WINDOW TINT LEGISLATION

On November 28, 2016 legislation was signed into law which requires that examination of window tinting be included as part of the annual safety inspection. The law takes effect on January 1, 2017.

DMV is in the process of preparing emergency regulations in order to be in compliance with the January 1, 2017 effective date of the new law.

While these regulations are not yet finalized, a component of this regulation will require any inspection station licensed as a group 1A or 2A (i.e. light and heavy duty cars and trucks) to acquire a window tint meter. The meter must be capable of testing light transmittance of all vehicle windows, not just those that roll down. This type of meter is commonly referred to as a "two piece" meter. DMV will not be requiring a specific make or model of tint meter. DMV plans to require that the meter be capable of testing all required windows, measuring light transmittance percentage in accordance with the law, and be properly calibrated and maintained as per the manufacturers' specifications.

Stations licensed solely as group 1 B, 28, or 3 (i.e. trailer and/or motorcycle) will not be required to perform window tint testing or to acquire a meter.

This message is being sent out as a courtesy so you can begin to prepare for the January 1 implementation date. DMV will send out more information and instructions as appropriate.

Window tinting that is too dark for law enforcement officers to see through puts them at risk during routine traffic stops.  Law enforcement officers have issued approximately 710,000 tickets for violations of the law since 2012.  If a law enforcement officer pulls you over, the penalty for illegal window tinting can be up to $150