D.O.T./Factory Tinted Front Windows

[westwind77]

Does anyone know of a company that makes D.O.T. / Federal approved tinted front windows? My state allows very minimal aftermarket tint and I wanted to go darker, thought this might be a legal way to do it based on my states RMV website.

"FAQ:
I've seen new Sport Utility Vehicles with really dark tint on the side and back windows. Why can they do it?

Those and other vehicles have factory-installed glass which carries Federal/D.O.T. approval. The Massachusetts tint law is directed toward aftermarket installation of tinting materials."

Thanks!

 

[SeattleMike]

Does anyone know of a company that makes D.O.T. / Federal approved tinted front windows? My state allows very minimal aftermarket tint and I wanted to go darker, thought this might be a legal way to do it based on my states RMV website.

"FAQ:
I've seen new Sport Utility Vehicles with really dark tint on the side and back windows. Why can they do it?

Those and other vehicles have factory-installed glass which carries Federal/D.O.T. approval. The Massachusetts tint law is directed toward aftermarket installation of tinting materials."

Thanks!

I did this same type of search 2 years ago prior to tinting the windows on my wife's PCH Edition PT Cruiser. What I learned was that while most autoglass is produced by the same people, OEM or aftermarket, they do not produced tinted versions for the front row doors or the windshield. They might produce versions with a layer of UV protection, but not actual tinting between the layers.

I was... less than happy to find that out as tint matching is a major pain.

 

[bradj]

Does anyone know of a company that makes D.O.T. / Federal approved tinted front windows? My state allows very minimal aftermarket tint and I wanted to go darker, thought this might be a legal way to do it based on my states RMV website.

"FAQ:
I've seen new Sport Utility Vehicles with really dark tint on the side and back windows. Why can they do it?

Those and other vehicles have factory-installed glass which carries Federal/D.O.T. approval. The Massachusetts tint law is directed toward aftermarket installation of tinting materials."

Thanks!

You would still have the same problems with dark tinted glass that you would with tinted window film. The police look at as a % of light which can travel through the glass. If you installed 20% glass windows and state law said 35% on front doors you would still be breaking the law film or no film.

 

[harper7]

Looking on Toyota's website for last years windshields since they don't have the 2010's EPC up yet shows that there were 2 different ones. One for elec. mirror and one without. ToyotaPartSales.com

No mention of different tints and 2010's would most likely will be the same.I think what you are referring to is some companies make a windshield for hot desert climates that is tinted.

Like BMW's for example had a 30-35% tinted windshield they referred to as the Desert climate windshield and came stock on some BMW's in other parts of the world,but could still be special ordered by a dealer over here . Whether it's legal or not ,I don't know but alot of people who replaced there M3 windshield ordered it.

 

[westwind77]

You would still have the same problems with dark tinted glass that you would with tinted window film. The police look at as a % of light which can travel through the glass. If you installed 20% glass windows and state law said 35% on front doors you would still be breaking the law film or no film.

If you read the law it only applies to aftermarket non-approved tint. Technically if the 4R's rear side windows were not factory installed / DOT / Federal appoved and I tried to have them tinted as dark as they are now I would fail. Because they are factory / DOT / Federal approved they can be darker than the law in my state allows. (have to love how that works)

I spoke to a state inspection rep today, who was very educated, she said I brought up a valid point regarding what I wanted to do and how the law is on the book currently. She gave me the supervisors direct number for my county and said to call him for the final thoughts on the matter. It looks like it could go either way now! I should hear back from him tomorrow. Now, if I will be able to find that kind of glass is a different story, but I am not going to hunt until I know my answer.

 

[bradj]

If you read the law it only applies to aftermarket non-approved tint. Technically if the 4R's rear side windows were not factory installed / DOT / Federal appoved and I tried to have them tinted as dark as they are now I would fail. Because they are factory / DOT / Federal approved they can be darker than the law in my state allows. (have to love how that works)

I spoke to a state inspection rep today, who was very educated, she said I brought up a valid point regarding what I wanted to do and how the law is on the book currently. She gave me the supervisors direct number for my county and said to call him for the final thoughts on the matter. It looks like it could go either way now! I should hear back from him tomorrow. Now, if I will be able to find that kind of glass is a different story, but I am not going to hunt until I know my answer.

