Yes, you can be charged for having too much tint on your car windows

“A woman from Sandwich faces a rare arrest charge—having too much tint on her car’s windshield.

Police said the arrest happened just after 8 PM last Friday, August 16. An officer monitoring traffic on Scenic Highway arrested Ellora D. Trottier, 23. The officer conducted a random check with the state Registry of Motor Vehicles of Ms. Trottier’s gray 2002 Mercedes-Benz. The check indicated that Ms. Trottier’s driver’s license was under suspension, police said.

Bourne Police Lieutenant Jonathan R. MacDougall said that Ms. Trottier was headed in the direction of Sagamore Beach when she was stopped. After pulling the car over, the officer also suspected that there was an excessive amount of tint on the windshield, Lt. MacDougall said.

The lieutenant said that under state law, window tinting can block up to 35 percent of the light coming through the windshield. The officer checked with a metering device and determined that the amount of light coming through the windshield was only 20 percent, Lt. MacDougall said.”

Read the full story here.

In Minnesota, the tinting law is as follows:

– No vehicle can have ANY tint to the front windshield.
– Passenger cars are limited to 50 percent on all side and rear windows.
– Pickups, vans, and SUV’s are limited to 50 percent on the front side windows.
– Pickups, vans, and SUV’s are NOT limited on the rear side and rear windows. (Can be less than 50 percent behind the front seat).

If your windows are factory tinted, then that means that the tint is a pigment within the glass. Unlike aftermarket which uses a film on the inside of the windows. It’s important to make sure that you’re in compliance with state law. Especially if you’ve moved from another state. Call Advantage Auto Glass if you need your windows replaced at 612-343-8984 or visit our website for more information.