Do cops care?

Hj7 · 12-19-2011, 05:08 PM

I am thinking about getting my car tinted 20% all around. Do cops care that much to pull you over for that? Or should I go with the legal opacity? I'm in Solana Beach/Del Mar area of San Diego. Thanks guys.

cooler2442 · 12-19-2011, 05:26 PM

I did 30-35% and have passed by multiple cops in lanes near me and none of them have cared. But 20% may be different.

darebornsolja · 12-19-2011, 05:57 PM

Yes, depends what area, here in socal glendale, burbank, arcadia they pulled me over twice with that. BTW no legal tints on front windows in california no matter what a website might say. Most cops will let it slide but there are a couple out there that will bust you for that.

Letsrunem8 · 12-19-2011, 09:34 PM

I have 15% all around, haven't got stopped yet. *knock on wood

But I had 20% on my s2k and the cop was being a pain in the ass and gave me a fix it ticket!

darkevo · 12-20-2011, 01:29 AM

I don't think they will care in a BMW/luxury car, it's like normal. If you have a ricer, then probably well get hassled more. Got one in my Evo before.

tshoww · 12-20-2011, 01:30 AM

if you get pulled over just roll down all your windows

eVitO · 12-20-2011, 03:28 AM

In Solana Beach you will

MCoupeInsanity · 12-20-2011, 03:56 AM

I have 35% all around, and no problems since moving to SD, but I've been pulled over for it twice in Michigan and Illinois.

The fact is, most cops won't and don't care, but if they are looking for a reason to make a stop then a 20% tint all around is an easy one for them. It's a fix-it ticket, but that's not the point. They're usually after something else (DUI, drugs, etc). It's a ready made excuse for a traffic stop.

THE TECH · 12-20-2011, 09:16 AM

Flip of a coin really. No way to say you will or won't get a ticket. I think the darker you go though, the more likely you are to get a ticket if they pull you over. Extenuating circumstances also change the odds for you.

deadmn1337 · 12-20-2011, 01:06 PM

i had 50% tint and got pulled over in seal beach cuz the cop thought my stock exhaust was too loud and ended up giving me a fix it ticket for the tint. So it really just depends on the cop. If you want to cover your ass find a shop that offers ticket protection and pay the extra for it. Had it on a Mazda3 and used it 4-5 times cuz they kept pulling me over for it.

MalibuMafiaV · 12-20-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hj7

I am thinking about getting my car tinted 20% all around. Do cops care that much to pull you over for that? Or should I go with the legal opacity? I'm in Solana Beach/Del Mar area of San Diego. Thanks guys.

There is no legal % in the two front windows. Any tint on the two front windows in general is illegal. I figure if you put any % on your two front you might as well go limo since your going to get pulled over for any % of tint eventually. Might as well go all out. Now will you get pulled over less if the tint allows the driver to be visible to the police? yes. But it's still illegal none the less. Only the back windows are legal to tint to any % you want. But driver and front passenger..... were F'e in California.

Drizz · 12-20-2011, 01:57 PM

I had 20% tint on multiple cars and never had a problem. Put 5% on my last car and was pulled over twice within the first month of having them, one of which was in Solana Beach. Took them off and went to 20% in the front, still 5% in the rear, no problems again.

MalibuMafiaV · 12-20-2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drizz

I had 20% tint on multiple cars and never had a problem. Put 5% on my last car and was pulled over twice within the first month of having them, one of which was in Solana Beach. Took them off and went to 20% in the front, still 5% in the rear, no problems again.

Your lucky.
For those who want to know I copy and pasted this straight from the CHP.ca.gov website.

"Can I put after-market tinting on the windows of my vehicle?
The main requirements for legal window tinting in California are:

1.The windshield and front driver's side and passenger's side windows cannot receive any aftermarket tinting.
2.If the rear window of a vehicle is tinted, the vehicle must have outside rearview mirrors on both sides.

