window tint
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sharp4runr
New member
i agree with alpha that about 20% is very close match to the rears. 35% is legal in my state, but I didn't like how the fronts would be lighter than the rear so I went with 20%
Kailua250
New member
Can anyone divulge how they get tint that is darker than legal? Is it just finding a certain shop or is there an unspoken code.
I am getting my new 4R this Friday and want to get 20%. The place I went wouldn't do it. I am really concerned about getting 35%. Does anyone have posted pics of 35 in the front?
I am getting my new 4R this Friday and want to get 20%. The place I went wouldn't do it. I am really concerned about getting 35%. Does anyone have posted pics of 35 in the front?
sketch1
New member
I have never heard of a shop that wouldn't do less than the legal limit. If you find a llumar dealer (llumar is a brand of tint, also includes a lifetime warranty against cracking chipping or fading) they should be willing to do it. If you get less than the legal limit they are instructed to inform you that you are doing so by your own choce. A lot of custom car places do show cars, so street legal rules need not apply and that is why they can do it. Maybe you aren't going to a custom car place, but you are just going to a window tinter.
Kailua250
New member
Thanks sketch.
You are right about me going to just a tint place. That is all they do. I am wondering if I should just do it there since they are the most reputable place on island and I won't be at risk of ticket.
That being said, I have the fear in the back of my mind that I won't be pleased with 35% and will be kicking myself for going through with it.
You are right about me going to just a tint place. That is all they do. I am wondering if I should just do it there since they are the most reputable place on island and I won't be at risk of ticket.
That being said, I have the fear in the back of my mind that I won't be pleased with 35% and will be kicking myself for going through with it.
umm.. a lot of shops don't do anything illegal. they won't do them at all. too much of a liability.sketch1 said:
1. if the person gets caught and names the shop, the shop, the tinter, and the person that owns the vehicle will get fined.
2. manufacturer's do not warranty illegal tint work. this typically means darker than the legal limit, but could mean things like filing.
3. just because the shop carries llumar, doesn't mean that they would do illegal work.
4. custom car places that do show cars are still subject to tint laws. it doesn't matter who tints it, just as long as its a legal app (as according to the law). custom car places don't get special tint privileges because they do show cars.
so how do you get a shop to do it?, ask around. a lot, and i mean a lot, will not do illegal work. you just happen to have gone to a shop that doesn't want to risk the liability, and is probably a good factor into why they're the most reputable on the island.
cpayne5
New member
sharp4runr said:
50% is the limit in our state.
: Alpha:
The shop that did mine was more than willing to apply tint that was not legal. When I first entered the shop and asked about my options, they specifically listed the illegal shades as options up front. They just said it would be an extra $10. I also received a full warranty for life.
sketch1
New member
I only say a llumar dealer will due it because I know llumar makes less than legal tint films. My shop did it no questions asked. I had 5% applied front and rear on my mustang (which still included lifetime warranty, had the front windows retinted once due to slight chipping at the top). They just said that below 35% was below the legal limit and that was my own responsibility. It is not illegal to have less than 35% on your car, it is only illegal to have less than 35% on your car and drive it. Which obviously you can't get it home without driving it but to the eyes of the dealer they are in the clear. And I am not saying that custom car places get away with not having to deal with tint laws, I am saying that if you have a super nice custom car (show quality) you might not actually drive it on the road, so you could potentially do whatever you want to it since you can't get a ticket for a car if you don't drive it. Its the same thing with putting a super huge lift on something that is over the legal limit, as long as you don't drive it on the city streets you don't have to worry about that.
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MAC4Runner
New member
benhar said:Just got my 32% tint last week
Benhar,
Is it darker than the rear from the inside?
TIA
benhar
New member
In my opinion, no. I've heard others say that it is, but it doesn't seem any darker to me. Of course it may depend on the lighting conditions. It is, however, more green than the back, since you are putting tint over green windows.MAC4Runner said:
In any case, I'm happy with the 32%, and have had no issues with the darkness level from the inside. Hope that helps!
