I know that there are numerous older topic asking "where is the best tint shop" and "what is the VA code", but my question is more basic and I hope that this does not cause me to be flamed.

My daughter's boyfriend is letting her use his pickup for the next 12-15 months while he is deployed to Bahrain with the Coast Guard. I noticed over the weekend that the side windows (it is an F-150 Supercab) were pretty dark which made me think of this forum and whether the tint may become a problem. Is there any easy way to test the VLT%? Can anyone tell me whether the smaller side windows are considered "back side windows" which need to have 35% VLT?

Not sure whether this matters, but the truck is registered in Illinois. Is window tint a primary traffic offense and does it accrue points on your license?

Mike Sorce Wrote:
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> I know that there are numerous older topic asking
> "where is the best tint shop" and "what is the VA
> code", but my question is more basic and I hope
> that this does not cause me to be flamed.
>
> My daughter's boyfriend is letting her use his
> pickup for the next 12-15 months while he is
> deployed to Bahrain with the Coast Guard. I
> noticed over the weekend that the side windows (it
> is an F-150 Supercab) were pretty dark which made
> me think of this forum and whether the tint may
> become a problem. Is there any easy way to test
> the VLT%? Can anyone tell me whether the smaller
> side windows are considered "back side windows"
> which need to have 35% VLT?
>
> Not sure whether this matters, but the truck is
> registered in Illinois. Is window tint a primary
> traffic offense and does it accrue points on your
> license?

For pick-ups, there is no limit on the back window or any side window that is not the FRONT side window. If the cop is really a prick, he could stop you for nothing other than tint, but since it's registered in Illinois, he really can't enforce it, Regardless, it is not a moving violation, so there would be no points on anyone's license.

SBS Wrote:
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> For pick-ups, there is no limit on the back window
> or any side window that is not the FRONT side
> window. If the cop is really a prick, he could
> stop you for nothing other than tint, but since
> it's registered in Illinois, he really can't
> enforce it, Regardless, it is not a moving
> violation, so there would be no points on anyone's
> license.

Thanks for the clarification. Since it is a Supercab with the a second row of seats, but not a full door, I am assuming the front side windows are the ones that actually move up and down and the smaller pop-out windows are considered back side windows.

SBS Wrote:
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>but since it's registered in Illinois, he really can't
> enforce it


This is incorrect. If the vehicle is being operated on Virginia roads it is subject to Virginia law and could be stopped and ticketed if in violation. Many officers equipped with tint meters have a list of tint laws in all the states and very frequently an out of state registered vehicle exceeds tint limits even in their home state. Whether or not the officer chooses to enforce it or not is left to their discretion.

. Wrote:
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> SBS Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >but since it's registered in Illinois, he really
> can't
> > enforce it
>
>
> This is incorrect. If the vehicle is being
> operated on Virginia roads it is subject to
> Virginia law and could be stopped and ticketed if
> in violation. Many officers equipped with tint
> meters have a list of tint laws in all the states
> and very frequently an out of state registered
> vehicle exceeds tint limits even in their home
> state. Whether or not the officer chooses to
> enforce it or not is left to their discretion.


OK, so if I wanted to know whether the tint was legal is there a local shop (I live near GMU) that can check this for me, preferably without a huge fee?

I have an F150. They come with really dark tint on the sides and back windows. Perfectly legal or the dealers wouldn't be allowed to sell them that way.

. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SBS Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >but since it's registered in Illinois, he really
> can't
> > enforce it
>
>
> This is incorrect. If the vehicle is being
> operated on Virginia roads it is subject to
> Virginia law and could be stopped and ticketed if
> in violation. Many officers equipped with tint
> meters have a list of tint laws in all the states
> and very frequently an out of state registered
> vehicle exceeds tint limits even in their home
> state. Whether or not the officer chooses to
> enforce it or not is left to their discretion.


I'll admit it is a gray area, but the part about being subject to Va. law as a blanket statement is also inaccurate. A good example is front license plates. An out-of-state car that doesn't have one would never get a ticket for it.

the popo's probably wont mess with her in this truck. Usually they mess with the hooked up either sports cars or honda's as a way to stop them. even if they do give a ticket no points are put on the license its just a small fine. maybe 50 bucks maximum

the fine is $86. take it from someone who had to pay for one. Usually they won't pull you over just for the tint. It's an easy excuse to pull someone over for somthing elso but it can go both ways. Let's say you were speeding and the officer feels sorry for you or doesnt want to write you up, he may just give you a ticket for the tint instead. Similar thing happened to me when I was going 18 over and I have talked the officer into not giving me a speeding ticket so I got license plate cover ticket instead. The best thing to do is check with your police department or call the non-emergency number, they will give you a 100% accurate answer. If you really worried about it then just have it removed, you can do it yourself in 20 minutes

ansers to all your questions: http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/wiki/Car_window_tint


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Gravis Wrote:
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> ansers to all your questions:
> http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/wiki/Car_window_
> tint


Thanks! This is the page that I was looking for when I searched FU.

iridium Wrote:
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> If you really worried about it then just have it
> removed, you can do it yourself in 20 minutes


Which is what I would do if it was my truck, but as I said it belongs to my daughter's boyfriend who is leaving it with her while he is in Bahrain. For now, I will just tell her to keep the speed down and be generally careful driving.

Look on the glass, it should have a FORD symbol or Carlite. In that etching, it should say AS2 if factory glass and that would indicate it is not darkened by film, but dark tinted glass from FORD.

I had this conversation w/ a Trooper (if anyone remebers my tint-stop around Christmas) and the Trooper was CLUELESS!

Now the truck could still have tint over the factory dark glass, but it is doubtful.

ffxn8v Wrote:
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> Look on the glass, it should have a FORD symbol or
> Carlite. In that etching, it should say AS2 if
> factory glass and that would indicate it is not
> darkened by film, but dark tinted glass from
> FORD.
>
> I had this conversation w/ a Trooper (if anyone
> remebers my tint-stop around Christmas) and the
> Trooper was CLUELESS!
>
> Now the truck could still have tint over the
> factory dark glass, but it is doubtful.


I don't have ready access to the truck as my daughter has it at VT, but I noticed over the weekend that there was a small line (roughly 1/16-1/8") of less tinted, nearly clear, glass along the top edge. I tried to feel whether there was any film with my thumbnail, but it seemed to be flat.

Oh my god, just shut the fuck up Mike. It is not that big of a fucking deal. If your daughter gets pulled over and goes to court , the judge will most likely ask if the tint has been removed, if she is smart enough to say yes then the charge will be dropped and she will be free to go and then you will know.

Even better instead of wasting your time and annoying people here, drive down to the station and have an officer do a tint check and you will find out instantly.

STFU Wrote:
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> Oh my god, just shut the fuck up Mike. It is not
> that big of a fucking deal. If your daughter gets
> pulled over and goes to court , the judge will
> most likely ask if the tint has been removed, if
> she is smart enough to say yes then the charge
> will be dropped and she will be free to go and
> then you will know.
>
> Even better instead of wasting your time and
> annoying people here, drive down to the station
> and have an officer do a tint check and you will
> find out instantly.

Man, that took a lot longer than expected. Thanks for the tolerance and helpful advice.