Pennsylvania Window Tint Laws... Anyone know them well?

**EErie B6** · 10-25-2011 08:58 AM

I hate asking this question but, I can't find an answer so I am going to anyways.

Is anyone familiar with the ACTUAL LAWS on PA window tint?

I have not seen a single thing on the PA DMV site or anywhere else that says tint is actually illegal.

The 2 lines I keep seeing everywhere say:
1) "only sunscreening "which does not permit a person to see or view the inside of the vehicle" is prohibited"
and
2) "No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sun screening device or other material which does not permit a person to see or view the inside of the vehicle through the windshield, side wing or side window of the vehicle."

My windows are tinted all around (except the windshield) I don't know the actual % but you CAN see through even the tinted front windows. I can make out people sitting in the seat, when the car is not occupied, I can see the front seats, the center console, the steering wheel, Audi logo...etc. It is a little dark but it is not "limo tint" or whatever people call it.

I ask because I don't want to vandalize my car if I don't have to. I also have an infant son whom my wife is nursing. The added privacy is nice when we are out in public and he needs to feed. That is just one of several reasons of why I'd like to keep it although I do have more including medical issues with my other child.

The reason I ask is because I did get pulled over the other day. The cop gave me a verbal warning (and 5 days to fix it) and threatened me with $200+ in fines. Nothing was actually written or documented. If it were anywhere else, Id probably just blow it off and not sweat it, but this is a local cop and he pulled me over < 2 blocks from my house... so I know we will meet again, it's only a matter of time.

My hope is that someone who KNOWS or is possibly a PA Officer/Trooper will speak up and enlighten me... but all comments are welcome, just keep it on topic.

Thanks guys/gals!

Pic of the vehicle in question...

**BUSAfREAkA4** · 10-25-2011 09:08 AM

I lived in PA for a solid 5 years John. I had 5% on my car for the whole time. I was never pulled over for it. Never harassed. I would say you'll be just fine. I have herd that 37% is the legal limit. That is hearsay if you ask me, because with everything you looked up, it would seem to me that all tinit period is illegal. Tint, (if the officer wants to be a dick) is definitely a "form" of screening. The law is loose with their definitions to give officers that right.

So, if I were to make an assumption, it's all illegal, but a tint ticket is only $54 here in NJ, so I don't see it being any worse out there. If it does happen, the cop either had a bad day, or you made him look short. Two very plausable scenarios. lol. It's a cheap learning experience. I'd say it's safe to roll the dice on this one and see how long you can get away with it. Again, thats just me.

**vintagespin** · 10-25-2011 09:15 AM

I found this:

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms...ets/fs-sun.pdf

**EErie B6** · 10-25-2011 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by BUSAfREAkA4

I lived in PA for a solid 5 years John. I had 5% on my car for the whole time. I was never pulled over for it. Never harassed. I would say you'll be just fine. I have herd that 37% is the legal limit. That is hearsay if you ask me, because with everything you looked up, it would seem to me that all tinit period is illegal. Tint, (if the officer wants to be a dick) is definitely a "form" of screening. The law is loose with their definitions to give officers that right.

So, if I were to make an assumption, it's all illegal, but a tint ticket is only $54 here in NJ, so I don't see it being any worse out there. If it does happen, the cop either had a bad day, or you made him look short. Two very plausable scenarios. lol. It's a cheap learning experience. I'd say it's safe to roll the dice on this one and see how long you can get away with it. Again, thats just me.

lol @ made him look short.

looking at the info that I have found, IMO, my car is legal. you can see the inside of the car from the windshield as well as through the actual tinted windows.

aside from that, I have several legitimate reasons (not that that I expect some sort of double standard but, its not like I am some gun/drug toting hood trying to get away with illegal activities in my car). I don't care if he screens me, but don't tell me to fix something that's not actually a violation. I have nothing shady on file. No tickets, no accidents *knocks on wood* (watch me get hit tomorrow) NOTHING. Screen me, ask me if i'm drunk, whatever BS story you want to make up, but don't try and get me to vandalize my car to support your ego.

Originally Posted by vintagespin

I found this:

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms...ets/fs-sun.pdf

Thanks Vintage. I have not seen that.

EDIT: and it pointed me towards this: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms...rms/mv-402.pdf
...which apparently trumps my previous thoughts... things are not looking good.

**blacka4** · 10-26-2011 02:15 AM

Yes, any Tint in PA is illegal, that did not come from the factory. Now I remember reading that you have medical issues with a child, why don't you try and get a medical excemption.

