GCSIMON

Unfortunately, it happened. I got ticketed for my window tint on Friday night coming home from work. I'm in Massachusetts, legal limit is 35%, my film is 20% but registers at 16%.

Now that I have to pay the $250 fine, I'm thinking I need to do something about my illegally dark tint. As much as I like the way it looks, I can't afford to keep getting $250 tickets.

I have been stopped 3 times in 11 months:
-November 17, 2010
-March 9, 2011
-March 11, 2011

Notice the two days this past week

I'm thinking I'll get it removed, but would like to redo it at legal limit 35%. What has been your experience with applying 35% and what it actually registers at? I figured I can't afford to apply 35% that could register at 32% and get fined again.

Advice please, thank you!

VenomInside

So if you knew the law was 35% why did you go 20%?

I just had mine done and my tint guy said that he measure the fronts when he did 35% and it came up as 27%. So, i opted for 50% in front which measured 42%

nate_0022

iTrader: (2)

With the factory tint it's always going to measure darker when you get aftermarket tint put on. I have 50% on right now (used to have 35%) and I've been pulled over for that but measured at 46% IIRC. Didn't get a ticket though because he said "atleast you changed the tint and cooperating with the law"

deantl

I have 20% around all five windows and the legal limit is 30% and have never been once bothered about them, because well there actually not dark at all unless the sky is cloudy or at night time. Other wise, 20% has plenty of visibility to other cars around your vehicle. 35% would be wasting your money, there won't even be a tint of black on the windows lol, might as well leave them off.

EFItech

iTrader: (5)

3m has a 25% not too dark during the day but dark at night until you open up the sunroof

Bearcat94

Most "35" film is actually 38%. When applied to modern auto glass, which is already tinted/colored to about 75%, the "35" will come out at about 32%.

I have 3M. CS-35 is actually 38%. Our legal limit is 35%, but will pass at 32%. I have passed every year (I'm not "hooked up").

You can read more here to verify what I'm telling you: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/rating-factory-window-tint-oem-551829/

and at 3M: http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawe...6EVs6E666666--



Here's the MA law, 9D (4): http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/Ge...er90/Section9D

No wiggle room. NC says 35, but will pass 32 - we have a little wiggle room.

Bearcat94

Anyone else that want to check their State's legal tint limit:

K-001: Legal Tint Limits and Information
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164732

mrlal8

iTrader: (2)

where in massachusetts are you from? also do you have a front license plate?

mrlal8

iTrader: (2)

also they gave you warnings the first 2 times??

jpgayan

I've got the Formula One Pinnacle 35% on back and 50% on front. The 35 looks great but the 50 is barely noticeable. I got it more to protect my interior from UV and heat than for looks. It's been great on heat rejection so far but I'll wait until summer to make a final determination.

GCSIMON

The front plate is what was killing me.. it's the first thing they would ask about, and then address the tint issue, yet assign the most stress on the tint itself.

Now that the front plate it back on, I'm hoping I won't be such a dead give away. I just don't want to be in 'hot water' with the cops and have them not even want to hear my explanation before giving me another ticket.

GCSIMON

My front plate is back on, and have been driving around for a couple days with my 20% tint obviously still on and with the front plate back on. In that time I have driven by plenty of cops and not one even turns their head.

I also talked to a couple local tint shops and it seems everyone is very hesitant to remove the rear window tint because of the defroster. One shop offered to remove side windows and reapply a 40% film for $200, but I will still have a 'illegal' rear window thus making my car eligible for another ticket.

I really don't know what to do. I have driven it for 11 months with no ticket, and I think I'm getting a little too nervous about what could happen next.

GCSIMON

The November date was initiated by front plate, and then a warning for tint to get it removed because it was illegal (I pretended I did not know what was legal/illegal)

The first March date was initiated by front plate, and the generous officer didn't say a thing about the tint specifically, other than "Get that plate back on and you wont get much trouble..." with a look in his eyes like he was helping me out because he knew it was darker than legal.

The second march date obviously initiated by my excessive speed on a low-speed highway. The officer didn't like me from the beginning, yet I was extremely pleasant and answered his questions respectfully. I did not have my front plate on this instance either. I literally couldn't even finish my sentence before he interrupted me with another question, I really felt like he was trying to trip me up on my words. That's life, oh well.

mrlal8

iTrader: (2)

I am from massachusetts as well. Don't worry about the rear windshield...personally I think that should always be tinted 5% limo. There is absolutely no way for a cop to measure your rear windshield. The tint gun has no opening to slide around the glass and there is no way the ray can measure the amount of light thats capable of going through that because no tint gun can get to it. The windows however, I would definitely get the 4 removed and slap on 40% as long as it reads 35. Quick question tho did the cop measure your rear 2 windows? 40% on your front 2 windows and keeping the rest the same wudnt look bad either. Did you get any tickets for when you didnt have your front license plate on? I want to how strict the cops are for when I graduate and move back to massachusetts. You from western mass or boston area?

Yvuru

I have 35% window tint and it registers about 27% on the window tint meter that the cops use around where I live.

bigb252

I have 20% all around on my Fusion, and I haven't been stopped yet in 2 years. The legal limit is 35%.

I know which cops to look out for (traffic cops) and I know when to turn down my windows. This comes in handy when you pull up at a stoplight next to a police. On overcast days, the tint can look especially dark...I sometimes even turn on the dome lights