The law prohibits any person from driving any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows, with certain limited exceptions.
"

http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html

mr_milo · 12-20-2011, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCoupeInsanity

The fact is, most cops won't and don't care, but if they are looking for a reason to make a stop then a 20% tint all around is an easy one for them. It's a fix-it ticket, but that's not the point. They're usually after something else (DUI, drugs, etc). It's a ready made excuse for a traffic stop.

TotalPower · 12-20-2011, 10:07 PM

i was stopped in the rain just for a tint ticket in SB/Del Mar area...cops here have nothing better to do

Hj7 · 12-20-2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TotalPower

i was stopped in the rain just for a tint ticket in SB/Del Mar area...cops here have nothing better to do

So true...

Hj7 · 12-20-2011, 11:09 PM

Thanks for the replies. How is the visibility with 5%? I feel like it would be hard to see out at night?

KwlAznKid · 12-21-2011, 12:00 AM

ur in sd? you're fine, i drove for 4 years in sd with tint and no front plate with 0 problems, when i lived in norcal i got pulled over for tint and no plate within a week of getting it done

Drizz · 12-21-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hj7

Thanks for the replies. How is the visibility with 5%? I feel like it would be hard to see out at night?

It is a bit, but it's not on your windshield. Basically any time I would change lanes (or do something where I would normally have to see out of my side window) I would just give it an extra second to make sure no one is there. If someone's driving at night with their lights off you're not going to see them next to you, but that's likely not going to happen. Lucky for me the majority of my driving is in the daytime.

MCoupeInsanity · 12-21-2011, 02:23 PM

I have perfect vision, and I find my 35% bothers me at night if I'm in a dark/unlit area. Next go-around I'll skip the front side windows most likely.

MalibuMafiaV · 12-22-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hj7

Thanks for the replies. How is the visibility with 5%? I feel like it would be hard to see out at night?

I'm use to it. Had 5% tint for 4+ years. You can see just fine out of them after you get use to them I'd say.

acg35 · 12-22-2011, 02:28 PM

In California, front tints are illegal. Period. All depends on the area and the cop. I've had tints on 3 cars that i never got a ticket for. But i had probably 4 that i did. Some cops will pull you over for no reason and try to find a reason like front plate. Or tints lol. Just roll your windows down when you see a cop or get pulled over.