I had 35 all the way around on my old B5, was only bothered once. and that was by local PD after I did 40 in a 25. He asked me to roll the windows up I said "No" he then said he was going to get out the light meter. I asked when the last time it was calibrated, he didn't know, and let me on my way

**CCA4** · 10-26-2011 05:34 AM

I lived in PA for many years and the tint tickets were $100/window IIRC.

**EErie B6** · 10-26-2011 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by blacka4

Yes, any Tint in PA is illegal, that did not come from the factory. Now I remember reading that you have medical issues with a child, why don't you try and get a medical excemption.

I had 35 all the way around on my old B5, was only bothered once. and that was by local PD after I did 40 in a 25. He asked me to roll the windows up I said "No" he then said he was going to get out the light meter. I asked when the last time it was calibrated, he didn't know, and let me on my way

I didn't want to go the medical route if I didn't have to. I also didn't find anything allowing colored tint.

Originally Posted by CCA4

I lived in PA for many years and the tint tickets were $100/window IIRC.

that it is. Being a wagon, it is classified as an SUV, so he's really only asking me to scrape the front 2 windows.

**blacka4** · 10-26-2011 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by EErie B6

I didn't want to go the medical route if I didn't have to. I also didn't find anything allowing colored tint.

that it is. Being a wagon, it is classified as an SUV, so he's really only asking me to scrape the front 2 windows.

Colored Tint?? never heard of such a thing

and i think the medical route would be the best bet. thats if you can get a DR to sign off on it. or just remove the tint from the front 2 windows

**EErie B6** · 10-26-2011 08:30 AM

Colored meaning smoked like what's on the car. The only thing I saw for medical exemptions was basically a clear film that was nothing more than a uv filter.

I could get the DR hookup pretty easy. The problem I have is none of the doctors I know have any idea of how to do it. From what I can see I also have to send in a form to the DMV bit that form only covers the clear uv filter crap.

**blacka4** · 10-27-2011 09:01 AM

oh I didn't know their was a clear uv film you could get. i don't know. I would either prepare to pay the fines of getting caught or remove the front 2 windows and maybe go lighter

**ChrisB8S4** · 11-14-2011 04:03 PM

Got pulled over for my 35% tint 1 week after I got it in Hershey PA.

**viceprp** · 11-23-2011 08:50 AM

Sedan's:

Any none factory tint is ILLEGAL. It is legal to run 70% on any car in the front windows BUT on sedans. These cars aren't allowed ANY tint, even if it's a legal %.

SUV's:

They can run 70% up front and as dark as limo tint in the rear.

I run 35% and have recieved 5 tickets over the past 6 years of ownership. The fines run $109.xx (cheapest ticket in PA) and are total bullshit. I've only recieved one speeding ticket in my lifetime and hassled over tint more then anything.

**Yesmar** · 11-25-2011 10:37 AM

this is our a6, havent had any problems. she has even got speeding tickets with it and no one has mentioned tint. i dont know what the % is but it almost looks like your eerie

**viceprp** · 11-26-2011 05:30 AM

Looks like 15-20%.

Just to clearify on what I posted. Sedan's cannot have any tint on any of its windows beside factory. So running with rear tint and factor front's won't fly with the cops. IDK how my car is such a magnet but I've never been given a speeding ticket for 6 yrs (only one in my life) in my old S-10.

**lookaught** · 11-28-2011 05:50 PM

I think tickets really depend on you location. I and many friends have driving for the past 10+ years near Pittsburgh with 30% - 40% tint and tickets have been rare. I've never even been pulled over or asked about it when pulled over for other things.

My plan if I do get pulled over is to say it was on the car when I bought it and that I travel frequently to the south and hope for mercy.

If I were getting tint again, I'd still get 40% (33% after application). It's a good %. Not too dark, not too light.

**bman005** · 12-01-2011 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by lookaught

I think tickets really depend on you location. I and many friends have driving for the past 10+ years near Pittsburgh with 30% - 40% tint and tickets have been rare. I've never even been pulled over or asked about it when pulled over for other things.

My plan if I do get pulled over is to say it was on the car when I bought it and that I travel frequently to the south and hope for mercy.

If I were getting tint again, I'd still get 40% (33% after application). It's a good %. Not too dark, not too light.

