Fighting a tint ticket. Any ideas?

Schema · #1 (**permalink**) 01-16-2007, 11:14 AM

Short story short- I got a $335 tint ticket, and I'm going to fight it.

Is it worth fighting? You bet. Now I'm not some punk kid who feels high and mighty enough to feel I can get away with breaking the law, but if I can fight the ticket/get it dropped without removing or pay to remove the tint, then I'm going to explore those avenues instead of sitting on my ass watching TV.

My tint is 35% (blocking light). To be legal, it needs to be at 30%, so mine is 5% over. The cop tried to tell me "it needs to be at 70%, but it's only at 35". He was obviously backwards, but used a luminosity detector thingie and will use that as proof. Besides, I'm not denying that the tint is just pushing the legal limit. Sincerely, the day was hazy, the cop probably had his new toy and wanted to use it. I've never had a problem with it since I've had it.

I am also mailing in the plea (ticket occured 3 hours away from home), and if applicable, proof to drop the ticket.

Any thoughts?

GranMassaX · #2 (**permalink**) 01-16-2007, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schema

My tint is 35% (blocking light). To be legal, it needs to be at 30%, so mine is 5% over.

sounds like you have it backwards. the lower the percentage the darker the tint. 70% is lighter than 35% and the darkest tint "limo tint" is 5%. Tint rating is how much light is let through. So your 35% tint only lets 35% of the light through, NOT blocking 35%.

You can't have any tint on the front windows and any tint on the rear can only be 70% or lighter (I'm pretty sure about this, but not 100%). So having 35% (which is what I have too) is twice as dark as legally allowed. You're not even close to the law. Sorry

I have no idea how you would fight this.

mikecentola · #3 (**permalink**) 01-16-2007, 11:29 AM

Are you sure your tint is 35% blocking light? I don't even think they sell tint that low. The legal limit is 70% light transmission. Most people get 35%, 50%, etc. Those numbers you hear from tint installers is the amount of light transmission.

Anyways, you could either get a doctors prescription for it, get a mechanic to sign off on a fix-it ticket type thing, or bring in tint and say you took it off.

mikecentola · #4 (**permalink**) 01-16-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranMassaX

sounds like you have it backwards. the lower the percentage the darker the tint. 70% is lighter than 35% and the darkest tint "limo tint" is 5%. Tint rating is how much light is let through. So your 35% tint only lets 35% of the light through, NOT blocking 35%.

You can't have any tint on the front windows and any tint on the rear can only be 70% or lighter (I'm pretty sure about this, but not 100%). So having 35% (which is what I have too) is twice as dark as legally allowed. You're not even close to the law. Sorry

I have no idea how you would fight this.

ahh you beat me to the post! i dont think there is a law for back windows for tint. I believe its only for the front windows.

GranMassaX · #5 (**permalink**) 01-16-2007, 11:38 AM

oh ok.... well then the law limits front tint to 70% or lighter.

it's been over 3 years since I researched this and it shows

Pete · #6 (**permalink**) 01-16-2007, 11:39 AM

To be within the legal limits as far as tint goes it would basically look like there was no tint at all. It's rediculous, but at the same time I understand where the cops are coming from not wanting it hard to see in the windows.

335 bucks is total rape.
I ended up with a tint ticket at the end of last summer and I ended up just having to pay just the surcharge, which was like 20 dollars and mine is 15% all around (exept the windshield).
Good luck with that.. I've never heard of a tint ticket being so expensive.

Schema · #7 (**permalink**) 01-16-2007, 11:39 AM

Wel... if I said it's blocking 35%, and you said the legal limit is 70% light transmission, then I'm still 5% off, get it? In this case, I'm at 65% light transmission. Eitherway, it was just barely over, and I'm not going to bend over for it.

Pete · #8 (**permalink**) 01-16-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schema

Wel... if I said it's blocking 35%, and you said the legal limit is 70% light transmission, then I'm still 5% off, get it? In this case, I'm at 65% light transmission. Eitherway, it was just barely over, and I'm not going to bend over for it.

I think there is a misunderstanding..
If 70% is the NYS legal limit and your car has 35%, then you are 35% away from being legal because you would need to double the ammount of light that is being let through.