12-19-2011, 05:08 PM	#1
Hj7 New Member 8 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 328i coupe Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Do cops care? I am thinking about getting my car tinted 20% all around. Do cops care that much to pull you over for that? Or should I go with the legal opacity? I'm in Solana Beach/Del Mar area of San Diego. Thanks guys.
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12-19-2011, 05:26 PM	#2
cooler2442 Brigadier General 480 Rep 4,154 Posts Drives: 1/18 Monte Carlo Blue E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (6) Garage List 2016 Porsche GT4 [0.00]	I did 30-35% and have passed by multiple cops in lanes near me and none of them have cared. But 20% may be different.
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12-19-2011, 05:57 PM	#3
darebornsolja First Lieutenant 17 Rep 333 Posts Drives: 18 F80 [yezy] Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Arcadia iTrader: (3) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 [0.00]	Yes, depends what area, here in socal glendale, burbank, arcadia they pulled me over twice with that. BTW no legal tints on front windows in california no matter what a website might say. Most cops will let it slide but there are a couple out there that will bust you for that.
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12-19-2011, 09:34 PM	#4
Letsrunem8 Private 28 Rep 89 Posts Drives: e92 328i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: 661 iTrader: (0)	I have 15% all around, haven't got stopped yet. *knock on wood But I had 20% on my s2k and the cop was being a pain in the ass and gave me a fix it ticket!
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12-20-2011, 01:29 AM	#5
darkevo Commander 10 Rep 273 Posts Drives: 2011 335d MSport, 2012 Volt Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Los Angles, CA iTrader: (10)	I don't think they will care in a BMW/luxury car, it's like normal. If you have a ricer, then probably well get hassled more. Got one in my Evo before. __________________ 2011 335D E90 M-sport Space Gray - JBD, K&N, M3 interior conversion, GiroDisc Rotors 2012 Volt Premium 2007 Mustang GT Covt -MT
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12-20-2011, 01:30 AM	#6
tshoww oG 56 Rep 487 Posts Drives: 2009 Alpine White 335i e90 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (1)	if you get pulled over just roll down all your windows
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12-20-2011, 03:56 AM	#8
MCoupeInsanity Lieutenant 74 Rep 569 Posts Drives: cars Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	I have 35% all around, and no problems since moving to SD, but I've been pulled over for it twice in Michigan and Illinois. The fact is, most cops won't and don't care, but if they are looking for a reason to make a stop then a 20% tint all around is an easy one for them. It's a fix-it ticket, but that's not the point. They're usually after something else (DUI, drugs, etc). It's a ready made excuse for a traffic stop.
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12-20-2011, 09:16 AM	#9
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	Flip of a coin really. No way to say you will or won't get a ticket. I think the darker you go though, the more likely you are to get a ticket if they pull you over. Extenuating circumstances also change the odds for you.
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12-20-2011, 01:06 PM	#10
deadmn1337 Captain 39 Rep 656 Posts Drives: 2016 EB 435i Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Long Beach iTrader: (11)	i had 50% tint and got pulled over in seal beach cuz the cop thought my stock exhaust was too loud and ended up giving me a fix it ticket for the tint. So it really just depends on the cop. If you want to cover your ass find a shop that offers ticket protection and pay the extra for it. Had it on a Mazda3 and used it 4-5 times cuz they kept pulling me over for it.
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12-20-2011, 01:57 PM	#12
Drizz Lieutenant 182 Rep 595 Posts Drives: '23 BMW X7; '20 911 Carrera S Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	I had 20% tint on multiple cars and never had a problem. Put 5% on my last car and was pulled over twice within the first month of having them, one of which was in Solana Beach. Took them off and went to 20% in the front, still 5% in the rear, no problems again.
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12-20-2011, 10:07 PM	#15
TotalPower Lieutenant 32 Rep 480 Posts Drives: 2011 335is Vert AW Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	i was stopped in the rain just for a tint ticket in SB/Del Mar area...cops here have nothing better to do
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12-20-2011, 11:09 PM	#17
Hj7 New Member 8 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 328i coupe Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the replies. How is the visibility with 5%? I feel like it would be hard to see out at night?
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12-21-2011, 12:00 AM	#18
KwlAznKid Brigadier General 354 Rep 3,036 Posts Drives: BMW/MERCEDES/PORSCHE Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles/Fremont USC/UCSD Alum iTrader: (6)	ur in sd? you're fine, i drove for 4 years in sd with tint and no front plate with 0 problems, when i lived in norcal i got pulled over for tint and no plate within a week of getting it done __________________ BMW E93 M3 / Mercedes Benz W209 CLK500 BMW E64 650I(sold) / BMW E92 328I(sold) / BMW E46 M3(sold) / BMW E92 335I(sold) Porsche 996 911 C2(sold) / BMW E46 325CI(totaled)
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12-21-2011, 02:23 PM	#20
MCoupeInsanity Lieutenant 74 Rep 569 Posts Drives: cars Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	I have perfect vision, and I find my 35% bothers me at night if I'm in a dark/unlit area. Next go-around I'll skip the front side windows most likely.
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12-22-2011, 02:28 PM	#22
acg35 . 36 Rep 535 Posts Drives: E92 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: NorCal iTrader: (2)	In California, front tints are illegal. Period. All depends on the area and the cop. I've had tints on 3 cars that i never got a ticket for. But i had probably 4 that i did. Some cops will pull you over for no reason and try to find a reason like front plate. Or tints lol. Just roll your windows down when you see a cop or get pulled over.
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