Are Tinted Windows Legal in North Carolina?

Are Tinted Windows Legal in North Carolina?

The sun can make the inside of your vehicle extremely hot in the summer. The temperature inside your car can be much higher than the temperature outside. The sun can also be distracting when it is too bright while you are trying to drive. For these reasons and others, many people like to improve the features of their auto by installing aftermarket window tint. While window tint can be helpful, there is a limit to the level of window tint that you can use in North Carolina. If you have a window tint that is too dark, you could find yourself facing consequences.

What are Legal Window Tint Levels?

States regulate the level of window tint allowed in their state. If you own a vehicle in North Carolina, you must be sure that it conforms to the legal standards allowed in our state. North Carolina G.S. 20-127 provides the law regarding vehicle window tint. The law specifies the level of tint that is allowed in various types of vehicles. For regular passenger vehicles, window tint cannot be darker than 32 percent. The windshield tint cannot continue lower than 5 inches from the windshield or the AS1 line, whichever is lower.

Measuring Window Tint Levels

Police use devices called tint meters to measure the level of tint on vehicle windows. There are a couple of different devices that they may use, such as one that slides over an open window and one that uses a magnetic probe. These units measure the visible light transmittance (VLT) and provide a tint percentage number. The tint percentage must be within the legal limits based on the type of vehicle and the location of the window. If your window tint looks extremely dark, a police officer will likely notice it immediately.

Window Tint Exceptions

There are some notable exceptions to the window tint law. Some vehicles that have special exceptions or different rules include excursion vehicles, limousines, motor homes, property hauling vehicles, police vehicles, and ambulances. In addition, a person with photosensitivity may apply for a medical exception permit through the North Carolina DMV. If approved, you must display your permit sticker on the lower left-hand side of the rear window. Medical exception permits are valid for up to five years.

Penalties for Illegal Window Tint

Window tint that is too dark is a Class 3 misdemeanor. In addition to a citation, you could possibly receive a jail sentence of up to 30 days. It is important to note that if you have tinted windows, you are required to get a safety inspection to ensure compliance and display a sticker. If your vehicle is found to have illegal tint, your citation will cost at least $50 plus court costs for a first offense. You will be required to remove the tint to make the vehicle legal to drive. If you have a medical exemption and fail to display the sticker, the fine is $200. If you continue to drive with illegally tinted windows, you could receive additional citations and higher fines.

If you have received a citation for illegal window tint, you may want to seek legal guidance. Contact us at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to talk to our legal team.

The criminal defense attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC make it their mission to zealously defend their clients on a wide range of criminal matters at both the state and federal levels. These matters may include any charge from traffic offenses; DWI/DUI; drug charges (from simple possession to possession with intent to distribute and trafficking); gun permit denials; weapons offenses; and property crimes (larceny, breaking and entering, robbery, fraud, embezzlement, white collar offenses); to sexually related offenses (indecent exposure; sexual assault, crimes against nature, removal from sex offender registry); and violent crimes (domestic violence; assault; manslaughter; homicide, murder). Other legal issues that Arnold & Smith, PLLC criminal clients may be facing include restraining orders, restraining order and probation violations, expungements; appeals; and immigration issues related to criminal charges. Our criminal defense attorneys are passionate about ensuring that individuals empower themselves by being informed about their constitutional rights and stand at the ready to fight in the defense of those facing criminal charges.

Source:

https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-127.html

https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/title-registration/emissions-safety/Pages/window-tinting.aspx

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https://www.freeimages.com/photo/blue-daytime-architecture-daylighting-1953473

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