Windows tint question - CA

[anguilla1980]

I just made an appointment to have the windows tinted in my 69 Firebird this Saturday.

The car has the factory tinted glass which, you know, is basically not lol. The car is my daily driver and at work all day every day it's parked in the direct sun. I have Vintage Air but dude, the black interior gets hot as balls!

I'd like to hear from members in CA, what is the most tint % I can go with and not get nailed by the cops? I'm not asking the legal limit, I'm asking what I can get away with. The cops in my town don't seem to enforce it hardly at all it seems like. Hell, it seems like new cars are like limo tint in their rear windows from the factory!

I'd like to know the most I can get away with on the door windows, and what I can get away with on the rear side glass and rear window.

Thanks!!

Alex

[TheJDMan]

Are you asking what is legal, or what you can illegally get away with?

[anguilla1980]

"I'm not asking the legal limit, I'm asking what I can get away with"

[KRICH]

There is clear film on the market (LLumar Air Blue 80) you can have installed on the windshield that will cut the amount of UV rays that get threw. I live in South Florida and just had it installed on the windshield of my 2017 Silverado, the cab does not get no where as hot as before having it installed, to be safe I went with legal on the side windows.

[raustinss]

ask the tint shop you plan on using ..... they will know being as you most certainly aren't the only guy to ask this question. if you choose to go darker it might be a case of beer to make it happen and say you don't know where they got done lol

[anguilla1980]

Awesome, I'll ask about the LLumar Air Blue 80!

The shops here will tint whatever the heck you want them to but won't give advice on how much darker to push it past legal because they don't want angry customers if they get tickets.

[Build-It-Break-It]

The darker you make the rear windows the darker the front windows will appear to be.

I think I'd go 50% tint max. That would give you enough shade.

Cops tend not to mess with older muscle cars as much in California.

I've been next to cops tons of times with straight pipes on a 65 mustang and literally have gotten either thumbs up,questions about the set up or simply them looking and driving on by to get real criminals.

[anguilla1980]

50% ok, thanks for the suggestion!

Yeah, I don't get any bother from law enforcement ever in my 69, just all positive like you mentioned.

I looked into the LLumar Air Blue 80 and it looks like 3M Crystaline 70 may be a better choice for the windshied.

[232_ray]

It all depends on the local cops and the area. I have limo all around except for windshield and I don't get hassled. But it's a lifted diesel so cops are cool with me maybe cause I don't look or my truck doesn't look like a threat so they let me slide but if I was bald and driving a low rider I'm sure they have pulled me over long ago. Your asking a question that honestly can't be answered. All depends on your local PD. One day they'll let it slide and the next they might not cause they aren't having a good day?? Gamble away and do limo. Cops usually don't mess with classic cars around my area

[anguilla1980]

Good points, something to consider.

[rbohm]

50% ok, thanks for the suggestion!

Yeah, I don't get any bother from law enforcement ever in my 69, just all positive like you mentioned.

I looked into the LLumar Air Blue 80 and it looks like 3M Crystaline 70 may be a better choice for the windshied.

both films are good ones to use, in california though i would probably recommend using the air blue 80 as it is less likely to be noticed. as for the rest i think cali allows 50% on the front door windows, and 35% on the rest. its been a while since i have checked the laws for that state though so dont quote me on that.

a friend of mine is in the business, and he usually recommends staying as close to legal as possible. that way you avoid any imperial entanglements.

as to what you can get away with, you could probably run 35 all around with air blue on the windshield with no issues.

[Build-It-Break-It]

Tint on driver and passenger windows is illegal in California.

[anguilla1980]

Tint on driver and passenger windows is illegal in California.

Perhaps but it's not enforced at all unless deemed excessive. All new cars for the past 10 years+ with factory tint on the front side windows haven't been an issue.

[groho]

go ahead and give a cop an excuse to pull you over. Though its typically not enforced, tinting driver and pass side is illegal in CA. Like a cracked windshields or a tail light out, its typically not enforced, but if they need justification you just handed it to them.

[anguilla1980]

Not even close to the same thing as a cracked windshield or out taillight, which are enforced.

So you are telling me all these soccer moms in GMC Acadias (just as an example) with factory tinted front side windows are just giving cops an excuse? How is it GM can get away with selling cars like that then?

[groho]

good luck arguing your point with the cop, let us know who wins

[anguilla1980]

good luck arguing your point with the cop, let us know who wins


You're the one that brought it up, so you explain to me how one is legal and the other isn't. I'm calling BS on you, never said I would discuss that point with a cop. If you don't want to defend your statement, you shouldn't have brought it up.

[bs46488]

Here is an abridged summary of the current 2017 CA tint laws:

- Windshield doesn’t legally allow any tinting applied to it
- Front side windows must pass through more than 70% of light inside your car (70% VLT)
- Back side windows and rear window can have any darkness

Personally I think 50% in the front, 35% in the rear LOOKS the best.

[anguilla1980]

Awesome, thanks!!!

[rbohm]

Here is an abridged summary of the current 2017 CA tint laws:

- Windshield doesn’t legally allow any tinting applied to it
- Front side windows must pass through more than 70% of light inside your car (70% VLT)
- Back side windows and rear window can have any darkness

Personally I think 50% in the front, 35% in the rear LOOKS the best.

and in cali, 50/35 should get you past any but the most anal LEOs.

[anguilla1980]

Good deal, I've noted it down and that's what I'll ask my tint guy to do, in addition to the LLumar Air Blue 80 on the windshield.

I think I may also do a 50 strip on the top of the windshield too, the guy should know the law far as how far down is allowed.

[rbohm]

Good deal, I've noted it down and that's what I'll ask my tint guy to do, in addition to the LLumar Air Blue 80 on the windshield.

I think I may also do a 50 strip on the top of the windshield too, the guy should know the law far as how far down is allowed.

there are actually marks on the windshield that indicate how far down from the top that a windshield strip can run. they are hard to see, but there none the less.

[anguilla1980]

Got my tint done today!

Went with SunTek CXP 45 (40% VLT) tint on the doors windows, CXP 18 (16% VLT) on the rear windows.

I'm going back in a couple weeks to get the CXP 80 (80%VLT) on the windshield.

Take that blistering CA sun!

[bs46488]

Let's see a pic.....

[MonzaRacer]

Google tinting as primary or secondary reason for pull over. Here in Indiana you can only tint to 30%& the floor windshield.In Cali it's points and large fine from what I was told by buddy I met at diagnostic class. We were just talking about it. As I just picked up 04 Grand Prix GT. Been debating tint. Even though car still needs engine! Did just score a tuning device for it.
But may have found cheap engine.
Anyway started discussion because my niece works at a ziebart shop. She was trying to be me on what's allowed, what's legal etc. Heck her Escape she just bought she has all windows tinted. Thing is she just got off probation for possession/intoxication. And going through counseling.
I always wonder why people who have been in trouble want to push it.
Oh well most people I know used to do limo tint on back glass and quarter windows, 15-20 on car windows.
For me on my Monza the 1/4 glass will get limo, passenger side door like 15-20 , rear hatch 30% or one of the UV barrier as mentioned and 30% on car window. Windshield might get UV barrier but not huge color change.
Grand Prix I'll probably do limo on sunroof, and passenger and 30% on DS windows, possibly UV on windshield.
I have had to rip tint off at 3am or get towed before. Not fun.
Besides super dark isn't any better..
Best I ever has was a lighter tint but it looked like mirror from outside. And could be had perforated much used to be allowed. But even light tint cuts large amount of heat.
Good luck
Research for tint laws, informative cause tinted windows burnout and aggressive driving could kill licence on points in some states.