Measure Window Tint Darkness with iTint

[hjchome]

How does law enforcement measure car windows for compliance with state laws? I heard in Florida they have these tinted contrasting image cards that they hold behind the glass. There are meters that measure VLT (Visible Light Transmission) as well, but these tend to be pricey, especially for a large police force.

There is an app on Apple's app store that works on an iPhone and iPod Touch that can measure the VLT. The app is called iTint, and works pretty well. In California, the front side law is 70% VLT, but looking around you know there are many drivers with windows darker than 50%. I'm not suggesting police departments purchase iPhones or iPod Touches for everyone, but I'm sure there are officers that already have the device, and could use the app. One extra violation to write up for those pulled over, for a very low cost.

[BJJVad]

How does law enforcement measure car windows for compliance with state laws? I heard in Florida they have these tinted contrasting image cards that they hold behind the glass. There are meters that measure VLT (Visible Light Transmission) as well, but these tend to be pricey, especially for a large police force.

There is an app on Apple's app store that works on an iPhone and iPod Touch that can measure the VLT. The app is called iTint, and works pretty well. In California, the front side law is 70% VLT, but looking around you know there are many drivers with windows darker than 50%. I'm not suggesting police departments purchase iPhones or iPod Touches for everyone, but I'm sure there are officers that already have the device, and could use the app. One extra violation to write up for those pulled over, for a very low cost.

Scroll down to the bold and underlined section.

26708. (a) (1) ( )1 A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.

(2) ( )1 A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle ( )2 that obstructs or reduces the driver’s clear view through the windshield or side windows.

(3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle with the driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.

(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) Rearview mirrors.

(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors ( )2 that are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the glass.

(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials ( )2 that are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver, signs, stickers, or other materials ( )2 that are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the rear window farthest removed from the driver, or signs, stickers, or other materials ( )2 that are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver.

(4) Side windows ( )2 that are to the rear of the driver.

(5) Direction, destination, or termini signs upon a passenger common carrier motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do not interfere with the driver's clear view of approaching traffic.

(6) Rear window wiper motor.

(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.

(8) The rear window or windows,( )3 if the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both the left- and righthand sides of the vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.

(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite the driver on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and ( )2 that occupies an area not exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest corner toward the rear of that window and ( )2 that provides the driver with a wide-angle view through the lens.

(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section 26708.2 installed on the side windows on either side of the vehicle's front seat, if the driver or a passenger in the front seat has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a medical condition, or has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed optometrist certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a visual condition. The devices authorized by this paragraph shall not be used during darkness.

(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost portion of the interior of a windshield within an area that is not greater than 5 inches square, if the device provides either of the following:

(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle equipped with the device.

(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public or private roads or facilities.

(12) A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver or in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver, if the system is used only for door-to-door navigation while the motor vehicle is being operated and outside of an airbag deployment zone.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the topmost portion of the windshield if the following conditions apply:

(1) The bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat when measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest with the driver's seat in its rearmost and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface.

(2) The material is not red or amber in color.

(3) There is no opaque lettering on the material and any other lettering does not affect primary colors or distort vision through the windshield.

(4) The material does not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the eyes of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles to any greater extent than the windshield without the material.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.

(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle, a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the installing company and the material's manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material's manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed according to manufacturer's instructions meets the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the material's manufacturer by full name and street address.

(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles, or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed or replaced.

Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 476, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 413, Stats. 2008. Effective January 1, 2009.
The 2008 amendment added the italicized material, and at the point(s) indicated, deleted the following:

1. “No”
2. “which”
3. “when”

[hjchome]

Scroll down to the bold and underlined section.

26708. (a) (1) ( )1 A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.

(2) ( )1 A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle ( )2 that obstructs or reduces the driver’s clear view through the windshield or side windows.

(3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle with the driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.

(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) Rearview mirrors.

(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors ( )2 that are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the glass.

