Boo too strict! Well, man you've got to check the current tint law in PA from time to time. Here, you may check it at http://www.TintBuyer.com. They also provide other relevant information about window tints such as its types, quotations and will help you find the best professional tinter near your area. I hope this helps chill

 

I am sorry OP, but you really cant blame the cop for doing his job. Plain and simple, you are breaking the law. Deal with the consequences.

 

There may be a way around the law. See if PA has an allowance for medical-related tinting. Here in GA the limit is 35% but you can have your eye doctor fill out a form that lets you get as low as 20%. Best place to go is your local state police office and ask....

 

I apprreciate most of the postive feedback. I am not blaming the cop, but frustated by the situation. I do think he is going to extreme, as I stated before the PA law that was PASSED is NOT what he is enforcing. I do understand he is trying to do his job on what HE thinks should be done. But I do think he is being a little over the top on his focus on tinting, especially when the law is general. As I stated, he watches people illegally park to jaywalk kids across a busy street, so it does bother me when an officer picks and choses what to enforce.

Again, not whining, but posting on a site where I THOUGHT most pople would understand my frustration as you all appreciate your car and the look of it like I do. Like I said in my OP I was also posting to make sure people appreciate their state laws in TINT because PA's is vague and parts are way too strict. If you are interested in this topic, especailly for PA check this out and you will see it is not very clear at all. PA Window Tinting Law, Statutes, and Regulations

I did file for a medical exemption, but that will only clear me for coloerless UV prodcuts. There are only 2 tint guys in the entire Erie County and I had the one special order me the lightest possible that he would use, which was 48%.

 

I understand your frustration. I live in CA and our limit here is 70% as well. With the 74% factory glass, any additional tint on front door windows will be a violation. I am also frustrated with the rule here which requires a front license plate. To me, it totally ruined the beauty of the front facia/bumper design. However, at the end of the day, you either follow or run the risk of getting citation. Some people may not care for the small fine, so just think of it as additional tax or fee that you pay for the privilege of having tinted window or without front license plate.

As to the cop, at least he gave you a chance to remove the tint. He could have just issued the ticket right there. unfortunate for you, it may not be an option to pay and keep the tint, as he will be stalking you and issue tickets repetively. I do feel for you on this "no way out" situation.

 

I think there's a conflict of interest when the salaries of local traffic cops are paid by the constituents they serve, but are praised with meeting their quotas and/or breaking them.

 

I live in PA as well and know your pain (which is exactly why I didn't tint my 2009 x coupe.) The state law actually isn't that clear period (which is why it will depend on the cop.) I know they carry the meter and they can use it if they want to.

There are plenty of places that advertise tint too so that makes it even more difficult. Check this link out for a place in Allentown that tints.Welcome to A & S Installation

I haven't even contacted any places in so long about it but as far as I know they haven't changed the laws (and since they're so cryptic who knows realy what to do) but I also have seen plenty of tinted rides around here way lower than 70 percent. Maybe they all just haven't been stopped?

Good luck.

 

Although it is the law there is a valid argument that can be made that this cop is borderline harassment. Is PA a cop cannot stop you for tint alone as the same as NY. However any traffic violation or "suspicious behavior" can get you stopped and then you will surely be nailed for tint and any other issue ( got a fine fr my radar because it was obstructing my view). For all of you that say it's the law and you should know better I would simply ask how you would feel for getting a ticket for going 5 over the speed limit. Although you may be breaking he law I feel you would feel targeted just like this guy, and would have a valid point. Remember cops are human and many may suffer from a napolean complex just like any other profession. Overall, even though you are in the wrong or the tint I would also take it up with the town court and mention that this cop is sitting near your job and although be at a school, is also usingthis as an opportunity to check up on you. Sorry for the long post but I am a
strong advocate about civil rights and if everything you are saying is true, this seems like a cop that is doing more than simply upholding the law.

 

FYI sorry for the spelling and grammer errors, I am posting using an iPhone and I am too lazy to go back and make changes.

 

For some reason that page you linked to does not even mention the laws 175.263 - 173.265 from the PA code and the table I posted earlier in this thread. That page claims nothing in the PA statute even mentions 70%. But that table seems like it pretty clearly says 70% and was taken directly from the pa code.

Actually, looking closer at it, the page you are referring to links to pa law 175.67 which was enacted in 1982 and states at the bottom: amended September 27, 1996, effective September 28, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 4640. It turns out that the 70% table is the 26 Pa.B. 4640 it's referring to.

In other words, I think that page is using outdated information. It looks like the current law is pretty cut and dry. But I'm not a lawyer or an expert at reading laws or anything so there might have been something I missed.

 

Thanks TOny, I will have to check into if he can keep bugging me for tint alone. I appreciate your comments

 

Thanks Shadowman! I will check out those other laws too. I know you can't believe everything you find on the internet! LOL

 

I tell people this all the time. In New York, the rear windshield is NOT allowed to be tinted. I've been ticketed for it before and the judge has always told me the same thing: It isn't allowed.

 

Too bad I can't bust out a car cover in my schools parking lot.............
And it's not as bad as you make it seem.

 

while I agree with you on the tint stuff, why cant you use a car cover at school? When I was in college we had people throw covers on their cars ALL the time...