PA window tint

Thank you, I’m genuinely curious what happens if a car comes from the factory with tint that’s less than 70%. If you got pulled over, I wonder what would happen

Depends on the police officer. I know a few who will write the ticket. Dicks if you ask me but I understand why the law is there

I’d like to assume that cars are made with legal and safe tint levels.

Doesn't matter. PA has a minimum VLT and if you violate that, you broke the law. Doesn't matter where the tint came from. That's like saying "well it came from the factory without a catalytic converter, I should still be allowed to pass emissions inspection."

Whether or not you actually get cited is dependent on the cop and his/her mood that day.

State cops will pull you over for window tint as an excuse, if they feel like it. City and County cops don’t give a shit.

This is very well said… it’s me always looking for loopholes so thank you for the clarification lol

Same here but I’ve heard some have it more, don’t know how true that is

Ikr like I got pulled over for window tint at midnight as the excuse, hence why I hopped on here to ask

Well said 👍

Factory window tint will be labeled as that. If a ticket is given it can be beat in court.

So if let’s say for example, someone had 50% factory window tint while the legal amount is 70%. How does the officer/court know that the car came with that? Because they could argue that you put it on yourself

Township / Borough cops have always been the worst with equipment violations.

are you a police officer or have one in the family?

It should have factory markings on the glass

What factory makes a car for sale in the US with non legal window tint? Probably none.

I don't think this is true else there would be an exception in the law. The pdf is very clear that 70 percent is the law.

I also don't know any car that is produced with illegal window tint.

What pdf are you referring to ?

Sorry. The top comment "pa window tint" links to the official state pdf

Nope just asking since I’ve been pulled over for tint before and it was at night

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I wasn’t sure if they do make them like that from the factory, I just heard it somewhere and wasn’t sure if it’s true

NY and CA have the same window tint law as PA. My guess is that most of not all states have the same law. Auto companies are not gonna make different windows for different states. Seems like the law for most or all states is 70 percent so if a state allows darker tint then that can be added on later by the owner.

Here's the list. https://www.tinting-laws.com/

I'm sure manufacturers just pick the most restrictive laws (looks like PA, NY, CA and other states) and make all windows like that else would need 51 different window packages at the factory and then they couldn't move supply around from state to state, and then people couldn't register their car in different states without replacing the windows.

A dealership sold me a car with window tint that exceeded what PA allows. He told me that like it was cool and I made him take it off before I left with it. I was like 20 years old any not trying to invite police attention lol.

(This isn’t to refute what your saying. It just sparked a memory that seemed relevant. It wasn’t from the factory like that.)

Former public defender here. Cops have no way of knowing when they drive past you what percentage your tint is. Therefore, there are regulations in place that allow a cop to pull you over if you are driving a regular car (coupe/sedan/hatchback) and they cannot see the occupants of the vehicle. Most importantly, it’s often used as a pretext for a stop- meaning, it’s a high crime/drug area and cops are playing the odds that if they pull over the car with tinted windows, they’ll find some excuse to search the car and find some other evidence of illegal activity.

That is 100% why you got pulled over. They only use it as an excuse. I have limo tint on my sedan and I’ve never once been pulled over because I only drive to pickup my kids from school.

Oh totally agree. “City” cops are bored and loved to terrorize helpless citizens.

Smart… I might wait until I move to Arizona since their tint law is way more lenient

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I see you got the answer to your question, and you’ll probably be dealing with a “fix-it” ticket. However, if you can get a doctor’s note as to why you need tint, they can’t make you take it off in the future.

All of my vehicles are tinted. Privacy and heat resistance (if you use a proper film, not the cheap stuff) is pretty nice for summer. However, I’m legally allowed to have tint thanks to less than stellar eyesight. Helps block out the sun and drivers who installed ridiculously bright headlights. It makes driving much easier. The DMV/ DOT is aware, too.

This is just food for thought if you think your situation would warrant tint. If you just want it for personal reasons, be prepared to get annoyed by LE.

Ah that makes sense, thank you for the link. It really would be difficult for them to make different kinds of tint with all different laws

This honestly might sound like a route to go, hopefully it’s not to difficult. Let’s say you were pulled over for it, would you just present the doctors note? Not sure how it works lol

I see, so basically I risk getting pulled over with any tint because they still have the option to test it and if it’s legal? I’m assuming you’re let go if they don’t find other reasons to keep you, which is what sometimes those stops are meant to do, which is to start other issues

MV-402 is the form number. It gives you a medical exemption. Your doctor fills out the bottom portion and signs — usually it’s related to eyes so you’d be seeing an optometrist or something similar.

