Were you pulled over because your windows were too dark? You’re not alone. Window tint violations are one of the most common “fix-it” tickets in California.
A Los Angeles window tint ticket lawyer at Fight My Ticket can look at your traffic citation and help you determine the right options for challenging or correcting the ticket. Call now for a free consultation.
We’ve spent more than 30 years helping Southern California drivers deal with equipment tickets and tint violations. Let us help you get a fair result.
Why Choose Fight My Ticket to Handle My Tint Ticket?
Tint violations sound cut and dry, but you may have options for defending yourself. But you need a California traffic ticket attorney who knows how tint is measured and how to challenge the violations.
Drivers across Los Angeles choose our firm because:
- We’ve spent more than three decades fighting equipment and moving violation citations throughout Southern California
- We understand how VLT is actually measured and where officer readings can be challenged
- We know the medical exemption process and how to help drivers who qualify anyway
- We can appear in court on your behalf when a case doesn’t resolve as a simple fix-it
- We offer a free consultation and flat-fee representation
A tint ticket doesn’t have to be a hassle. Our Los Angeles window tint ticket lawyer, and we will walk you through your options.
What Does California’s Window Tint Law Require?
California’s tint laws are found in Vehicle Code Section 26708, broken down by vehicle section.
Front side windows have to let in at least 70% of visible light, which is the strictest front-window standard in the country.
This is measured as combined VLT, meaning your factory glass and any film you’ve added get counted together. Most factory glass is between 75 to 80% on its own, leaving little room for additional tinting.
Rear side windows and the back window can be as dark as you want. There’s no VLT minimum back. However, if you tint the rear window, your car needs to have both side mirrors intact, since your rearview mirror is now less effective.
For the windshield, you’re allowed a strip of non-reflective tint across the top, but only above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line, which usually falls somewhere around the top four inches. Anything below that line has to stay clear. Reflective, red, and amber tints aren’t allowed anywhere on the vehicle, regardless of which window.
Consequences of a Window Tint Violation
Some drivers end up with a tint citation without ever intending to break the law. The most common individuals prone to inadvertent violations include:
- Owners of vehicles bought used or out of state, especially from a state with looser tint rules, Anyone who added tint themselves without checking factory glass first.
- Drivers with legitimate medical conditions who never got proper documentation.
- Owners of luxury, sport, and custom vehicles tinted darker than the law allows as a stylistic choice
- Drivers who tinted before a move to California with a tint that was perfectly legal in the driver’s previous state.
- Rideshare and delivery drivers who add tint for privacy or comfort during long shifts without realizing the front windows carry a stricter standard than the rest of the car.
Window tint violations are typically treated as fix-it tickets rather than standard moving violations.
A first offense usually comes with a base fine around $25, with an additional $100 to $200 for court processing fees. Repeat violations can push the ticket cost to $197 or more, and a court may treat a second offense more seriously than a routine fix-it.
For a first offense, you’ll generally get a window of around 30 days to remove or correct the illegal tint and have an officer confirm you are compliant. Once that happens, the citation typically gets dismissed.
Medical Exemptions for Dark Tint
California’s medical exemption under Vehicle Code Section 26708.2 exempts individuals from tint requirements if they have photosensitivity conditions, such as lupus, melanoma, or similar disorders. However, it doesn’t grant such persons the darkest tint on the market.
The exemption typically allows front side windows tint to go down to around 35% VLT. However, you need a signed statement from a licensed physician or optometrist specifying the diagnosis and the medical necessity, and you have to keep that documentation in the car at all times.
If you were cited despite having a valid exemption, or an officer simply didn’t ask to see your paperwork before writing the ticket, you could have a defense to your ticket.
How to Challenge a Tint Citation
A tint ticket is subject to challenge. Officer readings aren’t perfect, and there are legitimate medical reasons to have darker tints.
You may have a legitimate defense to a tint citation if:
- Your factory glass alone was close to the legal limit, and he officer’s meter reading wasn’t properly calibrated or documented
- You have a valid medical exemption certificate that wasn’t reviewed at the time of the stop
- The tint was on the rear windows or back glass only, where there’s no darkness limit
- You’ve already corrected the tint before the citation was processed
- The windshield strip was within the legal four-inch range and non-reflective, but got flagged anyway
Since these citations often come down to a single meter reading taken roadside, there’s more room to push back than most drivers assume.
Contact an Experienced California Window Tint Lawyer for Help
A window tint citation is usually correctable. If you need help navigating the fix-it process, proving a medical exemption applies to you, or challenging a reading you don’t think was accurate, an attorney can help.
At Fight My Ticket, our Los Angeles window tint ticket lawyers have spent more than 30 years helping Southern California drivers handle citations like this one. Call us at (323) 435-6045 for a free consultation, and let’s figure out the right way to handle your ticket.
Fight My Ticket – Traffic Ticket Attorneys
8149 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 435-6045
