mszczep1

Hey guys,

Just got pulled over this morning for my 20% tints. Cop gave me a notice that I had to remove them or re-tint them to the legal limit within 10 days. This was at night, mind you. This is the only reason I got pulled over, I wasn't speeding, running a red light, or running a stop sign. The Baltimore City police officer specifically told me that this was the only reason he pulled me over. Is window tinting a primary offense? I thought it was a 'secondary' offense in Maryland where you would only get it tacked on to something more serious like reckless driving or speeding.

Any advice would be appreciated - had my tints for 1 1/2 years and never got into any trouble for them. I personally think its' an invasion of privacy not allowing them, but that's my personal opinion.

Thanks

Jakes_tl

20% is on the dark side. I don't think he would have been so quick to pull you over if you had 35% tints. You know it's the end of the year and they need to get brownie points with their bosses and get the revenue up.

mszczep1

35% is legal in Maryland. Just wondering why I was pulled over for it as a primary offense rather than secondary. Doesn't make sense and never heard of anyone else getting in trouble for it. A little absurd. Wondering if there is anything I can do?

nj2pa2nc

I just googled tint laws in Maryland. It states if you do not correct it, your registration will be suspended after 30 days. Just because you have not been stopped in over a year does not make it legal. Would be like someone that speeds for many years and then complains they were stopped for speeding. The main reason for tint laws if for the safety of law enforcement. (read that on the same site as the tint laws)

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Also keep in mind the windows already have an oem tint (very light tint) but that makes 20% even darker.

Gnargasim

In Maryland on any vehicles without doctors orders are 35%, I have 20% on my TL and I have only been pulled over for it once and I knew the cop and he let me go but I am pretty sure it is a primary offense.

Maryland car 35% all around including the back window excluding the windshield.
Maryland trucks 35% front no limit on the rest excluding the windshield.

PS handheld devices are illegal in MD and DE and in DE its $106 for texting and driving. Food for thought.

upnout

iTrader: (6)

I know someone who was pulled over for 20% tint in MD. It was his primary offense and it had to be removed.

ceb

Unsafe or illegal equipment is a primary offense and driving with 20% tint is reckless driving.

The cop who pulled you over may have saved the life of a pedestrian, jogger or a bicyclist that you might not see.

To believe that it is an "invasion of privacy" is sheer arrogance and ignorance.

Nitin

iTrader: (1)

I've been pulled over in MD just for my tint as well and had to get it removed and signed off by an approved inspection facility (Shell gas station)

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

:inb4tintvstints:

Gnargasim

Okay calm down a little bit its not reckless driving. Almost all emergency agencies in Maryland have vehicles with extremely dark tint. They are people too and can see just as well as anyone of use does that make them recklessly driving? No. If window tint was that big of a deal every state would be unanimous with percentages also the police would be more severe with enforcing the law if it was that great of a risk to the public. And arrogant and ignorant? No. You saying that his idea of it being an "Invasion of privacy" is you being arrogant. Seems blown way out of proportion to a simple question.

jgj925

What kind of circumstances will a primary care doctor or dermatologist write a note for tints lower than 35%?

ceb

Since you can reduce UV with ceramic 60% tint far better than with any type of conventional type, a dermatologist or GP won't be of help.

An opthamologist is the only specialist who can do the required MVA paperwork but there is the risk that MVA determines that your eyesight isn't good enough and they pull your license - I know of one person who requested an exemption and drove away from MVA in a taxi.

Remember that a request for an exemption follows you for the rest of your life - it becomes a pre-existing condition for your health insurance and may restrict you from some employment.

AccordFlex

iTrader: (1)

^^ Thank you. Using the doctors excuse it getting old. You tinted your windows, if they're too dark, its your fault, not the officer who pulled you over.

PrimeTiime

Had 3 cars tinted, never had issues in Montgomery County, MD and the surrounding areas. Stay away from B-More, DC and VA.

ceb

Tint in the news.

Looks like tint is a primary offense in other states too.

Dave225King

Remember that advice also follows you for the rest of your life, legit or otherwise. You're not a lawyer/doctor, definitely not an ophthalmologist unless you don't know how to spell your own profession. I realize this thread is old, but if you're like me and looking into the issue and come here please ignore "Ceb," he/she is offering bad advice.

