WRX John said:
Relatedly and FWIW, I had a friend who decided to go darker than our state allowed, got busted the next year, so it not only cost him $200 to get it done the first time (all nine windows except not the windshield), but $240 to take off the first set and to install legal film the next time. Thankfully, as most jurisdictions due, his fine was waived due to him showing compliance.
Many tint to whatever they wish -- ignoring the law. I belong to the "tint as dark as the law allows" group, (though I wish we could have 20 tint).
I'm with John on this. I live in one of the most heavily policed areas in the state in terms of traffic ticket revenue. When I bought my car, I called the station, and asked them what they would bother me for; I was told as long as my front windows weren't tinted, I'd never be bothered. In the entire time I've owned my car, I've never been pulled over for tint, or had it even mentioned on the 20+ roadside chats with LEOs. While it's still illegal due to VTL laws to have my rear passenger windows tinted, as long as the officer could see into the vehicle as they approached, they never bothered me.
Unfortunately, here in NY, starting in 2017, tint is actually part of the safety portion of annual inspection, which means that I have to remove the tint on my rear passenger windows and re-apply afterwards. Luckily, there are people who look at us as an annual subscription customer, and give a very good price to de-tint / re-tint around inspection time.
PREFACE: DO NOT DRIVE DRUNK
Illegal tint is a legal reason for an officer to stop you. Say you've had a couple beers with your buddies, and you're driving home, and an officer decides to stop you for an equipment violation (you weren't speeding, swerving, or doing anything else wrong); that tint job could cost you a ton of money, if you were right on the line.
