I had my tint check today...
Driving tonight with my family, I pulled onto a road where I looked over my shoulder and ther was a marked cruiser shaddowing my blind spot.
A check of my speed, showed no worries however, the cruiser puller behind me and lit me up.
The officer asked how long I had my windows tinted - I replied with the answer (of a LONG time)...
I was asked if I did the work - I said no, I paid to have it done. He then asked me to roll down the windows (back) which I did then the front one up a bit. I did.
He slid a tint meter over the roll down (without any visible validation or site calibration).
It showed something like 28% light transmission.
He said I was to have no less than 50% transmission and my glass was illegal.
No, I said. I have a waiver. It showed on my registration, he disagreed, saying I needed a copy of the waiver. I stated that was not the case in the past 12-14 years...
From the DMV Web site:
The vehicle owner will receive a new registration card with "sunshading" printed in the Special Conditions space. This registration card serves as verification that the vehicle is authorized to have sunshading.
So he then said, ok, 35 (percent) is not 28%. I said there is an allowed variance and he again disagreed.
I found this on the tint meter site quoted in the FFU Wiki page:
NOTE: Be sure glass area to be measured is free of dirt, debris, and moisture.
I am sure that my rain soaked vehicle that I have not washed since the salt/snow was all over it would not have reduced transmission, right?
Anyways, a few minutes later, I was back on my way, no problem. But why the bother?
I appreciate the professionalism offered however, the stop was not warranted, as a roadway run of the tag would have come back with sunshading on the record for the vehicle, don't ask me how I know...
Here is the manual for the meter:
http://www.laser-labs.com/M1and2Training.htm