Many doctors can and will write a recommendation for car window tinting. Skin cancer is no joke, and some ahole like Ceb isn't to be taken seriously when considering serious issues. Personally, I have vitiligo, I have large patches of skin with zero pigment which means I have to be extra vigilant in my caution to exposure to sun. As such, I have my windows tinted, I also had my dermatologist (any Dr licensed to practice medicine in the state in which I reside in is acceptable, despite ceb's BS comments) write a window tint exemption recommendation per state law 22-406-i-4-i. I've been pulled over twice, once in Maryland and once in Virginia over fifteen years for my tint. The first time I didn't have the Dermatologist's letter with me but the police officer looked at my skin and sent me on my way. The second time I had the letter (VA) and the police officer sent me on my way as well, he also thanked me for my time. Ceb, you might think you're doing someone a favor but you're not, you're ill informed, and ignorant at best, so for others' sake please don't make comments about things you have no idea about, especially on topics that involve things like medical issues such as deadly skin cancer. Idiot. I wouldn't even care except it truly is a life and death issue for many of us, and here's this moron, Ceb, making moronic comments that someone might actually think are true. I made this account purely due to ceb's ignorant comment, I felt compelled because I hope others don't put ceb's ignorance before their own health.

ceb

Taking a nearly 4 year post out of context doesn't make your point valid.

Just to clarify for those who weren't following the multitude of tint posts back then. There was a time when people were asking about what medical conditions they had to fake in order to get a doctor to write them an exemption. In this thread, that is exactly where we were heading as well. Fact is, that a medical exemption WILL follow you for life (in this connected world) and may come back to haunt you if it isn't accurate. Secondly, a "skin condition" that doesn't affect light sensitivity may well be far better served by a ceramic tint that reduces UV far better than dark, cheap tint.

For the entertainment of the rest of the group, here is a message I received from this fine poster. I'm sure many of the words will be filtered out so use your imagination:

Hi ceb,

I somehow found my way to a thread here and found your ignorant post regarding window tint.

Your post compelled me to create an account here and post a correction to your ignorance. I won't be here long, I don't care to actually have any dialogue wtih a moron who makes such ignorant posts, so if you reply to this message or the correction please know I was kind enough to inform you it won't be read by me. In any event, I'm not sure why you would make such a dumb post, but I suppose there are two possibilities: 1) you truly are stupid/ignorant of the fact that medical conditions exist that can worsen if people follow your stupid and ill-informed advice, or 2) you get something out of advising others about things you know nothing about, even if it's regarding things like skin cancer and other medical concerns. In any event it would be wise for you to grow up, stop advising people about shit you know nothing about, just stop being an asshole would be a good start.

There are many skin and eye diseases/disorders that car window tint is recommended by many different types of licensed doctors. In fact, in my state of Maryland I have a written recommendation for <20% window tint from my dermatologist due to my vitiligo. Your bullshit scare tactic of saying a doctor's note will follow a person for the rest of their life, even through to possible employment situations is just such garbage bullshit I'm ashamed to even reply to you about it. Fuck off. Sincerely, no joke, go fuck yourself with that bullshit! Do you seriously not realize how idiotic you sounded with that potentially life harming advice? What sort of asshole does that?! No, you dick, ever hear of the ADA? No employer is going to give half a shit about a skin condition that requires window tint, you fucking dick! I suppose skin cancer would be a concern, but then that would make you a HUGE fucking dick, so we won't go there. What an asshole you are. Maybe I'm too hard on you, maybe you're just fucking stupid. For the record I've had vitiligo for fifteen years and somehow managed to graduate from Johns Hopkins with an MBA and CPA, was Controller of an international fiduciary Fund with $21G, now I'm Director and on three boards...all the while I've had dermatologists' written recommendations for Rx tinting, the latest of which was for my '16 S8. Weird, my Drs' notes never came up in the interview screening panels I've faced at my employers.

Have a great day,
Dave

ceb

Unfortunately, Dave's condition is clearly causing him some mental strain so I'm giving him a pass on his post - but - my initial advice is absolutely correct:

Most conditions requiring tint are probably best served with ceramic tint with high UV rejection

Faking a medical condition to get an exemption so that you can sport "dark tints" of your ride, is illegal and may well cause you issues with future employers, medical insurers and the state motor vehicle administration.

I hope Dave gets counseling to help him deal with his condition.