Got a ticket for illegal window tint

[Kman 2011 ss]

Ok how does a cop determine what % tint it is?
When you go to court the judge isn't coming out to look at your tint, so does it come down to your word against the cop?
My tint guy will put any % tint on your windows but gives you a receipt for the legal %. So for example I can have 5% tint but if I show up with my receipt for the legal % written to my car info vin# & plate, how does the cop prove I have illegal tint at court?

[brantley847]

Originally Posted by Kman 2011 ss

Ok how does a cop determine what % tint it is?
When you go to court the judge isn't coming out to look at your tint, so does it come down to your word against the cop?
My tint guy will put any % tint on your windows but gives you a receipt for the legal %. So for example I can have 5% tint but if I show up with my receipt for the legal % written to my car info vin# & plate, how does the cop prove I have illegal tint at court?

Handheld Tint meter ... measures how much light can be transmitted through glass or lens.

The meter is calibrated yearly by a technician.. and is tested second before it is placed on your vehicle with a tinted lens. The lens tells the officer what it's % is... he confirms that through the digital reading on the meter.

If you have a competent judge, THAT is the one and only number that should hold any weight in court. I will even show the offender what the reading is, so there is no confusion.

Fact is, your tint installer does not measure the film. What he does is gives you a fabricated film that is set at 15% (for example). If you have a window which has 70% tint stock like the camaro does, that brings that 15 down even further.. I requested 25% on my vehicle. I didn't realize the window is was pre-treated. Subsequently, my % went down to 22-23 percent when I tested it at work...

Your tint man cutting you a receipt means nothing, with all due respect. It can be altered very easily and is not a sworn affidavit.

[chuckstacamaro]

There should be one standard for the whole US..... like 28% to 35 % Tint (which is within reason).

If tints were standardized, people would be able to drive from state to state without fear of being illegal. It is sad some states have tint limits of only 50 to 70% tint or no tint at all. And then you have other states that allow tints as low as 20%.

Not too long ago I got pulled over while passing through another state that had a 50% limit. I have 35% tint on my Camaro which is legal for GA. I was inconvienced for 20 minutes while the trooper checked my tints and determined that I was within legal limits for GA, (I am in Law Enforcement but no professional courtesy was shown nor expected), then I went my merry way without being issued a citation. I think that some states create restrictive and unreasonable window tint laws 50% to no tint only to give LEO's a reason to stop out of state cars just to produce revenue.

This is why I believe there should be one legal tint limit throughout the US. If there was one standardized National US window tint limit people would be able to drive through other states without fear of being stopped because their window tints may or may not be legal in the state they are passing through. There would be no confusion on the legal limits and everyone would know where they stand.

[Hetfield03]

This is sort of off topic, but does anyone finding themselves being pulled over more because they're in a camaro?

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by Hetfield03

This is sort of off topic, but does anyone finding themselves being pulled over more because they're in a camaro?

Well, when I had my 06 GTO, 17% tint I never got pulled over, but I had heard of plenty that did. It ruined my enjoyement of the car cause I was worried about getting pulled over all the time. Not tinting this car. I don't want the headache. Oh, and if I can't tint dark, I don't want it either.

[joes407]

i didnt know a cop out of state could give a tint ticket to a vehicle registered in another state as you were just passing through and shouldnt be held to georgia state inspection laws.

[Kman 2011 ss]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kman 2011 ss
Ok how does a cop determine what % tint it is?
When you go to court the judge isn't coming out to look at your tint, so does it come down to your word against the cop?
My tint guy will put any % tint on your windows but gives you a receipt for the legal %. So for example I can have 5% tint but if I show up with my receipt for the legal % written to my car info vin# & plate, how does the cop prove I have illegal tint at court?

Originally Posted by Brantley847
Handheld Tint meter ... measures how much light can be transmitted through glass or lens.

The meter is calibrated yearly by a technician.. and is tested second before it is placed on your vehicle with a tinted lens. The lens tells the officer what it's % is... he confirms that through the digital reading on the meter.

Ok so much like with a speeding summons & radar there is now a tintmeter that cops carry to check tint. How common is a tintmeter to the average patrol officer or is it only state troopers & highway officers?
Damn the job has changed since I retired.

[Hetfield03]

I already donate to the KY Fraternal Order of Police. I wonder if ordering an FOP plate would make them smile a bit extra. Lol. I'm pretty good with following the speed limit in my Buick Century, but I seem to have a knack for getting pulled over for ticky tack stuff like no signal on right hand turn. Once I didn't wear my seatbelt literally going from one parking lot to another in the same strip and got cited for no belt. The only only time I've not worn it. My mom and dad never wear their belts!

[brantley847]

Originally Posted by Hetfield03

This is sort of off topic, but does anyone finding themselves being pulled over more because they're in a camaro?

Only once and I deserved it... no I don't buy the whole "cops watch nicer cars" deal. The reason we get pulled over more is because it is damn near impossible not to speed or keep your foot of the gas lol

[oldfriend]

Originally Posted by upflying

In Ca, some folks put illegal tint on their car so you can't see them holding a cell phone, texting or not wearing a seat belt. Some driver's also like to watch you without you knowing it. Some driver's like the anonymity tint gives.
As a general practice, I give what is commonly called "professional courtesy" to other LEO's. Some people (including arrogant cops) can talk themselves into a ticket. This is probably what occurred here. Would be nice if we heard the story as told by the GA cop.
In Ca, illegal tint is a correctable offense. Dismissed upon proof correction and paying a $25 fee.

