jschaefer7406 Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Hello all, Looking to see if anyone else here has run into any issues with window tint in PA. Was stopped today in my S70 and cited . I know the law DID read only that you must be able to see through the windows, but also know that it was amended to include a 70% stipulation (trooper measured 38% on my RF window). Have had the car for nearly 9 years and have had no issues, and the tint was installed before I bought the car. Do I have any defense? Stupid that I was stopped JUST for the tint. Wasn't speeding or doing anything otherwise suspicious. State police need something better to do I think. All of the other crap that goes on on the highway (cell phones, speeding, etc) and I'M the one they worry about... Anyway, any info appreciated. Thanks!! Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyb5 Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Sorry I can't be of any help on the law, but it is very easy to swap the window glass out if you need to show up in court with the tint removed but don't want to actually remove it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschaefer7406 Posted June 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Thanks for the reply Andy . Oddly, the cop never mentioned having to PROVE I removed it. Even mentioned I could respond by mail and not see anyone at all... Upset me though that he tried to intimidate me a bit. When I said that I bought the car in 2005 and it came that way, he responded with "the mechanic that wrote the inspection sticker can lose his inspection license". He didn't realize that I am still an inspection mechanic and know for a fact that tint is no longer an inspection item in PA (used to be, but was removed and left up to the police to enforce). He also said that he COULD fine me for each window that is tinted (7 total), but would only do one and warn me for the rest. Not sure how that works as the actual violation is for OPERATING the vehicle that way. Wouldn't think I could be operating the vehicle 7 times at once ... Anyway, I don't WANT to remove it, but will if need-be. My only worry is removing the tint on the rear glass and damaging the defroster grid. Any good way to safely do that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikich Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 The most effective way to remove film is steaming. If you don't have a steamer and don't want to buy one, try using water with a bit of liquid soap. You can also buy a spray bottle of tint removal solution at a parts or hardware store. Either way, you'll want a few fresh razor blades in your scraper. Best would be to have a pro replace it with new. It may be lighter shade but will still reduce uv damage and heat gain. This is not a one person job and a shop will have the right shades rather than buying two or three different rolls for the sides and back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEU Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 If it's just a fine, pay it and leave the tint on and hope you have another 9yrs of luck or fight it. Not sure how you'd fight it, maybe tell your story that the car came with it and you've been driving it that way for 9yrs! Maybe bring up the fact that the cop doesn't know the laws. BTW how much is the ticket? My wife got hit with a $90 ticket in VA for tint on her old Accord coupe, we just paid the ticket and left the tint on, then she got hit again after she got a speeding ticket that same year. I had to remove it before she went to court, with a steamer. It was very easy, just pull a little bit and get the steam between the tint and the glass and keep pulling. Took about an hour to all the windows, and it didn't leave any residue either, didn't need a razor or any tools. My car is totaly illegal in VA, it was legal in MD. I've been lucky every speeding ticket I've gotten they don't care about the tint (or my illegal exhaust) just the speeding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudge_Brownie Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 When I said that I bought the car in 2005 and it came that way, he responded with "the mechanic that wrote the inspection sticker can lose his inspection license". He didn't realize that I am still an inspection mechanic and know for a fact that tint is no longer an inspection item in PA (used to be, but was removed and left up to the police to enforce).Occasionally an officer is misinformed, misunderstands, or misremembers a law. It's possible he is willfully forgetting the change, but it's also possible he doesn't know.What is your goal here? It sounds like you should just mail them some money and continue on with life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschaefer7406 Posted June 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Thanks guys. Ticket came to $127.50, which after all of the fees is probably the lowest ticket issued in PA (fine itself was only $25). My worry about not removing it is running into the same cop again. I travel the road 5 days a week, and I'm afraid he may "look" for me then. Doesn't help that the car is red . Honestly, my goal is (naturally) to beat it. I feel a warning and fix-it ticket would have been sufficient, and can't believe these guys have nothing better to do than stop people for petty crap like this. Would be one thing if I was already stopped and he noticed it, but it's another to stop someone solely for it. Says he noticed it because the two front windows were down. Knew I should have fixed that evaporator ... My issue is also the fact that he didn't clean the window AT ALL. I've been trying to find an instruction manual for the tint meters online, but have been unsuccessful so far. Can't imagine dirty glass wouldn't skew the readings, and the window he tested had bird crap, etc on it (no place to park at home except under trees ). I'm embarrassed to share these, but here is the condition of the glass he tested: Can't imagine that glass would give a proper reading. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudge_Brownie Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 If you're an inspection mechanic, you don't know anyone who has a light meter you can borrow? Tough to tell with the pictures, but what I'm seeing doesn't look like you're going to get a 70% read, even with a forgiving meter. Did you expect to read 70%+? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschaefer7406 Posted June 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Don't know anyone with a tint meter, as it's not an inspection item anymore. Mechanics are legally allowed to write a sticker with any tint, as long as it doesn't obstruct visibility from INSIDE the car. As far as reading 70%, no. Have been reading a lot since last night, and have found that even clear glass will register 70-80%. Heck, if clear glass is only 70-80% light transmittance, imagine how much the dirt in the photos would skew even a clear window . My only point was to say that the officer's reading couldn't have been accurate, and without a specific (and accurate) reading there would be nothing but speculation. Would assume (and hope) that the law would require a specific reading to fine someone, other that "it looked too dark". Again, can't fathom that the manufacturer of the meter doesn't require a clean window prior to testing... Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiksilver Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Not related to your tint at all, get those bird droppings off of the paint ASAP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oreo931 Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Edit: disregard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschaefer7406 Posted June 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Adam, Thanks for the reply . Unfortunately, he marked my ticket with the code 175.67(d)(4) and then marked "table X" in the comments. In Brubaker's case, he was written up under the statute and not the code. I haven't much to stand on, as the code spells it out pretty clear . I still say though that without a PROPER meter reading, it should be dismissed, but that's just me . Kind of like an officer knowing you were speeding, but having no evidence. Isn't evidence key? Joe P.S. - Yeah, I know I need to clean the bird droppings ASAP. Hard to keep up with though, as said above, no place to park except under trees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oreo931 Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Ah, bummer! Disregard my post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewhiteguy1 Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 67 Pa. Code § 175.67(d)(4): A sun screening device or other material which does not permit a person to see or view the inside of the vehicle is prohibited, unless otherwise permitted by FMVSS No. 205, or a certificate of exemption has been issued in compliance with § 175.265 (relating to exemption provisions). See Table X for specific requirements for vehicles subject to this subchapter. Passenger car requirements relating to the rear window are delineated by vehicle model year in Table X. *Note* that "Table X" referenced above relates to a table, which basically imposes a maximum tint percentage of 70% on all windows. From Table X: "All light transmittance levels listed below assume a 3% accuracy (±3%)" So, it gives a little margin of error, and if he measured with a Dept. proscribed meter, its probably gonna hold up in court. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudge_Brownie Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Joe's idea about getting a ticket dismissed based on inaccuracy might be true about events that are in the past, and cannot be reexamined. Like speeding. So if the dept's gun was not up to spec, we can invalidate the ticket assuming you didn't already admit to it.But when dealing with something like tint, couldn't the court just order the windows re-tested under clean conditions with a re-calibrated meter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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