[Mid_West]

Im putting my flame suit on because Im sure Ill pull out BOTH sides for this story, but here it goes....

As I was driving in my town this morning I got a ticket for having too much tint on my windows. Im sure there is a reason for the ticket such as impeding the view from my windows but I never drive this car at night (have another for that) and since they are tinted, I can actually see better during sunny days (such as today...since Im in California). Never the less, its a 'fix-it-ticket' and I need to have a cop sign off on it. Ironically, after I got the ticket, I drove to the local car audio shop where I get stuff done and the owner was laughing as he pulled up HIS ticket(S) for the same thing by the SAME cop! Apparently (and no offense to the local PD) the only thing that is worthy of this police officers time is to pull over people like me for $10 fix-it tickets. Ive never used the argument "dont you have something better to do with your time", but it sure seems fitting for this situation!!

As it stands, I consider this an inconvenience ticket and will have to remove the tint (driver and passenger window), get the ticket signed off, pay the $10 then have the tint re-applied (which I will 1/2 out of protest and 1/2 because my car looks MUCH better with tints).

SO, if there are any officers in the Bay Area who agree with me that this is a silly thing to write tickets for, PM me! (BTW, other states like FL allow MUCH deeper tints than CA...go figure!)

Sorry for posting this to the 'tuning' section but I really had to vent and this is the only section I look at on a daily basis!

[Mid_West]

Wow, that got moved fast! You admins are working over time! But isnt there a better section for this?

[ohsnapITZe92]

well actually... if you get it signed off, u wouldnt need to take off ur tints...just pay the fine. chp signs it off for free (if you opt to take off ur tints.)

if you take it to a courthouse, youd have to pay the court for signing it off and the fine.

but yes... sometimes cops are just bored and have nothing else better to do.

[Joonsup]

i've been on a couple ride alongs and from what I heard, there's a few cops that like to give out traffic tickets and carry an electronic ticket machine while there are the majority who won't bother b/c it's more paperwork for them. I guess you and the shop owner got unlucky by running into the officer who's more prone to issue citations regarding vehicle regulations.

what percentage tint do you have and what dept gave you the ticket?

[Mid_West]

Originally Posted by joonsup

i've been on a couple ride alongs and from what I heard, there's a few cops that like to give out traffic tickets and carry an electronic ticket machine while there are the majority who won't bother b/c it's more paperwork for them. I guess you and the shop owner got unlucky by running into the officer who's more prone to issue citations regarding vehicle regulations.

what percentage tint do you have and what dept gave you the ticket?

I think I have 5% (its REALLY dark!) and it was a Walnut Creek cop. I drove past another cop after I got pulled over and he didnt even look twice. The major problem is that with a white coupe and black windows, it really stands out unlike a black car with the same.

[Mid_West]

Originally Posted by ohsnapITZe92

well actually... if you get it signed off, u wouldnt need to take off ur tints...just pay the fine. chp signs it off for free (if you opt to take off ur tints.)

if you take it to a courthouse, youd have to pay the court for signing it off and the fine.

but yes... sometimes cops are just bored and have nothing else better to do.

"if you get it signed off, u wouldnt need to take off ur tints" Exactly!!! Thats why I wrote the post. I figured it would be a long shot to find a local tint-friendly cop on this forum who wouldn't mind contributing to the cause but its worth a shot. BTW, I wouldnt expect an officer to post a comment to help in the public section of this forum which is why I specified PM'ing me.

[Joonsup]

Originally Posted by Mid_West

I think I have 5% (its REALLY dark!) and it was a Walnut Creek cop. I drove past another cop after I got pulled over and he didnt even look twice. The major problem is that with a white coupe and black windows, it really stands out unlike a black car with the same.

haha no wonder. 5 percent? common man. you can't see through that, esp at night. I would change it to something lighter like 35 percent which seems to be very common.

[Mid_West]

Originally Posted by joonsup

haha no wonder. 5 percent? common man. you can't see through that, esp at night. I would change it to something lighter like 35 percent which seems to be very common.

I like the tint the way it is but I agree that it would be difficult to drive at night. That is why, for the most part, I drive another car (actually suv) after dark.

