Tint ticket in Virginia

[abradley]

Has anyone gotten a tint ticket in Virginia? i just got one this weekend and the cop wrote the ticket that i can pay or go to court w either a picture of my car w tint removed or a receipt of a place that took it off. my plan was to just use an old pic of my car before the tint and have it waived. i just wanted to make sure that didn't go on my record in case i got pulled over again. any advice is appreciated. thanks

[JBM]

hey dark is the tint? Did the cop have a meter? In VA they have to meter the tint in order to write the citation. I found out the hard way, when they metered my front and they were way illegal. I looked in the regulations and found if your car came with the tint as is you do not have to modify it as it is not an operational part of your car, exhaust on other hand is.

[abradley]

yeah the legal limit is 50% front and 35% rear. mine was 23% front and 24% rear. i had all the windows down and sunroof open for max light. didn't help much

[JBM]

Alright, so did he have a proper guage? Also was the tint installed when you got the car from the dealership? My car was bought outside of Virginia and had the tint installed at the dealership and as it is non functional part of the car it does not need to be replaced, unlike straight cats. If he didn't guage the tint I would say fight it if not I would say change your tint as FFX cops are complete douchebags.

[swizzchard]

ive gotten 2 and the first one, i had to come to court and i supplied a picture with it removed (it actually was since the place i got mine took it off and replaced it again after the court date...FOR FREE!) anyway, ya take a picture of it and also dont go to court with that car on that day.

secondly, if its just a fine, how much? if its low enough, just pay that cuz you're gonna end up paying court fees anyway.

[abradley]

yeah he had a guage and he gave me a ticket. there is no fee on the ticket so i need to look it up but i planned on just going to court with a picture of it removed. i had the tint put on so i can't use that excuse. i knew the second he flipped his lights that i was busted. o well. ill get a ride to court that day and have the ticket waived. swizzchard, when you went and showed the pic, what did they say? is that all you brought or did you have the tint shop sign the form saying they removed it?

[JBM]

Let me guess. FFX cop? I live in PWC and I have never gotten asked about my tint.

[cotmfk]

FFX county are pricks about tint,exhaust, etc. I haven't put tint on the audi just for this fact. I got pulled over just about every three months for 20% tint! Not worth it anymore!! i never went to court on it. The ticket was something like $80 each time. If I ever am lucky enough to leave VA, tint will go back on...

[Chris from Cali]

FFX county are pricks about tint,exhaust, etc. I haven't put tint on the audi just for this fact. I got pulled over just about every three months for 20% tint! Not worth it anymore!! i never went to court on it. The ticket was something like $80 each time. If I ever am lucky enough to leave VA, tint will go back on...

Hey man - good to see you on here...

Just get what I get: 35% on the back window, 50% on all 4 side windows. Still legal, but works pretty well...

I still need to see your new ride, Charles!!

[va-terps4]

I've got 50% ceramic all the way around (except windshield) and I got a speeding ticket last month from a Fairfax undercover... in a light blue Dodge Intrepid no less! He didn't even mention my tint.

[b6onboost]

va-terps4: first time i saw your car i wouldn't have guessed it was tinted.

Chris from Cali: I've seen your car in fair lakes twice, in the sun i couldn't tell it was tinted from the sides, but the back window looked it.

I went 35% all around since mix/match tint jobs bother me. So only my fronts are technically illegal, but I've never been hassled for it by the cops.

[NOVAS4]

i always thought you could paint your back window black if you wanted? i guess not.. but ive never heard of anyone getting a ticket for the back it always the front

[UltraS4John]

I have 38% all around...never had issues. Then again, my interior is the light gray (almost white).

[mi7anov]

Living in VA I have a medical waiver for 35% tint all around but got ticketed for 20% and a $30 fine. I don't want to remove my tint because the legal tint is worthless and weak. Doesn't help my medical case. If I pay the fine will the case be dropped or do I have to show up to court? What would be my best option so I can keep my tint even though it is illegal?
Also if I keep it the tint I have now and get stopped again what would be the worth that could happen?

[Hrushka]

Living in VA I have a medical waiver for 35% tint all around but got ticketed for 20% and a $30 fine. I don't want to remove my tint because the legal tint is worthless and weak. Doesn't help my medical case. If I pay the fine will the case be dropped or do I have to show up to court? What would be my best option so I can keep my tint even though it is illegal?
Also if I keep it the tint I have now and get stopped again what would be the worth that could happen?