I'm not quite sure what you are talking about. Tint is an option you can have done at the port when the vehicle arrives in the US. So how would you ever be able to determine if it is factory or not to a cop? Also I'm not sure if you have ever been pulled over by a cop for tint before or not.... But all they care about is the number their reflectivity meter spits out as to what tint your windows are.

Massachusetts Window Tint Law - TintCenter.com

 

[harper7]

I'm not quite sure what you are talking about. Tint is an option you can have done at the port when the vehicle arrives in the US. So how would you ever be able to determine if it is factory or not to a cop? Also I'm not sure if you have ever been pulled over by a cop for tint before or not.... But all they care about is the number their reflectivity meter spits out as to what tint your windows are.

Massachusetts Window Tint Law - TintCenter.com

The way around the law is to use factory tinted windshields where the tint is inside the glass.I've seen the factory tinted BMW windshilds and they are not that dark.I don't think they make them for the 4Runner anyways so it's a mute point.

Mass Tint law...You don't see any pecentage under windshield do you?
For it to be against the law ,a external tint cannot be applied to the windshield is what they are talking about.

Unless it's a blind cop he can see whether it internal or external tint.No tint job is that perfect ,especially on a hard to tint place like the inside of a windshield.

 

[bradj]

The way around the law is to use factory tinted windshields where the tint is inside the glass.I've seen the factory tinted BMW windshilds and they are not that dark.I don't think they make them for the 4Runner anyways so it's a mute point.

Mass Tint law...You don't see any pecentage under windshield do you?
For it to be against the law ,a external tint cannot be applied to the windshield is what they are talking about.

Unless it's a blind cop he can see whether it internal or external tint.No tint job is that perfect ,especially on a hard to tint place like the inside of a windshield.

I didn't know we were talking about windshields. I was talking about front door windows. Just my 2cents. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[harper7]

I didn't know we were talking about windshields. I was talking about front door windows. Just my 2cents. Sorry for any confusion.

Doh......No my bad, he is talking about the tinted side windows!!!Sorry bradj!

 

[JFDATLAW]

Each state has different laws for window tint in the front. For example, Illinois just changed it's law. It used to prohibit ANY tint in the front windows. Although it's a complicated law, you can now have about 35% of the light blocked. The theory of the law had to do with protecting police officers when they came up to the window so they could see the driver.

The lesson is to check the law in your particular state. It would not be good to spend the money to have the tint done and then find out it's illegal.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Each state has different laws for window tint in the front. For example, Illinois just changed it's law. It used to prohibit ANY tint in the front windows. Although it's a complicated law, you can now have about 35% of the light blocked. The theory of the law had to do with protecting police officers when they came up to the window so they could see the driver.

The lesson is to check the law in your particular state. It would not be good to spend the money to have the tint done and then find out it's illegal.

35% blocked or 65% blocked?

35% blocked would mean 65% tint which they don't make.

 

[westwind77]

The way around the law is to use factory tinted windshields where the tint is inside the glass.I've seen the factory tinted BMW windshilds and they are not that dark.I don't think they make them for the 4Runner anyways so it's a mute point.

NOT talking about windshield - FRONT SIDE WINDOWS

 

[westwind77]

Each state has different laws for window tint in the front.

The lesson is to check the law in your particular state. It would not be good to spend the money to have the tint done and then find out it's illegal.

YES - do people read before they respond, just curious? In my previous post I showed that I DID check my state laws. The laws flow in respect to our state inspections. If it passes our inspection then it is legal, hense why I contacted the inspection people 1st today . Like I was saying, the law seems to have a 'loop hole' here, even the rep on the phone agreed with me about that today. People have not taken advantage of it because either companies do not make DOT/Federal approved tinted front side windows or they are way too expensive to install/replace.

I am very interested to see what the county supervisor has to say about it when he calls back tomorrow, would be nice to get the same glass/factory tint to match the rears in the front I know it is probably a long shot but information is free

 

[harper7]

YES - do people read before they respond, just curious? In my previous post I showed that I DID check my state laws. The laws flow in respect to our state inspections. If it passes our inspection then it is legal, hense why I contacted the inspection people 1st today . Like I was saying, the law seems to have a 'loop hole' here, even the rep on the phone agreed with me about that today. People have not taken advantage of it because either companies do not make DOT/Federal approved tinted front side windows or they are way too expensive to install/replace.

