idiotic" driver, who had an IDIOTIC TINT on his windows that was instrumental in causing serious injury to a person. Very unfortunately for him, his insurance will NOT pick up any part of the six figure judgement because the tint is considered an UNSAFE and ILLEGAL modification to the vehicle. "Tint" at your own risk.......are "looks" really worth it ?

There are many others mods than can enhance the looks of a car in the eyes of the owner. Vision restricting, unsafe, and illegal tiniting
is not one of them.

 

Just relax buddy...if you want to tint your windows, go for it. If you dont, they dont comment on it.

Remember, you are responsible for the choices you make, and you live with the aftermath.

 

More like very unfortunately for you, as you don't have a bigger (and easier) pocket to go after

 

I find that interesting. I did not realize that insurance does not cover situations arising from illegal modifications; is this in the policy form? I'll have to check at work tomorrow.

What are the tint laws in your state?

 

Most insurance covers accidents, not criminal acts or intentional violations of the law committed by the insured. So if legal due process links an injury to an intentional violation ...

Do take a read of your particular policies.

 

I'm VERY relaxed and not your "buddy" ! I'm very well aware of the choices "I" make......and.......with those that live with the stupid ones THEY make......and I'm very pleased to go after them in the courtroom. I've seen the victims of stupidity like extra dark and illegal tinting.......have you ?

 

So I were to cause an accident when driving 5 mph over the speed limit, can I count on my insurance company not covering me as I "intentionally violated the speed limit law?" Why would that change if the accident involves a pedestrian rather than a car?

 

Hit a pedestrian with your windows tinted beyond legal limits and you'll find out....the HARD way.......