You should be given some sort of waiver/note from your doctor to show in court, and keep that on you for next time you do get pulled over. Yes, you will get pulled again. This is Virginia, and they are extremely strict as you know.

I moved up here from Georgia about 3 years ago, I had 15% all around. I loved it but admittedly it was fairly dark at night. I've been pulled over in VA, DC and MD for it. The 4th time I got pulled over in VA I decided it was time to get it stripped. I'm rocking no tint currently, and I feel like a soccer mom.

Sugguestions on where to get retinted? I'm in the Arlington area.

[FLIPFLOPS4]

I have 35% all around and I got a tint ticket last month in Manassas City. They were just sitting on the side of the road and I only had my drivers side window down and the rest up. All because I wanted a $5 pizza from little ceasars lol. Neways, the cop (who looked like a rookie) measured the front window and the rear. He said both measured 27%. So with that said he told me like others here have said that 50% is legal in the front and 35% is legal in the rear. Again so theoretically if 50% is legal in the front and 35% measures 27%, basically any tint would be illegal since that tint reader reads lower than whats actually on your car. I decided to just pay it at the end of this month, not worth going through with taking a pic of a stock car, or taking time off to go to court just to end up having to pay court costs and the fine and the judge would probably find me guilty anyway so it's not a moving violation so I'm not worried.

[yss]

You should be given some sort of waiver/note from your doctor to show in court, and keep that on you for next time you do get pulled over. Yes, you will get pulled again. This is Virginia, and they are extremely strict as you know.

I moved up here from Georgia about 3 years ago, I had 15% all around. I loved it but admittedly it was fairly dark at night. I've been pulled over in VA, DC and MD for it. The 4th time I got pulled over in VA I decided it was time to get it stripped. I'm rocking no tint currently, and I feel like a soccer mom.

Sugguestions on where to get retinted? I'm in the Arlington area.

I got my A6 tinted at California Tint in Tysons Corner. This guy has a pretty good reputation. I got 30% all around and he said since I have a light interior, I shouldn't have any issues. Legal for the rear is 35%, but according to this guy, there usually is a 7% leeway, so rear is ok, but not the front if I get pulled over. He said that I shouldn't get pulled over for the tint, but if I get pulled over for something else, I could get a ticket for my tint. I got mine tinted in April. We also have at least 30% in the front on our van. It's been several years, but no issues so far (fingers crossed). I live neary Tysons Corner.

[FLIPFLOPS4]

I got my A6 tinted at California Tint in Tysons Corner. This guy has a pretty good reputation. I got 30% all around and he said since I have a light interior, I shouldn't have any issues. Legal for the rear is 35%, but according to this guy, there usually is a 7% leeway, so rear is ok, but not the front if I get pulled over. He said that I shouldn't get pulled over for the tint, but if I get pulled over for something else, I could get a ticket for my tint. I got mine tinted in April. We also have at least 30% in the front on our van. It's been several years, but no issues so far (fingers crossed). I live neary Tysons Corner.

Yeah, every jurisdiction is different. I've had no issues in Fairfax or Loudon, even PWC, but this was Manassas City, and they always have nothing better to do. The funny thing is, almost everybody has tinted windows, darker than mine and of course they never get pulled over, the cop didn't say anything about my exhaust but then again, it's not annoying loud so, who knows. They're gonna pull over and cite whoever they want, whenever they want, part of what we have to deal with when we mod our cars....

[krazyboi]

You should be given some sort of waiver/note from your doctor to show in court, and keep that on you for next time you do get pulled over. Yes, you will get pulled again. This is Virginia, and they are extremely strict as you know.

I moved up here from Georgia about 3 years ago, I had 15% all around. I loved it but admittedly it was fairly dark at night. I've been pulled over in VA, DC and MD for it. The 4th time I got pulled over in VA I decided it was time to get it stripped. I'm rocking no tint currently, and I feel like a soccer mom.

Sugguestions on where to get retinted? I'm in the Arlington area.

Medical waiver - http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/med20.pdf

I've used TNT Tint in Alexandria for other cars and it was good. I used LA Tint in Alexandria for my car 6 years ago. Still holding strong.

[yss]

So, what medical condition would require sun shading? Sensitivity to light? How do you even prove that?