I think that the driver is the one who get the tkt ,it does not mater who owns the car , right .

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by brantley847

Only once and I deserved it... no I don't buy the whole "cops watch nicer cars" deal. The reason we get pulled over more is because it is damn near impossible not to speed or keep your foot of the gas lol

I wish all cops were like you.

[brantley847]

Originally Posted by joes407

i didnt know a cop out of state could give a tint ticket to a vehicle registered in another state as you were just passing through and shouldnt be held to georgia state inspection laws.

I don't necessarily agree with the law, but once you enter a separate state you are required to abide by their laws unless it is addressed in their state statutes. Such as the gentleman from NY stated, NY may not issue for out of state equipment violations...however, most states do not restrict their officers in such a way.. that can be a good and bad thing. It can allow many really, REALLY bad people to slip between the cracks.

Here is my personal feeling... If my windows are at X percent and that is legal in my HOME state, then the officer from the adjacent state should cut me a break (but he doesn't have too). However, like the OP stated hers were illegal in FLORIDA anyways... then no, she doesn't deserve a warning for that.

Originally Posted by Kman 2011 ss

Ok so much like with a speeding summons & radar there is now a tintmeter that cops carry to check tint. How common is a tintmeter to the average patrol officer or is it only state troopers & highway officers?
Damn the job has changed since I retired.

Right, and they are assigned individual serial numbers to correspond with the cert and citation. The job has indeed changed...The general public does not think law enforcement has their bases covered civilly and the joke that cops aren't prepared, lazy, or uneducated are very quickly becoming a thing of the past (at least here in FL)...my department won't even look at your app without a masters degree now (or combat tested military). My neighboring agency won't touch you without a B.A. degree AND military.. this economy have given Law enforcement the fortunate opportunity to pick exceptional candidates.. No one is making great money right now it seems, so why not have fun while you do it and join this career. Now the recruitment pool has almost tripled in size. A normal stack of applicants used to be 50-100 in a few months... now we see 200-300 applications received each and every month. Any respectable department which is up to standards (assuming the cop shows up) will not lose a court hearing for speed or tint. With all the daily testing of our materials, it is hard not to convince a judge when every day all they hear is "no way I was doing that"...

They are rather common. I would say more than half now have them, and probably ALL state troopers...They are rather cheap considering it is only a light that is transmitted through a piece of glass and then read... If I think the tint is under 10%, I will have a unit bring me one. I am geared towards K9 development and new officer training (the dogs are smarter), so I do not carry a laser, hand held radar or tint meter anymore... However, if I get someone with an attitude or below 10% I can get a zone partner to bring me one within 90 seconds as someone on my shift will have one.

[Hetfield03]

Originally Posted by brantley847

I don't necessarily agree with the law, but once you enter a separate state you are required to abide by their laws unless it is addressed in their state statutes. Such as the gentleman from NY stated, NY may not issue for out of state equipment violations...however, most states do not restrict their officers in such a way.. that can be a good and bad thing. It can allow many really, REALLY bad people to slip between the cracks.

Here is my personal feeling... If my windows are at X percent and that is legal in my HOME state, then the officer from the adjacent state should cut me a break (but he doesn't have too). However, like the OP stated hers were illegal in FLORIDA anyways... then no, she doesn't deserve a warning for that.




Right, and they are assigned individual serial numbers to correspond with the cert and citation. The job has indeed changed...The general public does not think law enforcement has their bases covered civilly and the joke that cops aren't prepared, lazy, or uneducated are very quickly becoming a thing of the past (at least here in FL)...my department won't even look at your app without a masters degree now. Any respectable department which is up to standards (assuming the cop shows up) will not lose a court hearing for speed or tint. With all the daily testing of our materials, it is hard not to convince a judge when every day all they hear is "no way I was doing that"...

They are rather common. I would say more than half now have them, and probably ALL state troopers...They are rather cheap considering it is only a light that is transmitted through a piece of glass and then read... If I think the tint is under 10%, I will have a unit bring me one. I am geared towards K9 development and new officer training (the dogs are smarter), so I do not carry a laser, hand held radar or tint meter anymore... However, if I get someone with an attitude or below 10% I can get a zone partner to bring me one within 90 seconds as someone on my shift will have one.

Yet another benefit of being polite courteous and respectful of our law enforcement.


Whatever makes both our jobs easier imo.

[angie7]

We feel the ticket should've went to my b/f considering he was the registered owner of the car and there was no way for me to know what the % of tint was since I'm a citizen and dont carry a tint meter. We are not disputing the ticket b/c the tint is illegal, we are disputing the fact that I got the ticket and not my b/f. We could understand if I was driving the car alone w/o the registered owner but he was in the car with me.

And FTR, it was a city cop, not a state cop. And sorry, even tho my b/f is a cop, he will even admit the cops in Ga are a-holes. My b/f give professional courtesy to fellow out of state cops but he says no more. He had no reason to pull us over other then a flashy car from out of state. Easy $$.