Back in the 80s, there was a popular song called, "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades." by the band Timbuk3. It's a silly song, but I was reminded about it this summer with a number of people asking me about tinting the windows of their cars.
Tinting is marvelous stuff. It can help you stay cool. It can help protect you against nasty ultraviolet rays. It can even improve your privacy.
But, tinting also has a dark side (all puns intended.) Tinting your windows can possibly affect your vision and your ability to operate your car safely. And tinting can also annoy police and highway patrol officers into writing you a ticket.
I actually had this experience a number of years ago. I had purchased a beautiful pre-owned sedan that the previous owner had tinted. And I was pulled over by a highway patrol officer and given a ticket. They required me to remove the tinting, go to the highway patrol to show them it was removed, and, of course and always, pay a fine.
So what are the requirements? This is from the CHP's website at http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html.
Can I put after-market tinting on the windows of my vehicle?
The main requirements for legal window tinting in California are:
1. The windshield and front driver's side and passenger's side windows cannot receive any aftermarket tinting.
2. If the rear window of a vehicle is tinted, the vehicle must have outside rearview mirrors on both sides.
The law prohibits any person from driving any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows, with certain limited exceptions.
However, legislation signed into law effective January 1, 1999, exempts from the above prohibition specified clear, colorless, and transparent material that is installed, affixed, or applied to the front driver and passenger side windows for the specific purpose of reducing ultraviolet rays. If, as, or when this material becomes torn, bubbled or otherwise worn, it must be removed or replaced.
This is probably another example of not-what-you-were-hoping-for, similar to the tip about front license plates. http://nickstips.blogspot.com/2006/12/nicks-car-tips-3-front-license-plate.html. Hope you find it useful all the same.
Best wishes for safe driving!