Location is a big thing. Hershey/Hummelstown area locals will pull you over for a loud stereo (Happened to me a few times in High School). As far as State Inspection goes you can't fail it for tint unless its on the front window below the AS1 line. But the cops are allowed to pull you over if they "believe it is too dark" At least thats how it was explained to us at the last Inspection meeting. The State Trooper at the meeting did say that they typically "just let it go" because they have more important things to do. But we all know how locals can be, that being said I've been driving for 15 years and have always had a tinted vehicle but have never even gotten a warning for mine

**EErie B6** · 12-02-2011 06:23 AM

Thanks for the other points of view guys.

I have decided to do the responsible thing... and leave my tint as is lol.

At first I had planned to remove it, then I started looking at the vehicles around town, and tins is EVERYWHERE. I'm not going to vandalize my vehicle because the cop was having a bad day. It was on the car when I bought it, it is a very nice thing to have, and I have my reasons for it being there. I'm going to continue to take my chances and if I run across the same officer, hopefully I can explain my way out of it. *shrugs*

**theklug** · 12-02-2011 07:51 AM

As everyone else stated....location, location, location.

I've gotten pulled over twice going through the boonies of eastern PA when cops had nothing else better to do (It's kinda hard when you drive a loud, brilliant red audi) Gave me a warning, waited two weeks, then get a citation in the mail to just pay off to keep them quiet. It's one of those laws that doesn't quiet exist but they put up a big deal about it. I have 20%, in the summer I'll roll my windows down if I pull up next to a cop just to play it safe. The tint shop that did mine told me if I ever get pulled over, roll your windows down, put your overhead lights on and you hands on the wheel. That way they can see you and can't put up a stink about the tint.

I'm sure you saw this site already, this guys goes in PA tint laws DEEP.
http://www.berksweb.com/users/dmv/tint/

**ChrisB8S4** · 12-12-2011 07:14 PM

Just be careful in the boonies (Elizabethtown/Hershey) like theklug says. Cops have nothing to do there but pull people over for tint.

**mdma2004** · 12-13-2011 04:28 AM

PA cops are on a look out for tint....seems like they have nothing else better to do...I've only lived in PA for less than 2 years...and got pulled over or commented more than 6 times about my tint...which is limo in the back and around 30% on the front...last time it happened just a few weeks ago...but I'm not taking my tint off cause I like the privacy!
So I've been pulled about 10 times in PA in just two years...thats more than in my whole combined driving experience of 10 years, WTF PA?
Money spent on tickets: 0$...thank God!

**rxrep** · 12-14-2011 09:38 AM

20% on everything but windhsield for me on every car I own and have not been messed with ever anywhere in PA, even when pulled over for speeding. I travel to most every hospital in the state for work, so I hit everywhere. Company car is even tinted out. Never a problem.

This isn't directed at anyone here and don't want to get in to the racial profiling aspect or anything, but in general, the more reefed your car is visually, the more likely you will get bothered, from what I've seen. I've got friends with pimped out civics... to grossly oversized rims on Lexus', and they are always getting hit for tint. Not to mention, when my window rolls down and they see some old guy with a kid in the back seat, I doubt they think I'm much of a threat, lol.

**Lazydog** · 12-16-2011 05:25 AM

I'm running 18% right now and am waiting for the first time I get pulled over. The plan is to roll down all the windows so the cop cnanot complain that he cannot see the inside of the car. It is my understanding that this is the reason for the tint laws, to protect the officers when they approch the vehicle. Guess I am goin to have to contact my state rep and see what can be done to change this law.

**Hrushka** · 12-16-2011 08:01 AM

I had 12% on the backs, and 14% on the fronts. Been living in the VA/DC area I must have been pulled over 7 times due to window tint, 3 of them were during the day. After I got the last ticket, I stripped all tint. It wasn't worth the hassle, thinking about throwing 30-35% up in the next two months now.

**viceprp** · 12-21-2011 10:42 AM

Cop magnet. Fairly quiet exhaust (for now) but I'm pulled over all the time. Twice when on the way to a NY funeral. Of course, I got off but I've had 3 tickets when the car was packed with my family. I'm just down on my luck I guess.

**Yesmar** · 12-21-2011 09:54 PM

Looks good. eF tint, lets race!

**Baby Kito** · 12-22-2011 08:03 PM

I was pulled over in upper harrisburg during T4T meet and the cop gauged my windows at 4.5% all around and said 70% was the limit. He handed me a paper that stated that as well. First time I've ever been pulled over and I mean You can't see anything with that tint, And I even have a strip on my windshield. But thats the limit currently.

**Lazydog** · 12-23-2011 05:29 AM

OK, but did he give you a fix-it ticket? There is no law that requires tint to be 70% or above in PA. Police are only interrupting it that way. And that is where the “gottcha” is. People believe because a police officer tells you something that it is the law. Fact of the matter is what they are telling you is what they believe the law is. It happens all the time and police get away with it because people don’t stand up to them.