If I changed just the front windows to 35% it wouldnt look as good with the other left at 5% plus with a tint on all the windows they would get noticed anyway. 35% is still considered illegal in my neck of the woods. Basically anything that is tinted more than factory is not acceptable on the front 2 windows (according to my installer). So, if Im going to take a chance, I might as well get what I want. Better yet, Id prefer to not change at all and just get a friendly officer to sign off on it. Considering my installer puts tint on a lot of the cops personal cars around here, I cant imagine that they are ALL opposed to it (regardless of the 'law').

[kaji335i]

Originally Posted by Mid_West

I like the tint the way it is but I agree that it would be difficult to drive at night. That is why, for the most part, I drive another car (actually suv) after dark.

If I changed just the front windows to 35% it wouldnt look as good with the other left at 5% plus with a tint on all the windows they would get noticed anyway. 35% is still considered illegal in my neck of the woods. Basically anything that is tinted more than factory is not acceptable on the front 2 windows (according to my installer). So, if Im going to take a chance, I might as well get what I want. Better yet, Id prefer to not change at all and just get a friendly officer to sign off on it. Considering my installer puts tint on a lot of the cops personal cars around here, I cant imagine that they are ALL opposed to it (regardless of the 'law').

While that is true, some cops that I talk to (I know a few east bay traffic cops), will typically over look tinted front windows (non windshield) if they can see through it. With 5% tint it basically makes it a blind approach for them when they do have to pull over a car with such tints.

[Mid_West]

Originally Posted by kaji335i

While that is true, some cops that I talk to (I know a few east bay traffic cops), will typically over look tinted front windows (non windshield) if they can see through it. With 5% tint it basically makes it a blind approach for them when they do have to pull over a car with such tints.

I suppose there are arguments for each side but I guess the 'law' favored the officers safety side, if that IS the reason it was enacted. Its too bad you cant take a 'tinted window safety course' so you can demonstrate you are capable and responsible enough to drive with them.

Regardless, Ill have to remove/pass inspection/reinstall and take my day time business to some other town when driving my car...or just get a signature.

[SES_D]

As much as I dislike fix it tickets...I would have to agree with the officer in this situation.

5% is way to dark and not only is it dangerous for you but also for the cop as he can't see shit, not during the day.

[E90RWC]

5% tint is a must for life.

Pay bail. $120 and ur chillin'.

That is how I do it. I don't stress. Just keep rollin' BOSSY.

[phattbam]

Originally Posted by E90RWC

5% tint is a must for life.

Pay bail. $120 and ur chillin'.

That is how I do it. I don't stress. Just keep rollin' BOSSY.

haha. Yeah what are you trying to hide in YOUR car anyways?

[Aurora Bearialis]

Originally Posted by phattbam

haha. Yeah what are you trying to hide in YOUR car anyways?

didn't you read his post, obviously something BOSSY lol "keep yo pimp hand strong" "put a little pep in yo step, and a little glide in yo stride"

[ktdw]

I would just go to the police station. Most likely they won't even go out to check...they didn't check for my front plate. If they do, then so what! They can't give you a second fix-it ticket!

[Joonsup]

Yeah I think the main reason that cops would give you a ticket is officer safety. Imagine at night when an officer pulls you over and has to approach your vehile with 5% tint. His flashlight will probably do little to see through that tint and that can cause a potential serious situation for the officer and yourself.

[Minipuck V 2.0]

Originally Posted by joonsup

Yeah I think the main reason that cops would give you a ticket is officer safety. Imagine at night when an officer pulls you over and has to approach your vehile with 5% tint. His flashlight will probably do little to see through that tint and that can cause a potential serious situation for the officer and yourself.

thanks sjpd

[Joonsup]

Originally Posted by Minipuck V 2.0

thanks sjpd reject

corrected.

[Minipuck V 2.0]

dankye sir!

[SES_D]

Originally Posted by joonsup

Yeah I think the main reason that cops would give you a ticket is officer safety. Imagine at night when an officer pulls you over and has to approach your vehile with 5% tint. His flashlight will probably do little to see through that tint and that can cause a potential serious situation for the officer and yourself.

+1...good shit for thinking out of the box.

[E90RWC]

Originally Posted by phattbam

haha. Yeah what are you trying to hide in YOUR car anyways?

LOL

LOL

[Scimitar335i]

had a guy who just kept paying for the fine and refused to remove his tint. with each ticket the price just kept going up and up where it got to the point where he HAD to remove it