[Slow4]

So, what medical condition would require sun shading? Sensitivity to light? How do you even prove that?

Doctors note followed by DMV intervention.

[guysohigh]

I've lived in VA for all but 5 years of my driving life, and I've never been pulled for a tint ticket. I've had 20% for most of this time, however, I have had darker on two vehicles. It really just depends on the cop and their attitude what happens.

[optional]

Has anyone gotten a tint ticket in Virginia? i just got one this weekend and the cop wrote the ticket that i can pay or go to court w either a picture of my car w tint removed or a receipt of a place that took it off. my plan was to just use an old pic of my car before the tint and have it waived. i just wanted to make sure that didn't go on my record in case i got pulled over again. any advice is appreciated. thanks

Just to let all know, the easiest way to keep the drama of VA away is to just get the tint waiver. I will not go as far as giving you all the ways to getting it done, but being crafty about it will help you keep the tints on your car and silence all of the back and forth that most encounter when dealing with a county or state law enforcement officer with regards to tint. In the by laws, VA will allow you to have any percentage on the rear window, with the waiver, this stands as well as the 35% on the side windows AND 70% tint on the windscreen as WELL!!! so, less light transmission is less light transmission, but if you want to play their game you CAN win. If you cant beat them join them!!

[PSYC0TIC ONE]

my biggest beef with the stupid tint law in VA is, it does NOT matter where your car is registered. I've NEVER had my car registered in VA (damn that stupid property tax and front plate). I am also active duty military so, my car is registered where I claim state residency, PA. Another thing I find hilarious is, according to that chart that floats around showing all the states laws, PA supposedly has the most strict. I've asked several PA cops about the tint laws and they all say the same thing, if they can walk up to the car and see inside with the windows up, they don't care.

I've gotten tint tickets twice in VA, it is usually because the cop pulled me over for not running a front plate, then realizes it isn't a VA registered car and gives me the tint ticket. I always argue that the car is not registered in VA but, they said the law is written to enforce for any vehicle on a VA road. I just always paid it, i think the tickets were roughly $40 each.

[Slow4]

In the by laws, VA will allow you to have any percentage on the rear window, with the waiver, this stands as well as the 35% on the side windows AND 70% tint on the windscreen as WELL!!! so, less light transmission is less light transmission, but if you want to play their game you CAN win. If you cant beat them join them!!

WHAT?

Without written permission: V V

§ 46.2-1052. Tinting films, signs, decals, and stickers on windshields, etc.; penalties.

C. Except as provided in § 46.2-1053, but notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, no sun-shading or tinting film may be applied or affixed to any window of a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a mirror on each side of such motor vehicle, so located as to reflect to the driver of the vehicle a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle, and the sun-shading or tinting film is applied or affixed in accordance with the following:

No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the rear side windows or rear window or windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highways of this Commonwealth that reduce the total light transmittance of such window to less than thirty-five percent;

No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the front side windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highways of this Commonwealth that reduce total light transmittance of such window to less than fifty percent;

No sun-shading or tinting films shall be applied or affixed to any window of a motor vehicle that (i) have a reflectance of light exceeding twenty percent or (ii) produce a holographic or prism effect.

With written permission: V V

§ 46.2-1053. Equipping certain motor vehicles with sun-shading or tinting films or applications.

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 46.2-1052, a motor vehicle operated by or regularly used to transport any person with a medical condition which renders him susceptible to harm or injury from exposure to sunlight or bright artificial light may be equipped, on its windshield and any or all of its windows, with sun-shading or tinting films or applications which reduce the transmission of light into the vehicle to levels not less than thirty-five percent.

Such sun-shading or tinting film when applied to the windshield of a motor vehicle shall not cause the total light transmittance to be reduced to any level less than seventy percent except for the upper five inches of such windshield or the AS-1 line, whichever is closer to the top of the windshield.

Vehicles equipped with such sun-shading or tinting films shall not be operated on any highway unless, while being so operated, the driver or an occupant of the vehicle has in his possession a written authorization issued by the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles authorizing such operation. The Commissioner shall issue such written authorization only upon receipt of a signed statement from a licensed physician or licensed optometrist (i) identifying with reasonable specificity the person seeking the written authorization and (ii) stating that, in the physician's or optometrist's professional opinion, the equipping of a vehicle with sun-shading or tinting films or applications is necessary to safeguard the health of the person seeking the written authorization.

