Well, after 20 years of heavy tint, I got written up (LAPD). Sucks as the average summer temp in my area is 90 degrees.
What are my options? Can I just go to the station & pay a fine? I'm willing to pay for the privilege of keeping the tint. Don't have time to play the remove/reapply game. There is nothing on the ticket or letter but to pay a $25 fee. No # to call.
Anyone have any experience with this?

 

Just go pay the ticket and keep the tints if you like. The cop will most likely pull you over if he sees you again though.

 

You might have to go to a police station to get it signed off if it's a fix-it ticket.

 

It's fixit ticket.
The $25 is not a fine but an administrative fee.

If not signed off , the fine it ~$300.

 

Do I just go to the court & offer to pay the higher fee?
Do you have an experience to share? Don't want to take time off only to find out I need to remove the tint.
Thanks.

 

Final damage : $197 plus $2 parking. Kept the tint.

 

What did you have to do? Just show up to court and pay the higher fine?

 

I drove to the court house. Waited in line for 40 minutes. Told the guy I didn't want to remove the tint as the car was for sale (a lie). He told me I had to make a court appearance. I said why as I was pleading guilty. H e said no one ever offers to pay the fine. I said I want to, how much. He said $197 & the ticket is dismissed. I paid him, got a receipt & all is good. Now I keep the ticket in my visor. If they attempt to write me up for the same infraction, I will present the ticket. Good till September.
Wish someone could have given me the low down so I would have been prepared.

 

I really wanted to stay out of this one but I can’t resist. There you are, lying to the court, paying a hefty fine for some peace only until September, after which you will be looking over your shoulder once again when you may have to go through the whole distasteful experience once more, just to have a “cool” looking car with compromised night vision. I have to ask, is it really worth it?

 

Since you live kind of close to me, you do realize having a black car with black interior in the San Fernando valley is quite uncomfortable. 100 degree temps most of the summer. Tint really helps keep my legs from leaving skin on the leather as I wear shorts often.
The police will not pull you over for tint alone. I have done research to prove this. They will however add it to your ticket. My original post stated I have been trouble free for over 20 years. The odds are in my favor. The "lie" was just humor as it had no consequences on the outcome.
$197 over 20 years is fine with me. It would have cost me that much to have it removed & reapplied.

 

Would you mind sharing the research you have to prove this?

 

I managed a gun store for 10 years & have spent a lot of time with LAPD personnel & CHP. They all denied pulling over a car just for tint unless the car matched a reported occurrence in the area. I bet they all drive home in tinted cars.

 

Well my research shows that they can pull you over for tint. I agree they probably won't but I am almost positive they can, which is why I wanted to see your sources. I bet they all drive 5 above the limit as well, doesn't make it legal.

BTW is your last name Butler?

 

Lol!!! Just like you have "gateway drugs" there are "gateway offenses". Tint is a "Gateway offense" , basically it can be used as a means of initiating contact when nothing else is availible.
Generally a seasoned patrol officer won't bother stopping someone with tint; But.......an enterprising individual looking to get a spot on a traffic unit or to pad his stats won't pass up on the opportunity to make a stop that easy. A general rule is that you'll get one warrant or suspension out of every 10 stops.
Maybe in California it's different but in Florida tint is not considered a secondary offense and I can say that when I was at Camp Pendleton I got stopped all the time for tint but because I was registered in Florida I skated out every time.

 

Tint Master City on Canoga above Vanowen charged me $50 to to remove, and reinstall 2 front windows.
Total cost was $75, and the tint is new!!