Rear window laws

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AKmtnrunner

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Hello,

New member here.  We just bought a passenger Astro van to convert into a weekend warrior camper.  Will be used mostly in Alaska, and we're planning on doing a complete gutting, insulation, propane heater/stove, and electrical system.

Anyways, I'm having a hard time finding laws about/against blocking out some of the rear windows.  Being in Alaska, we want to block out some of the windows with insulation.  We have tinting laws here in Alaska, but I believe they don't apply if there are no rear seats?  Does it need to be reclassified as a commercial vehicle?

Thanks!
 
A number of vehicles don't have rear windows, (box vans, refrigerated vehicles such as flower delivery etc.), Here in Nevada the tinting rules apply to the front window and the two front side windows. Everything else can be spray painted if one wishes. http://tintlaws.com/nevada-window-tint-law.php
Each State can be different, so google window tint law, (the State that you are concerned about). In Alaska, the rules are more restrictive http://tintlaws.com/alaska-window-tint-law.php

There is a thing called reciprocity. As I understand it, the rules that apply to your vehicle are determined in the State it is registered, So the tinting laws would only apply to those vehicles registered in that State. Travelers only need comply with the rules for the State that they are a resident of. Otherwise all travelers would be exposed to rules that they had no knowledge of. Again, that is how I understand it.
 
+1 to above. 

Nothing else to add other than "Google is your friend".
 
In most states, you need side mirrors on both the right and left of the vehicle if you can't see out the back. Alaska appears to have this. They also have restrictions on the tint level of both front and back windows. There are exceptions for medical conditions and for some types of vehicles (motor homes, limos, "multi purpose vehicles", etc).

Here's the relevant laws for Alaska:


Alaskan Admin Code: 13 AAC 04.223. Tinted vehicle windows

13 AAC 04.223. Tinted vehicle windows
(a) A person may not drive a motor vehicle on a highway, public road, street, or parking lot with mirrored tinting material on any window of the vehicle. Except as provided in this section, a person may not drive a motor vehicle on a highway, public road, street or parking lot with aftermarket tinting material or aftermarket striping material on any window of the vehicle.
(b) Aftermarket tinting of vehicle windows is allowed as follows:
(1) the front windshield may have a strip of tinting material applied to the top edge, known in the industry as an "eyebrow," which does not extend downward more than five inches from the top of the glass;
(2) the driver and front passenger side windows may have tinting material that permits at least 70 percent light transmittance;
(3) the rear door windows, quarter glasses, and back glasses may have tinting material that permits at least 40 percent light transmittance;
(4) limousines and passenger buses used to transport persons for hire, motor homes, and vehicles identified by the vehicle manufacturer as multipurpose may have tinting material that complies with Standard No. 205, Glazing Materials, in 49 C.F.R. 571.205 (1992).
(c) The windows of a vehicle may have tinting material that permits less light transmittance than that specified in (b) of this section if
(1) a driver or a passenger who frequently travels in the vehicle is required for medical reasons to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun;
(2) the medical reasons are certified annually by a physician licensed to practice in this state; and
(3) the certification is carried in the vehicle.
(d) Tinting materials must be green, gray, bronze, or neutral smoke in color, or a sun reflective auto film.
(e) Light transmittance must be measured by using a light transmittance measuring device with an allowance for manufacturing variances of plus or minus three percent. The accuracy of the device must be certified by the manufacturer.
(f) In this section, "light transmittance" means the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the amount of total light that is allowed to pass through a window, including glazing, to the amount of total light falling on the window.
(g) All vehicles must comply with this section by July 1, 1994.
(h) A tinted rear window on a motor vehicle is exempt from regulations relating to the tinting or luminous transmittance materials used in motor vehicle windows, if the vehicle's owner has proof that the rear window tinting was installed before July 1, 1994, and the vehicle is equipped with driver-side and passenger-side rearview mirrors.
 
Something I ran into in Pennsylvania which you may want to look out for:

In PA, a van that has rear windows is classified as a "car". But a van that has no windows (or that has more than 18 inches between windows) is classified as a "truck". Registering a "truck" requires an extra weight check, and also costs more to register.
 
Bob just gave some information on my conversion thread, hope this helps some:

akrvbob said:
I just had my windows tinted. Here is a great site for the laws:
http://tintlaws.com/

Sounds like it's too late, but I got ceramic tint on my van and I am stunned at how much cooler it is. it was $140 more than the regular tint, but that's a bargain!! Well worth it.

Be aware it is not true that all states will honor the laws of the home state the van is registered in. Some states will ticket you even if you are legal in your state but are illegal in theirs.

Some states even vary by county and region.

http://tintlaws.com/window-tint-ticket.php
 
"Be aware it is not true that all states will honor the laws of the home state the van is registered in. Some states will ticket you even if you are legal in your state but are illegal in theirs."

Wow, that sets not only a bad precedence, but an unconstitutional one. Could California ticket you for not having a vehicle that meets their state's stringent emissions? That would mean that you could only legally enter California if you have a CA model vehicle, not a 49 state model. That should not be allowed. It sounds like we need a federal mandate guaranteeing reciprocity with one's home state, as failing to do so violates our Constitutional freedom of movement. It is our Constitutional right to travel between States at will, and it is not reasonable to expect an interstate traveler to comply with varying vehicle standards in all 50 states, only their state of registration (domicile.) If I had legal standing (got a tint ticket out of state but was legal in my home state) I would escalate the case to the Supreme Court if necessary with the lhelp of some pro bono help, like ACLU assistance. If we don't protect our constitutionally guaranteed rights they will all soon be eroded.

Chip
 
a perfect example of this is in AZ you can register ATV's street legal. but good luck if you try to drive one on the streets of California with an Arizona plate. California even has restrictions on some dirt roads. highdesertranger
 
I think Highway Patrol and LEOs do take in consideration of your home registered vehicle coming into their state. For example, some state required only rear plate and not front but CA require both plates be displayed. Same as window tint be enforced where it legal in one state and not the other. I rarely see or hear out of state visitor get ticketed for those infractions. I guess its also possible if a LEO is in one of his or her moods tho. I mean how am i suppose to get a front license plate if i don't have one to begin with?
 
Thanks for the replies so far. I guess I am asking, do the tinting laws still apply if I essentially remove the 'passenger' function of the rear portion of the van? I am not actually tinting the windows themselves.
 

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