Here is a link for you to look at.

PA Tint laws

**EErie B6** · 12-26-2011 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by Lazydog

OK, but did he give you a fix-it ticket? There is no law that requires tint to be 70% or above in PA. Police are only interrupting it that way. And that is where the “gottcha” is. People believe because a police officer tells you something that it is the law. Fact of the matter is what they are telling you is what they believe the law is. It happens all the time and police get away with it because people don’t stand up to them.

Here is a link for you to look at.

PA Tint laws

^similar claims to this is actually why I started this thread. Thanks for posting that. I wanted to see where this thread went with out me starting it off in a particular direction.

One question I do have is if it's not illegal, why/how do they have a specific fine for it?

**Lazydog** · 12-26-2011 09:18 AM

It isn't a fine. It should be a fix-it ticket. The fine only happens after you fail to fix-it. I haven't been able to find where someone has gone to court over this. I think this is what is going to have to happen before this gets fixed just like in the right to have arms. Cop pull this shit all the time and only after it goes to court are they willing to back down.

**xhackerekx** · 12-31-2011 01:11 PM

3 month ago cop pull me over on I-81 Hazleton area for to dark tint 30% give me ticket for 79$ and send to re inspection car with 14 days after ticket issue on state police and explain me procedure remove tint and go to inspection says or state send u ticket for $400 and court expenses. i drive my other cars with more dark tint over 10 years and never have ticket for tint , this is my first :)

**csh724** · 01-10-2012 12:49 PM

I got pulled over once for speeding and got an addition fine for my tint on my maxima a couple years back. I went to court to fight it. What I found out from the judge is that there is no PA state law that says there is a tint limit. It is only a PENNDOT rule which is not enforceable! there are two federal standards that PA has to follow both in which state allowing up to 25%. If I can find the name of those two standards ill post them. Now I lost my case because the cop wrote me up as "unlawful activities" and said he could do whatever he wants. The Cop afterward said I had all the right evidence to clear the charge but they use "unlawful activities" as their own loop-hole to this situation. Also that was a state trooper, I have never had an issue with a local. Hope this helps

**Lazydog** · 01-11-2012 05:10 AM

Please do, as I would like to have this information too to read over.

**csh724** · 01-11-2012 06:39 AM

Ok so I found a bunch of information on this and I have a couple links to point everyone to. first is the site listed below it has a bunch of information reguarding what the laws saw and points you to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard-205 (FMVSS-205) and the American National standard (ANS-Z26). These are the two regulations that PA must comply with.
http://www.berksweb.com/users/dmv/tint/why.html
Next is an excerpt from the PA code 175.67. Look at Letter D part 4.
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/06...5/s175.67.html
The last two links come from the FMVSS and the ANS websits. For the FMVSS please refer to section 205.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/impo...dex.html#SN205
Last from the ANS. This is a copy of standard ANS-Z26. Please refer to page 4 Item 3 at the bottom left of the page.
http://www.interautoglass.org/conten...nsi_z26_11.pdf

hope this helps

**viceprp** · 01-13-2012 05:00 AM

Unlawful Activities is the proper classification for a tint ticket. No loophole there.

**blacka4** · 01-13-2012 08:41 AM

how is tint an unlawful activities ticket?

**csh724** · 01-13-2012 11:33 AM

Beats me, but when I got my speeding ticket my second ticket for the tint was unlawful activities

**redcon1** · 02-07-2012 09:06 AM

Man this is a tangled web of BS laws in PA (kind of like the Liquor Laws)! I'm going to tint the Avant anyway and hope for the best.

**Lazydog** · 02-10-2012 04:13 AM

I could not agree with you more.

**EErie B6** · 02-13-2012 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by redcon1

Man this is a tangled web of BS laws in PA (kind of like the Liquor Laws)! I'm going to tint the Avant anyway and hope for the best.

Isn't it some shady crap?

There really seems to be no definitive answer which leads me to believe there really is no law about tint.

As for the "unlawful activities" that's BS, I want to know what EXACTLY I have done. If there is no tent law then my "activities" are not "unlawful". If tint is illegal, then write me a ticket directly for that. That's literally as bad as pulling someone over because they "look" suspicious. Which is profiling and something I thought was technically illegal. I close and lock my front door at night, you can't see what is going on inside... That could be taken as suspicious or possible "unlawful activities". I mean you better give me a ticket for that too... Because I might not be sleeping.