Window Tint on a Hearse?

[Cat_Doc]

Curt,

Your new-found best buddy intentionally left out several sections of the law attempting to gain support from us.

The law clearly states he would need an exemption certificate, which he obviously does not possess. Additionally, federal law restricts any tinting of a windshield further than a few (I think 3) inches from the top of the windshield.

Below is the entire code your friend left out.


(e) Sun screening and other materials prohibited.

(1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sun screening device or other material which does not permit a person to see or view the inside of the vehicle through the windshield, side wing or side window of the vehicle.

(2) This subsection does not apply to:

(i) A vehicle which is equipped with tinted windows of the type and specification that were installed by the manufacturer of the vehicle or to any hearse, ambulance, government vehicle or any other vehicle for which a currently valid certificate of exemption has been issued in accordance with regulations adopted by the department.

(ii) A vehicle which is equipped with tinted windows, sun screening devices or other materials which comply with all applicable Federal regulations and for which a currently valid certificate of exemption for medical reasons has been issued in accordance with regulations adopted by the department.

(3) A certificate of exemption shall be issued by the department for a vehicle which is:

(i) Registered in this Commonwealth on the effective date of this subsection and is equipped with a sun screening device or other material prohibited under paragraph (I) on the effective date.

(ii) Equipped with tinted windows, sun screening devices or other materials for a physical condition that makes it necessary to equip the motor vehicle with sun screening material which would be of a light transmittance or luminous reflectance in violation of this section.

(A) A certificate of exemption for medical reasons shall be issued only if the owner or registrant of the vehicle, or a person residing in the household of the owner or registrant who regularly drives or is driven in the vehicle, suffers from a physical condition deter-mined by the department, in consultation with the Medical Advisory Board, to justify the exemption.

(B) Any person requesting an exemption for medical reasons shall have his physical condition certified to the department by a licensed physician or optometrist.

(4) A certificate of exemption issued under this subsection shall be carried in the vehicle and displayed on request of a police officer.

(5) Upon the sale or transfer of the vehicle to any person who does not qualify under paragraph (2)(ii), the exemption shall be null and void. Prior to the sale or transfer of an exempt vehicle, it shall be the sole responsibility of the owner or seller of a formerly exempt vehicle to remove all sun screening or other materials from the vehicle. At the time of the sale or transfer of a formerly exempt vehicle, the owner shall remove and destroy the certificate of exemption for physical reasons and provide the purchaser with a notarized statement setting forth the name and address of the owner or seller, the vehicle identification number, year and model, and the business entity and process used to remove the sun screening or other material.

[phantasm]

Just because a car is the "style" of a hearse, does not make it a hearse.

[JakeLock]

I didn't realize they still even made hearses. They just use Suburbans up here.

[Samuel]

I just thought of a loophole for him - let's say he chooses an alternate lifestyle, let's say he's the primary receiver, let's say his B/F gets and drives a similar make and model vehicle - I submit that the OP could then claim that their vehicles are "his and hearse"...

::taking cover from any rotting vegetable or fruit projectiles::

[The Horologist]

Curt,

Your new-found best buddy intentionally left out several sections of the law attempting to gain support from us.

The law clearly states he would need an exemption certificate, which he obviously does not possess. Additionally, federal law restricts any tinting of a windshield further than a few (I think 3) inches from the top of the windshield.

Below is the entire code your friend left out.


(e) Sun screening and other materials prohibited.

(1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sun screening device or other material which does not permit a person to see or view the inside of the vehicle through the windshield, side wing or side window of the vehicle.

(2) This subsection does not apply to:

(i) A vehicle which is equipped with tinted windows of the type and specification that were installed by the manufacturer of the vehicle or to any hearse, ambulance, government vehicle or any other vehicle for which a currently valid certificate of exemption has been issued in accordance with regulations adopted by the department.

(ii) A vehicle which is equipped with tinted windows, sun screening devices or other materials which comply with all applicable Federal regulations and for which a currently valid certificate of exemption for medical reasons has been issued in accordance with regulations adopted by the department.