(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials ( )2 that are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver, signs, stickers, or other materials ( )2 that are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the rear window farthest removed from the driver, or signs, stickers, or other materials ( )2 that are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver.

(4) Side windows ( )2 that are to the rear of the driver.

(5) Direction, destination, or termini signs upon a passenger common carrier motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do not interfere with the driver's clear view of approaching traffic.

(6) Rear window wiper motor.

(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.

(8) The rear window or windows,( )3 if the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both the left- and righthand sides of the vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.

(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite the driver on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and ( )2 that occupies an area not exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest corner toward the rear of that window and ( )2 that provides the driver with a wide-angle view through the lens.

(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section 26708.2 installed on the side windows on either side of the vehicle's front seat, if the driver or a passenger in the front seat has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a medical condition, or has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed optometrist certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a visual condition. The devices authorized by this paragraph shall not be used during darkness.

(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost portion of the interior of a windshield within an area that is not greater than 5 inches square, if the device provides either of the following:

(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle equipped with the device.

(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public or private roads or facilities.

(12) A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver or in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver, if the system is used only for door-to-door navigation while the motor vehicle is being operated and outside of an airbag deployment zone.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the topmost portion of the windshield if the following conditions apply:

(1) The bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat when measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest with the driver's seat in its rearmost and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface.

(2) The material is not red or amber in color.

(3) There is no opaque lettering on the material and any other lettering does not affect primary colors or distort vision through the windshield.

(4) The material does not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the eyes of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles to any greater extent than the windshield without the material.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.

(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle, a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the installing company and the material's manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material's manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed according to manufacturer's instructions meets the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the material's manufacturer by full name and street address.

(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles, or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed or replaced.

Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 476, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 413, Stats. 2008. Effective January 1, 2009.
The 2008 amendment added the italicized material, and at the point(s) indicated, deleted the following:

1. “No”
2. “which”
3. “when”

Thank you for the quick response. I know about the laws. My question is why is it not enforced? Is it a lack of a measuring device?

[BJJVad]

Thank you for the quick response. I know about the laws. My question is why is it not enforced? Is it a lack of a measuring device?

Who said it's not? I would assume it would be standard in many areas to issue more tickets on a section like this because of the other requirements of this specific law.

Examples:
Not having a certified material list in the drivers possession.
Cracked, Bubbled, Obstructed Tint.
or the other rule of thumb.
If we can't see you, it's too dark... ;)

[phantasm]

The NYPD has 76 patrol precincts, 8 task forces, 5 highway units, a few traffic task forces, and a few other units. If they NYPD decided to issue 2 or 3 per command that would utilize tint meters and would do car stops fairly often, they could get away with a few hundred, as opposed to issuing one to every officer.

Additionally I don't need a tint meter to issue a tint ticket. I know whats illegal and whats not by looking. MAYBE the guy with the 35% tint (30% is legal), I wouldn't be able to tell, but the guy with 70%+ I could tell from simple observation.

[Samuel]

Thank you for the quick response. I know about the laws. My question is why is it not enforced? Is it a lack of a measuring device?

So if you happen to see some fish in a lake, sea, ocean, etal, do you automatically ASSume that fishermen are not fishing? :confused:

Btw, you do NOT "know about the laws"... You should go back and re-read 26708 CVC in its entirety.

[Roger Dat]

Im sure my bosses would love me using an IPHONE app to verify tint percentage I can see my testimony at traffic trial now....:rolleyes:

[Creeker]

Im sure my bosses would love me using an IPHONE app to verify tint percentage I can see my testimony at traffic trial now....:rolleyes:

+1 My thoughts exactly.

"Your Honor, I used the uncertified and undocumented tint meter on my Iphone to charge this guy with a violation.":no:

[Legoate]

I write tint tickets and I just use my eyeballs to gauge it. There is basically no visible tint allowed on CA vehicle front/side windows. So if I can see it, you are probably in violation. I have yet to lose one of these cites in court.