sorry, I know this is a tired topic with many a thread about it, but I have a specific question.

from another thread:

Quote :

"The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: Section 1. G.S. 20-127, as amended by Chapter 683 of the 1993 Session Laws (Reg. Sess. 1994), reads as rewritten: "§ 20-127. Windows and windshield wipers. (a) Windshield Wipers. -- A vehicle that is operated on a highway and has a windshield must have a windshield wiper to clear rain or other substances from the windshield in front of the driver of the vehicle and the windshield wiper must be in good working order. If a vehicle has more than one windshield wiper to clear substances from the windshield, all the windshield wipers must be in good working order. (b) Window Tinting Restrictions. -- A window of a vehicle that is operated on a highway or a public vehicular area must comply with this subsection. The windshield of the vehicle may be tinted only along the top of the windshield and the tinting may not extend more than five inches below the top of the windshield or below the AS1 line of the windshield, whichever measurement is longer. Any other window of the vehicle may be tinted in accordance with the following restrictions: (1) The total light transmission of the tinted window must be at least thirty-five percent (35%). A vehicle window that, by use of a light meter approved by the Commissioner, measures a total light transmission of more than thirty-two percent (32%) is conclusively presumed to meet this restriction. (2) The light reflectance of the tinted window must be twenty percent (20%) or less. (3) Tinted film or another material used to tint the window must be non-reflective and must be a color other than red, yellow, or amber. (c) Tinting Exceptions. -- The window tinting restrictions in subsection (b) of this section apply without exception to the windshield of a vehicle. The window tinting restrictions in subdivisions (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section do not apply to any of the following vehicle windows: (1) A window of an excursion passenger vehicle, as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)a. (2) A window of a for-hire passenger vehicle, as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)b. (3) A window of a common carrier of passengers, as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)c. (4) A window of a motor home, as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)d2. (5) A window of an ambulance, as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)f. (6) The rear window of a property-hauling vehicle, as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(31). (7) A window of a limousine. (8) A window of a law enforcement vehicle. (9) A window of a multipurpose vehicle that is behind the driver of the vehicle. A multipurpose vehicle is a passenger vehicle that is designed to carry 10 or fewer passengers and either is constructed on a truck chassis or has special features designed for occasional off-road operation. A minivan and a pickup truck are multipurpose vehicles. (10) A window of a vehicle that is registered in another state and meets the requirements of the state in which it is registered. (d) Violations. -- A person who does any of the following commits a misdemeanor of the class set in G.S. 20-176: (1) Applies tinting to the window of a vehicle that is subject to a safety inspection in this State and the resulting tinted window does not meet the window tinting restrictions set in this section. (2) Drives on a highway or a public vehicular area a vehicle that has a window that does not meet the window tinting restrictions set in this section. (e) Defense. -- It is a defense to a charge of driving a vehicle with an unlawfully tinted window that the tinting was removed within 15 days after the charge and the window now meets the window tinting restrictions. To assert this defense, the person charged must produce in court, or submit to the prosecuting attorney before trial, a certificate from the Division of Motor Vehicles or the Highway Patrol showing that the window complies with the restrictions.""

I drive a Subaru STi would that qualify me for that exemption because it is equipped for occasional off-road use (lockers, lsd, awd, etc.)?

I'm thinking 20% because I don't want to draw a lot of attention to myself but 35% you can't even tell it's tinted.

Also, the last part about defense, does that just mean if you get caught, you have to get it stripped and then the charges are automatically dropped?

sorry for the repeat thread and thanks for any sincere replies to it

6/4/2011 4:46:38 PM

maybe, but you're going to get hell every time you take it in for inspection

6/4/2011 4:49:58 PM

Your STi has lockers?

And that statute specifies a window "behind the driver".

6/4/2011 5:01:54 PM

Quote :

"35% you can't even tell it's tinted. "

LOL this is quite true... They don't charge for window tint inspection for my car b/c it's 35% ceramic and hardly noticeable during the day... But it works wonders, especially in direct sunlight. Would tint again.

20% is hawt tho.

6/4/2011 5:07:22 PM

if you have a waiver for tint then there is no problem.

no waiver no pass
I listen to stories all fucking day long about why peoples windows are tinted. im failing it unless i have a waiver or a dmv inspector hold your hand and tells me to pass it.

Theonly way to get a waiver for tint is to work for the state(L.E.) or an RX from your doctor written to the state. It has nothing to do with your "off road WRX bullshit"

^the people you take your car to are idiots

by the way window tint laws are fucking stupid.

6/4/2011 5:56:44 PM

yea, but even with a waver it can only be as low as like 30 right?

6/4/2011 7:43:37 PM

what the hell are you talking about? it clearly states a minivan or pick-up truck. your car is neither. it doesn't matter what you think. what matters is what the law states.

