Window tint in SoCal (law, moving, beaches)

[tommy64]

How dark can I go before the fuzz starts hassling me about window tint? I'm out of state but will be travelling in my tricked-out van to the beaches and whatnot. The law says anything over 70% is out. I want to tint the side windows at at least 30%.

Are they strict on enforcement? How dark can I go?

[AquaTee]

I would say not strict at all, considering that it appears the majority of the vehicles on the road don't follow that law.

[luv4horses]

The problem with darkened windows is it makes it difficult for other drivers to see through to the cars in front and beside you. Out of curiosity why do you want such dark windows? Theoretically they allow the sun to heat your car but is that a good reason?

[OptimusPrime69]

Someone mentioned not strict, but yet, I was pulled over once for the tinting I had on my front windows passenger and drivers side. It's not super dark either. I was ticketed, had to remove the tint, than go to court and show them that I had my tint removed. Was actually ridiculous and was super surprised I got pulled over for it. It was 7:30AM and I was on my way to work and some cop on a motorcycle pulled me over for my tint. I had the tint on my car for 3 years before I got pulled over, but the cop was a real jerk about it, so it may just depend on the individual cop

[CA4Now]

CALIFORNIA WINDOW TINT LAW – 2021:
https://tintingregulations.com/calif...tint-law-2021/

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/f...er=4.&article=

[tommy64]

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime69

Someone mentioned not strict, but yet, I was pulled over once for the tinting I had on my front windows passenger and drivers side. It's not super dark either. I was ticketed, had to remove the tint, than go to court and show them that I had my tint removed. Was actually ridiculous and was super surprised I got pulled over for it. It was 7:30AM and I was on my way to work and some cop on a motorcycle pulled me over for my tint. I had the tint on my car for 3 years before I got pulled over, but the cop was a real jerk about it, so it may just depend on the individual cop

This is what I'm worried about. At least you had the option to remove it rather than take a fine.

[tommy64]

Originally Posted by luv4horses

The problem with darkened windows is it makes it difficult for other drivers to see through to the cars in front and beside you. Out of curiosity why do you want such dark windows? Theoretically they allow the sun to heat your car but is that a good reason?

Keeps the glare down, keeps the rig cool, and most importantly, looks cool. (I have a tricked out 1978 chevy van, it's the bomb!) Non-tinted windows are for old people.

It's also a theft deterrent, hard for thieves to see inside when prowling. (I have all my travel gear, tools and a rad bicycle on-board).

There's a privacy aspect too. Not I, but many people go super dark so the cops can't see your stash/cell phone in hand.

[1200RT]

Are you just visiting CA w/ AZ plates? If so, you'll likely be ok. Technically, its still a valid 26708vc cite on out of state vehicle, but you'd have to meet a real d*ck cop, or be a real d*ck yourself to end up with a citation. 26708 is almost always cited as correctable (fix it ticket), so you'd just be removing the tint anyway (which is almost worse than the full bail, IMO).

Just an insider tip ... tint stops are almost always PC stops, so if you don't give them a reason for the stop, you'll be fine. Now... if your 1978 van looks like its giving out free candy to kids on November 1st, you might have an issue.

[OptimusPrime69]

Originally Posted by tommy64

This is what I'm worried about. At least you had the option to remove it rather than take a fine.

lol, oh no. There was a fine. I had to remove it and pay a "processing fee" of $50. AKA, they stole $50 from me even though I corrected the violation. I mean, what can we do, right?

[BMW R1100]

Most states don't allow it because police can't see into the car, but almost every car has really dark tint nowadays.