Written authorizations issued by the Commissioner under this section shall be valid so long as the condition requiring the use of sun-shading or tinting films or applications persists or until the vehicle is sold, whichever first occurs. Such written authorizations shall permit the approval of any such vehicle upon its safety inspection as required by this chapter if such vehicle otherwise qualifies for inspection approval. In the discretion of the Commissioner, one or more written authorizations may be issued to an individual or a family. The Division of Purchases and Supply, pursuant to § 2.2-1112, shall determine the proper standards for equipment or devices used to measure light transmittance through windows of motor vehicles.

Law-enforcement officers shall use only such equipment or devices to measure light transmittance through windows that meet the standards established by the Division. Such measurements made by law-enforcement officers shall be given a tolerance of minus seven percentage points.

What kind of game are you playing?

[M@X2S5]

I have the sun shading waiver and got pulled over for my tint yesterday by motorcycle FFX cop on 50 who waited for me (metered at 25% no ticket) and this morning by asshole state trooper on 66 (metered at 27% idiot gave me a ticket).

Medical waiver - http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/med20.pdf

I've used TNT Tint in Alexandria for other cars and it was good. I used LA Tint in Alexandria for my car 6 years ago. Still holding strong.

[M@X2S5]

Dude, I have the same exact experience when I moved here from PA.
VA sucks the joy out of being a car enthusiast out of anyone. These robots with badges frustrate me.

my biggest beef with the stupid tint law in VA is, it does NOT matter where your car is registered. I've NEVER had my car registered in VA (damn that stupid property tax and front plate). I am also active duty military so, my car is registered where I claim state residency, PA. Another thing I find hilarious is, according to that chart that floats around showing all the states laws, PA supposedly has the most strict. I've asked several PA cops about the tint laws and they all say the same thing, if they can walk up to the car and see inside with the windows up, they don't care.

I've gotten tint tickets twice in VA, it is usually because the cop pulled me over for not running a front plate, then realizes it isn't a VA registered car and gives me the tint ticket. I always argue that the car is not registered in VA but, they said the law is written to enforce for any vehicle on a VA road. I just always paid it, i think the tickets were roughly $40 each.

[drumnjuny]

I have the sun shading waiver and got pulled over for my tint yesterday by motorcycle FFX cop on 50 who waited for me (metered at 25% no ticket) and this morning by asshole state trooper on 66 (metered at 27% idiot gave me a ticket).

just curious what did u get the waiver signed for? do you just have to mail it in or do you have to go into court?

[DirtD1ver]

Another reason why I don't like VA.

[krazyboi]

just curious what did u get the waiver signed for? do you just have to mail it in or do you have to go into court?

Light sensitivity written off by optometrist works.

[drumnjuny]

nice. now i just need to find an optometrist who would sign off for me.

[JBM]

I have Florida plates now, and I don't give a fuck about my tint. The stupidest thing is that you can limo tint a SUV back with 5% and no one bats an eye.

[vtwinjunkie]

just got my second ticket in the audi the other day. Anyone have experience with repeat offense? I want to make sure that if I keep getting these they wont double and triple in price!!

I have the tint waiver but it only allows for 35% which is a joke as I have a legitimate dr. diagnosed light sensitivity issue.

[ballinb5]

Just got my first one bc I was an idiot. He measured me at 26% rear and 33% front but I only installed 35% all around.

Can water droplets on the window effect the measurement?

If you keep getting them, does anything happen? I just assume anytime a cop runs your plate, they'll see the previous tickets and ticket you again.

Also, if I get the medical waiver now before the court date, do I have a good chance to waive the charge?

Thanks

[Guitarmageddon]

lol at the medical waiver

But hey, plenty of doctors hand out medical marijuana like its candy, so maybe your tint will be easier to get

[The Guvna]

Just following the law resulted in me never getting a ticket instead of having to find excuses and ways to get around it. Crazy!

[chillindrdude]

How much does it cost to have a tint removed?

[i1overice]

How much does it cost to have a tint removed?

A heat gun and time.

[Serpent]

Just following the law resulted in me never getting a ticket instead of having to find excuses and ways to get around it. Crazy!

sounds like a boring way to live....the law is merely a guideline. Don't let the man hold you down!

[k9lovr]

Medical waivers are only good to 35% in Va instead of the 50% legal limit if I remember correct