By hannover-web.com In sunny Southern California, where the UV rays can be relentless, many drivers resort to applying window tint to their cars for shade. However, these window tints have landed some in hot water, as evidenced by a recent incident involving a Chinese-American woman named Joan. She received a ticket from the police for violating California’s window tinting regulations. On top of the fine, she was also ordered to remove the tint and obtain local law enforcement certification.
Joan explained her decision to tint her windows: “With the strong UV rays here, I wanted to prevent sunburn, so I applied dark tint to all my car windows. For years, I never had an issue.” But during a recent trip to Ojai in Ventura County with family and friends, she was stopped by the police who issued her a ticket not for parking but for her window tint. Although the ticket cost only $25, the police insisted she remove the film from both her windshield and the driver’s side window and get it certified by local authorities. While she found out the cost to remove and reapply the film could be several hundred dollars, she had no choice but to comply; otherwise, her fine could escalate to $197.
Joan is not alone in this dilemma. Many car owners, like Ms. Xu, are also tinting their vehicles to shield themselves from the sun. “When I got my windows tinted, the staff informed me that my tints exceeded legal limits, but usually, police don’t check, and no one gets fined,” she shared.
However, some drivers have faced penalties due to their excessively dark tints. According to KTLA, in mid-August, a man was asked to pull over by a patrol officer because the tint on his Dodge Challenger was too dark for compliance.
The dangers associated with dark tints are not just about fines. Mr. Liu recalls being ticketed a few years back for his dark window film. “Having excessively dark tints is not only a ticket risk, but it can also be hazardous—especially at night. If it’s too dark outside, people inside can’t see what’s happening around them, leading to possible dangers from pedestrians, other vehicles, or animals. It’s particularly risky for older drivers with deteriorating eyesight; they should avoid dark tints altogether.”
Lieutenant Erin Liu from the Temple City division of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department elaborated on the risks for law enforcement. “Dark tints can pose significant dangers for police officers. If they can’t see inside the vehicle, they don’t know the occupants’ actions, making them vulnerable when approaching the vehicle to question the driver. While California law sets brightness limits for windshields and front windows, officers use these regulations as a basis for traffic stops but don’t aim to write tickets. Officers typically understand that most people apply tint for sun protection, as long as they can see into the vehicle.”
