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Automotive window tinting provides privacy from onlookers, helps keep out the glare of the bright sun and even reduces heat inside your vehicle. Even though window tinting sounds like a good thing, there are regulations on how it can be used to ensure safety of the driver and those around him or her. The Benefits of Tinting Your Car’s Windows Window tinting is popular for many reasons but as the season rapidly transitions to the hot summer months, the fact that it can cool your car’s internal temperature by filtering sunlight is certainly a plus. Tinted windows are designed to reflect the thermal rays from sunlight that cause the temperature to rise. Tinted car windows can also serve as a security measure to keep valuables within your car hidden from plain sight. It can even be a safety mechanism as tint film can prevent glass from shattering in an accident or if a rock hits the windshield. However, if car window tinting is too dark, local officials can cite you — and what constitutes “too dark” all depends on where you live. Every state and even some cities and counties within each state have varying laws about tinting percentage, reflectiveness, color, certification, sticker requirement, location of the tinting (front side, back side and windshield) and medical exemptions. Tint for car windows has been regulated to varying levels in all 50 states because it can decrease visibility, particularly at night. It also decreases law enforcement’s ability to see the person behind the wheel as they approach a vehicle when pulled over. How Window Tinting is Measured There are two ways that tinting is measured. First, measurement considers how dark the tint is, or the Visible Light Transmission percentage (VLT %). This refers to the percentage of visible light that is allowed in through the combination of the window itself as well as the tinting. Second, tinting can also be measured (and thus regulated) by how reflective it is, as some film contains metallic elements that reflect incoming light and reduces glare and heat. Testing your window tint percentage can be done with a meter designed to measure the VLT and reflectiveness. The meter has a slot designed to slide onto a window, once attached to the window, the meter will activate and begin taking measure of the tint. A digital display will then show either the exact tint percentage, or opacity rating. Since all tinting regulations differ from state to state, it is best to check with your local authorities to ensure that your car’s tint falls within the legal range. If you have yet to have your vehicle’s windows tinted after market, verify the laws in your area before you invest in it. That way you won’t unknowingly break any laws and give a police officer a reason to pull you over and give you a costly ticket.
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