Kailua250
New member
Interestingly, while searching the internet for local tint shops, I ran across a newspaper article in the Star Bulletin about how the Honolulu Police are enforcing the tint laws more strictly. The fine for having illegal tint is more than that for speeding or not wearing a seat belt...illegal tint will run you $287! :eek2:
Here on Oahu (not sure about the other islands) many police not in the downtown area drive personal vehicles, anything from Mustangs and Malibus to Monteros and 4Runners. The article continues to address some people's questions as to why the police are allowed to have darker than legal tint even though the law allows for no exceptions. A police spokesperson said that there are regular checks on officer-owned vehicles and "action against that officer is taken." What action and how many officer ofenceses? He couldn't provide an answer.
Interesting. I think I am going to stick to the legal limit for now and wait till I transfer to another state in a year or so and reconsider.
Here on Oahu (not sure about the other islands) many police not in the downtown area drive personal vehicles, anything from Mustangs and Malibus to Monteros and 4Runners. The article continues to address some people's questions as to why the police are allowed to have darker than legal tint even though the law allows for no exceptions. A police spokesperson said that there are regular checks on officer-owned vehicles and "action against that officer is taken." What action and how many officer ofenceses? He couldn't provide an answer.
Interesting. I think I am going to stick to the legal limit for now and wait till I transfer to another state in a year or so and reconsider.
that's the shop's decision then. but not all shops are.cpayne5 said:50% is the limit in our state.
Alpha:
The shop that did mine was more than willing to apply tint that was not legal. When I first entered the shop and asked about my options, they specifically listed the illegal shades as options up front. They just said it would be an extra $10. I also received a full warranty for life.
i'm a tinter, and i've seen shops that do illegal work, and other shops that refuse to do anything but legal apps.
all i'm saying is that there are shops that would do it, and others that won't do at all.
even if they carry llumar doesn't guarantee that they'll do the illegal app. that's all i was saying. yeah, sure they make darker films than legal apps, but that's because they can be used for legal apps. other manufacturers make darker films as well. for example, in CO, you can tint the rear as dark as you would like as long as the front two windows are left untinted. but if you were to tint those front two windows, the legal limit is 27%. so, hence, shops will carry darker films.sketch1 said:
the intent of my previous post was to state that there are shops that will not do any illegal apps.
sometimes though, when doing work for dealerships, dealerships can get exempted from some of the laws and get tint applied illegally. most common are two window matches on suv's and vans.
as far as warranty goes; the shop will say its warranty covered. the shop can warranty the work. but that's the shops decision too. if its illegal, typically they'll warranty the workmanship and not the film. most film manufacturers will not cover warranty work on the film if its an illegal app or wasn't applied properly. if the shop replaces the film due to peeling or bubbling and its not workmanship and it is an illegal app, then the shop will most likely lose money as they more than likely will not get reimbursed from the manufacturer.
the shop i worked for had some warranty claims rejected for commercial apps due to glass breakage. the companies are kindof picky too. i.e. not always covering glass breakage (more common to sunroofs and residential/commercial apps)
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that seems to be more common, cops in most states are starting to crack down. they always say it, but it seems that it does get more enforced. especially in the summer months, where its busy season for tinters.Kailua250 said:
and more and more states are changing their laws from tint being a secondary offense to a primary offense. i've heard of people getting pulled over just for tint.
cdoyle
Member
Here is Washington a couple years ago; they were starting to crack down on Tint. But then all the Tint shops starting filing lawsuits against the state and counties.
So they backed off, and I haven't heard anything more about it for a couple years now.
I can see why they might not want limo tint on front window. But 20% is just right; it matches factory tints and doesn't affect visibility at all. If they just make 20% the legal limit, I think almost everyone would be OK with that.
So they backed off, and I haven't heard anything more about it for a couple years now.
I can see why they might not want limo tint on front window. But 20% is just right; it matches factory tints and doesn't affect visibility at all. If they just make 20% the legal limit, I think almost everyone would be OK with that.