My Conversion Van has very dark tint on the side windows and the rear doors. I also have black-out curtain held up by Velcro on the inside. You cant see through these windows at all. Inside looking out or vice-versa . My question is, Is this legal to be driving around like this. My drivers and passenger windows are reg. tint with no tint on the windshield. <img src="http://">I have been driving around for about 4or 5 weeks locally and haven't run into any problems yet...But in May I plan on hitting the road and traveling through many different states. Is this going to be a issue with law enforcement?
Blacking-out windows
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Seraphim
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Depends on local laws. Generally, tint which was not factory installed has limits as to how dark it can be. There also often laws about obstructing the driver's view by plAcing things over or in the windows. Check your local and state laws. Whether or when you get stopped will depend on the individual officer. Some may, others won't.
<p>I'm not sure of laws in other states, but most I've been in allow tinted windows behind the drivers seat. Some don't allow drivers tinted windows and some do, but usually behind the drivers seat doesn't make a difference. </p>
In my experience cops will usually assume that if it is a van, the windows more than likely came that way. Your chances of getting pulled over for this specifically are low, but if you cause a ruckus or give the coppers a reason to start poking around...
The law in all states is that you have a clear view of what is behind you and to the sides... I cover the back and side windows with heavy curtains for insulation and rely on my side mirrors... i am in now the worst state CA for not liking to see into to the back of my van... Not a problem, and never has been a problem... I have even crossed through with out a problem the border patrol check points with out a problem... just be prepared to open and let the authorities give a look see without any concern is my opinion... Play the game to your advantage, smile and be supportive... Then curse them when they wave ya through, covertly that is....<br>
VanTrekker
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<p style="margin: 0px;">Window tint laws vary from state to state. I think that in general, if you are passing through a state, the local constables won't mess with you too much.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">Iowa can be pretty nasty about the tinted thing - at least where the front windows are concerned. If an Iowa resident, they will give a $127.50 ticket for window tint on the front windows. Even if from out of state, many cops will pull a person over just to see what's going on (drug activity, etc.). If you are from this state, there's practically no mercy on the ticket thing. It's easy revenue with virtually no chance for dismissal. They even carry "light meters" in the squad cars to measure visible light.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">In this state 70% of the light must pass through the front and side windows. This is for both the safety of law enforcement (when approaching you) as well as to help a driver see bikers, walkers, other cars, etc. Back side windows and the back windshield can be tinted as dark as desired.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">I was surprised that in Iowa, you don't have to see out the back windshield if driving a van. As long as you have side mirrors you're okay... I have the back windows blacked out with magnets and blackout curtains (Walmart).</p>
Phantom Blooper
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Tint laws vary by state...<br><br>Your state is the final authority.....<br><br>But as van Trekker posted that doesn't mean if your travelling through a state with conflicting laws they can't pull you and find a reason.....<br><br><A href="http://www.autowindowtinting.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.display&pageID=5" target=_blank>http://www.autowindowtinting.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.display&pageID=5</A><br>
<P> If you look at the windows in new van conversions, which are sold in every state, they come from the factory with the dark tinted windows. I drove mine in nearly every state in the union with no problem. The issues start when you tint the front passenger windows.</P>
Yeah I tinted mine 35% on the front drivers and passenger doors and 15% on all the others.<br><div>According to the sight Phantom Blooper posted http://www.autowindowtinting.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.display&pageID=5</div><div>I could be in trouble in a few states....</div>
<br /><br />Yes, thank's so much for that detailed explanation. Much appreciated <img src="images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />blkjak, I am in Florida also. I am go to go here. Didn't tint the windshield at all. But if I travel to a state like California, where they have extreme tinting laws, I may need to remove the drivers and passenger tint. Thanks for your input.
New York is pretty tough on just about everything mobile. As long as your van has adequate side mirrors to give you a good view to the rear, your back windows can be totally blacked out. Driver and passenger door windows cannot be tinted darker than the statutory limit in any event.
I replaced the gauzy original pull down curtains in my conversion van with day-night shades, custom made for it by a company in Indiana that did a beautiful job. See the side-bar article on the lead page of this web site for details and their web site.
ParadiseParrot
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Cargo vans have no windows. Front windows can only have factory tint. This is pretty much nation wide. And its about officer "safety" or watching to see if your smoking a dube or to see if your driving while black etc.<br /> Limo's are the same way...they cant even see out the back.
Walmart sells "van floor cloth mats" that roll out to 36"X72." Cut them to fit each side window. The material will fasten to Velcro allowing ez dropping or removal. I also put the same material across behind the seats with a shower bar. Sweet set-up! Really dark, good insulation on windows. I cut in covered peep holes in case of knockers or just a look outside. When traveling, I slide the rear curtain behind my seat, drop the rear window and passenger side blind spot curtains. K.I.S.S
coultergeist
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In the state of Georgia you can only have a strip of tint at the top of the windshield and minimal tint on the driver and front passenger side window. All other rear windows can be any degree of tint, up to and including completely blocked out. On my GMC Safari I have the darkest tint available (5% light transmission) on all rear windows. I have reflectix in all of the rear windows permanently. You can't see the reflectix through the tint even at night with a flashlight. I was pulled over once by the police for not wearing a seatbelt a few months ago. I ended up having four or five police officers looking at the van and asking questions about what everything was. They looked everything over and couldn't find anything to give me a ticket for other than the seatbelt infraction and they just issued a warning for that. I think they were just really surprised by what the van was like on the inside and were curious. The point is, as long as you don't mess with the front side windows and windshield, you should be fine. Just be courteous and tactful if you get stopped. I'm a firm believer that most of the time police don't go out of their way to write you up for little things as long as you are respectful and cooperative. On the other hand, if you are beligerant or troublesome, you can pretty much expect the write-up.