(3) A certificate of exemption shall be issued by the department for a vehicle which is:

(i) Registered in this Commonwealth on the effective date of this subsection and is equipped with a sun screening device or other material prohibited under paragraph (I) on the effective date.

(ii) Equipped with tinted windows, sun screening devices or other materials for a physical condition that makes it necessary to equip the motor vehicle with sun screening material which would be of a light transmittance or luminous reflectance in violation of this section.

(A) A certificate of exemption for medical reasons shall be issued only if the owner or registrant of the vehicle, or a person residing in the household of the owner or registrant who regularly drives or is driven in the vehicle, suffers from a physical condition deter-mined by the department, in consultation with the Medical Advisory Board, to justify the exemption.

(B) Any person requesting an exemption for medical reasons shall have his physical condition certified to the department by a licensed physician or optometrist.

(4) A certificate of exemption issued under this subsection shall be carried in the vehicle and displayed on request of a police officer.

(5) Upon the sale or transfer of the vehicle to any person who does not qualify under paragraph (2)(ii), the exemption shall be null and void. Prior to the sale or transfer of an exempt vehicle, it shall be the sole responsibility of the owner or seller of a formerly exempt vehicle to remove all sun screening or other materials from the vehicle. At the time of the sale or transfer of a formerly exempt vehicle, the owner shall remove and destroy the certificate of exemption for physical reasons and provide the purchaser with a notarized statement setting forth the name and address of the owner or seller, the vehicle identification number, year and model, and the business entity and process used to remove the sun screening or other material.

This is what I was looking for. Thank you for the clarification.

Maybe you missed this in your reading:



You have to read the entire section; not just what you want to read!

No state permits after market tint on the windshield. Most do not permit it on the front side windows to the right and left of the driver.

You should also research the definition of a hearse in your state. If the vehicle is being used as a daily vehicle and not being used to transport the deceased remains of an individual, it may not be allowed the exemption. For example; if you purchased an old, used hearse for a personal vehicle it is no longer a hearse.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a defintion for a hearse. Thank you for the information!

**I also wanted to ask if the information on this site is accurate:

http://www.berksweb.com/users/dmv/tint/

According to the site, any tint is legal as long as the driver can see outside of the vehicle. I've heard otherwise, namely that anything under 70% isn't legal. Is that true?

[PapaBear]

Berksweb is not a legal opinion, it is strictly someone's interpretation. They are not going to appear in court on your behalf if you get a ticket. Until such time that the PA lawmakers enact a law specifically permitting the application of aftermarket window tinting, I would suggest that you comply with the directives:

TITLE 75 Section 4524 (e)(1) of the Pennsylvania Common Statutes states that

(1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sun screening device or other material which does not permit a person to see or view the inside of the vehicle through the windshield, side wing or side window of the vehicle.

It states what I, and others, have told you. No tinting materials on the windshield, side wing windows or side passenger windows to the right and left of the driver. Behind the driver you may apply as dark a tint as you wish providing you have a side view (rearview) mirror on both sides of your vehicle which permit the driver to see behind the vehicle.

I also do not suggest that you try to use the writings of Berksweb for any argument you may present before a court if you the unfortunate recipient of a traffic ticket.

Good luck to you. You still have the option of contacting the PA State Police for an interpretation.

[The Horologist]

Berksweb is not a legal opinion, it is strictly someone's interpretation. They are not going to appear in court on your behalf if you get a ticket. Until such time that the PA lawmakers enact a law specifically permitting the application of aftermarket window tinting, I would suggest that you comply with the directives:



It states what I, and others, have told you. No tinting materials on the windshield, side wing windows or side passenger windows to the right and left of the driver. Behind the driver you may apply as dark a tint as you wish providing you have a side view (rearview) mirror on both sides of your vehicle which permit the driver to see behind the vehicle.

I also do not suggest that you try to use the writings of Berksweb for any argument you may present before a court if you the unfortunate recipient of a traffic ticket.

Good luck to you. You still have the option of contacting the PA State Police for an interpretation.

Thank you very much PapaBear. I really appreciate your chivalry and patience!