I am very interested to see what the county supervisor has to say about it when he calls back tomorrow, would be nice to get the same glass/factory tint to match the rears in the front I know it is probably a long shot but information is free

Well ,I did read it this time:jump:
The people to call then is the dealership parts dept. and see if they even make factory tinted FRONT SIDE windows for 2010'sThey did'nt last year. ToyotaPartSales.com

 

[024RunnerSE]

I am a truck driver and I visit with a lot of D.O.T. officers all over America and have asked about tinted front windows. The answer is NO! Spray paint your rear windows or board them up, they don't care, but the front windows is a big no. I have been pulled over in my personal vehicles many times and pulled into weighstations and cited for having tinted front windows.

So, unless you don't mind fix-it tickets and stuff, don't do it. You can only have UV protecting clear screen on the windows.

 

[PlanetAlaska-]

The theory of the law had to do with protecting police officers when they came up to the window so they could see the driver.

Yes, but this is so ironic: by virtue of pulling over a vehicle just because of the tinted front windows, the cops put themselves in danger because they don't see who they're pulling over and whether the driver has a gun. Ha! Some laws are *#$%@!!

 

[HB 4X4]

Won't work, end of story. It doesn't matter how you try to justify it to the cop, it still wont work. No vehicles come from the factory with tinted glass, so regardless of how you get it, it's still illegal if it's over the legal %. Whether it is port installed, dealer installed, none of it matters since none come from the factory with front tint.

 

[westwind77]

Won't work, end of story. It doesn't matter how you try to justify it to the cop, it still wont work. No vehicles come from the factory with tinted glass, so regardless of how you get it, it's still illegal if it's over the legal %. Whether it is port installed, dealer installed, none of it matters since none come from the factory with front tint.

Not to create and argument but.....my state laws says Factory / DOT Approved / Federal. It is not clear that it MUST come from the factory tinted. As long as it is DOT / Federal Approved it could also PASS as well, even if not rigged at the factory. My law is clear on aftermarted film tint, as stated a few times before. Yes, I know it is all about police safety, but my rear windows are technically illegal (over the limit), but since factory they are not considered illegal, please, that is a joke how that law works. It is funny how many people here so strongly are saying no no no to this. I agree that it may be a long shot, but there is also a possibility as well, based on talking to my state officials already.

Remember we are NOT talking about film tint, that will ALWAYS fail if over the limit. We are talking about the glass itself being tinted, just like the rear sides

 

[westwind77]

Glass with these markings on the front sides...this is what I am meaning....

I questioned my state to if the glass had to meet all 3 requirements, or if 2, or 1 would still be legal and pass.....that is what i am waiting on...

 

[Jed]

Not to create and argument but.....my state laws says Factory / DOT Approved / Federal. It is not clear that it MUST come from the factory tinted. As long as it is DOT / Federal Approved it could also PASS as well, even if not rigged at the factory. My law is clear on aftermarted film tint, as stated a few times before. Yes, I know it is all about police safety, but my rear windows are technically illegal (over the limit), but since factory they are not considered illegal, please, that is a joke how that law works. It is funny how many people here so strongly are saying no no no to this. I agree that it may be a long shot, but there is also a possibility as well, based on talking to my state officials already.

Remember we are NOT talking about film tint, that will ALWAYS fail if over the limit. We are talking about the glass itself being tinted, just like the rear sides

This issue is more than just whether the tint is film applied to the glass (ie. aftermarket tint) or tinted OEM glass (which is not a film, but rather built into the glass itself). The other bigger part is where the tint is installed and how much light it allows to pass through it. Many states don't allow tinted windshields at all. Some also don't allow the driver's or front passenger side windows to be tinted. Most states do allow the rear side windows and rear window to be tinted.

Most SUVs obviously come with factory tinted glass in the back (rear window and rear side windows) and a lot of guys like to have aftermarket tint applied to the front side windows. I had 20% installed on my 4Runner and it matched the factory tint very well. Is it illegal? Yes, in my state (NY) it is completely illegal. But in the 5+ years I've been driving it around like that, I've never been pulled over once.

So go ahead and get your tint, unless the cops in your area are known to crack down on that sort of thing. It's really no problem around my area.