6/4/2011 8:11:19 PM

Quote :

"Your STi has lockers?"

only on the center. one of the DCCD settings locks it to 50/50

6/4/2011 8:21:22 PM

with a waiver, it can be anything, but they need to put the waiver under the tint and it's only valid to the original owner. if you sell the car, it needs to be stripped off or you will be breaking the law.

your car will most likely not qualify unless someone really likes you.

[Edited on June 4, 2011 at 8:25 PM. Reason : yo]

6/4/2011 8:24:15 PM

Quote :

"the people you take your car to are idiots"

I agree, however, this time it's to my advantage... This is quite rare that idiocy in the automotive industry benefits me.

Quote :

"by the way window tint laws are fucking stupid."

I disagree.

6/4/2011 8:59:24 PM

Quote :

"what the hell are you talking about? it clearly states a minivan or pick-up truck. your car is neither. it doesn't matter what you think. what matters is what the law states."

while he has little hope getting his car exempted, it is not limited to minivans and pickups. the second sentence describes the exemption, the third sentence gives clarity on two examples. not being in that third sentence does not exclude a vehicle from the exemption in the second sentence.

6/4/2011 10:28:39 PM

I've only heard one story where window tint hurt someone

The inspection process is for everyones saftey around you.

6/4/2011 10:32:39 PM

Quote :

"it doesn't matter what you think. what matters is what the law states."

I didn't think anything other than I wanted 20%, that's why I asked the question. The law states that trucks and minivans qualify but it would depend on the interpretation of the law as to what others apply (what rbrthwrd said).

Ragged is probably right though assuming he does inspections, which is implied by his posts.

Just going to get 35% all around and keep it legal, albeit unnoticeable.

thanks for the input

6/5/2011 11:08:41 AM

Bump.

Getting my windows tinted today/tomorrow. Just going to do 35%.

Quote :

""35% you can't even tell it's tinted. ""

Very confused by this. The 35% I've seen on cars is very noticeable. Just google "35% window tint". The results are obviously quite tinted.

The place I'm getting them tinted (sun stoppers in Charlotte) does all the Hendrick BMWs here and they put 35% on them and they're rather dark.

What am I missing?

8/31/2011 10:09:53 AM

i just paid a 100 dollar "tindow tint fee" in a form of a ticket for 35% tint on driver's and passanger's window of my truck. the shittiest part is that the fine itself is only $30, but with all the "administrative fees" it come up to about 100, tripling the cost. What the hell kind of "administration" requires 70 dollars worth of labor costs? Its goddamn highway robbery, plain and simple. But i'm not retinting it, goddamit!

/rant

8/31/2011 11:30:00 AM

^But if 35% is legal then can't you get the ticket thrown out?

-oh i guess it depends on the state. If 35% is legal in NC but not in another state you can get ticketed in that state I guess?

[Edited on August 31, 2011 at 1:00 PM. Reason : s]

8/31/2011 12:59:40 PM

if its written on the ticket. take it to the da and it should be dropped

8/31/2011 2:46:02 PM

You can have tint to whatever is legal in the state the car is registered in when I was in CA, my tint was illegal by their laws, but fine for me as a NC vehicle.

8/31/2011 3:34:04 PM

ooooh nice. So if I go out of state where 35% isn't legal I'm good? Sweet.

8/31/2011 4:04:54 PM

^^my cousin got a WV-registered car and still got a tint ticket from a state trooper in VA. This was on an INTERSTATE highway. When he mentioned that his car is registered in WV, trooper cited the legislation and said it did not matter. Of course it was in the Spotsylvania region which seems to have the highest concentration of asshole state trooper in the entire country

^^^^it's a VA registered car

8/31/2011 4:14:12 PM

I've had my Q45 tinted at 35% as long as I've owned it, 4 years. It always passes inspection and cops never give me crap about it. During the day in direct sunlight you can still see through it but under dimmer conditions it's not easy to see through.

8/31/2011 5:40:40 PM

Here is my car with the lowest legal allowed on it in NC (done by Pete @ TVP)

8/31/2011 11:36:37 PM

Just got mine done. I'll post a pic later today.

9/1/2011 1:08:37 PM

my truck has 35% tint on it, but it checks 31.5% every damn time. law says 32% is the limit. it's a bitch, but the last few times i've just rolled the windows down when i pulled up to the shop and they never question it.

[Edited on September 1, 2011 at 11:06 PM. Reason : th]

9/1/2011 11:05:59 PM

^^^ i lol'd when i saw the tires. you still making your own home brew tire shine?

9/2/2011 9:54:54 PM

^lol I haven't done that in years. I use the spray foam stuff now

9/2/2011 10:39:27 PM