I’ll look into it! I have really bad nearsightedness so maybe that might help my case idk

My sister purchased a brand new Acura from a dealership in AZ with legal tint according to AZ. She then moved to NC and was unable to register her car there due to the tint being illegal for NC, even though it was factory tint.

Thanks for this form number. My sister has a sun allergy and even with UV sleeves and gloves she can burn in a car. She got a strong tint and has a note from her doctor in her glove box but maybe this form would be safer.

I ride around with 5% and have never had a problem

On a sedan or coupe (determined by registration), rear and all side windows must ADMIT 70% of available light. No tint is allowed below the "AS1" line on the windshield. Most models come from the factory with this level of tint. Unscrupulous or misinformed installers will insist you are allowed to BLOCK 70%. This is not true. The tint level is NOT part of the state inspection procedure, thus may or may not pass, according to the whim of the mechanic, who is only required to make sure the windows are not "obstructed". Police with a measuring device "tint meter" may check this and cite accordingly. On a registered truck or station wagon (vans, suv), windows behind the driver's door are permitted any level of tint. Driver and front passenger doors must follow the 70% rule.

do you want every cop in every jurisdiction to have a reason to pull you over anytime they want to? then go ahead and tint away

The answer is an inverse proportion. How dark is your skin?

Factory is different, but that's tinted glass and not tinted windows. There will be a decal/code whatever it is on your window stating the federal code or whatever it is.
I have mine tinted 35%. On certain angles it can look dark, but it's not. If I was pulled over, you would be able to see in perfectly fine.
Just don't go super dark and do stupid things to get pulled over and you should be fine.

If your car came factory without a catalytic converter then yes you will pass emissions. Cars had different emissions over the years, you are required to pass the emissions for your year.

Factory tint is federally approved. It will not violate state law.

It is true. Or way more than one car would be in violation. Factory tint has long been a standard. There is a code on the glass that states this. I am not an office, but I would assume they need to be trained on it. Not to mention easy to tell difference between factory and added tint. Factor the glass is tinted, aftermarket it's a film on the window.

Well said

How would that make a difference getting pulled over at night if you’re driving 40mph past a cop?

I know this isn't the question, but I think tinted windows are one of those car "safety" features that just make it more dangerous for everyone not in the car. When I'm walking or biking, I rely a lot on being able to see the face of drivers near me so I know that they can see me before I use a crosswalk or make a turn. I need to know if a driver sees me or if they are just looking at their phone. Can't do that with tinted windows.

Anything that brings you to the attention of the cops increases your chance of getting a ticket. The darker your skin color, the more likely you are to be shot and/or given the ticket. Put those two things together, and it's a recipe for problems. But given your answer I assume you're at the lighter end of the melanin spectrum

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I guess I should’ve stated it better, I meant more so how will a cop notice your skin tone that quick if you drive past him at night going let’s say 40-50mph and he’s pulled over on the side of the road with his headlights off, but then again I might just be reaching for a one-of-a-kind scenario

He/she wont know what you look like until 1-he runs your plate and sees your license photo, or 2- sees you in person. But the dark windows draws attention either way. Do you plan legal tint or darker than legal?

This is bad information. Medical tint is permitted with a doctors note, but it’s only colorless tint. Not the typical tint you see on most cars.

They almost never pull you over for window tint. I was pulled over once for window tint, a small town where they didn’t recognize my car. Supposedly the business owner I knew complained about it and supposedly it won’t happen again.

It’s basically probable cause but most cops claim they don’t pull people over for it at all and were surprised when I claimed I had been. Just don’t try being a dick if you do get pulled over because there’s always that to get cited on

It’s not bad information. I said it was possible to get a medical exemption to use tint. I didn’t say what kind of tint. Anyone can read the form and rules.

Honestly at this point I don’t think I’m gonna get it because I know how pissed off I’ll be if it results in a ticket or even a search. Just sucks that other states are so much more lenient with tint

I don't know that other states are more lenient. but don't forget, there is tinting that is legal. Only the limo tint and the super dark tints are illegal, and that's based on a good idea because it makes it hard for the driver to see (at least a little) but more importantly if cops approach super dark wibdows they cannot see inside and they may walking right up to a gun pointed at them. Check out the legal stuff, you may like it

Honestly that is a fair point, however I know I’m just doing it for the privacy and reduction in sun glare. Also just for reference, I don’t know how up to date this article is but there’s literally around 8 states that have such strict tint laws. For example you have Michigan over here with any % allowed. Of course we got the luck of the draw lol

Article: https://instamotor.com/blog/window-tinting-laws-50-states