The State Patrol doesn't like my window tint

[CyinCo]

I was returning for a business trip today driving from Omaha back to Des Moines. I had the cruise set at 74 (in a 70). I saw a patrol car taking speed readings in the median but I kept driving as I was. The patrol cars tears off after me. I get pulled over and stopped and the trooper says "I pulled you over partly because the speed was a little high but mostly because your windows are too dark." He then put a little meter on my driver side window and it read 23%. He said in Iowa, it needs to read 70% or higher. 70%? Um....that is basically clear glass. Also, I told him I had the tint applied in CO at a shop within the legally allowable tint of CO. He said "You aren't in CO anymore." No ****! He ticketed me $70 for the tint job. I then told him that I'm not going to change it. He said "you'll continue to get tickets". I said "fine with me".

WTF....Aren't there more important things to be chasing down as a state trooper?

 

[clones_jer]

I was returning for a business trip today driving from Omaha back to Des Moines. I had the cruise set at 74 (in a 70). I saw a patrol car taking speed readings in the median but I kept driving as I was. The patrol cars tears off after me. I get pulled over and stopped and the trooper says "I pulled you over partly because the speed was a little high but mostly because your windows are too dark." He then put a little meter on my driver side window and it read 23%. He said in Iowa, it needs to read 70% or higher. 70%? Um....that is basically clear glass. Also, I told him I had the tint applied in CO at a shop within the legally allowable tint of CO. He said "You aren't in CO anymore." No ****! He ticketed me $70 for the tint job. I then told him that I'm not going to change it. He said "you'll continue to get tickets". I said "fine with me".

WTF....Aren't there more important things to be chasing down as a state trooper?

you'd think. When I had my Monte I was ticketed 7 times in 3 years for window tint. Of course 6 of those came after I bought a house in Marion - cop captial of the world :sad:.

I think mine was at 40%. It can be whatever you want on the rear window or back seat windows, but on the front they take you to the woodshed.

I was told by the tint guy that some people work out a deal with their optomitrist and you're good if you have a "prescription" for window tint... by that kinda made my stupid moral compas kick in.

I would still be paying 2-3 tickets per year had my wife not found out. silly wives.

 

[Chizit]

I heard another similar story. My cousin got pulled over for the excact same thing, his story is almost excactly the same.

I agree that it is stupid, but the reason they do it is for like theifs on the run or something like that? There's some story behind it.

But all in all it's very questionable.

 

[BryceC]

Why do you have window tint in the first place? Or am I not cool enough to know?

 

[CyinCo]

I'm trading this car in 2009 so I can't imagine I'll get too many tickets before I get rid of it. However, the first thing I was going to do with my new car was get it tinted. I guess I won't be doing that. I'll buy a cold air intake system instead.

 

[clones_jer]

Why do you have window tint in the first place? Or am I not cool enough to know?

it looks nice. it's a cosmetic enhancement. and, no you're not cool enough

 

[Knownothing]

It is the most rediculous ticket ever. It's just an excuse to give you a ticket. Window tint does not make a cops job easier or safer either way. It makes a car look better. Apparently this cop did not like that you had a better car than his.

 

[JP4CY]

Why do you have window tint in the first place? Or am I not cool enough to know?

He's wearing hawkeye clothing and is embarrassed that we can all see it.

 

[iowast8fan]

I was returning for a business trip today driving from Omaha back to Des Moines. I had the cruise set at 74 (in a 70). I saw a patrol car taking speed readings in the median but I kept driving as I was. The patrol cars tears off after me. I get pulled over and stopped and the trooper says "I pulled you over partly because the speed was a little high but mostly because your windows are too dark." He then put a little meter on my driver side window and it read 23%. He said in Iowa, it needs to read 70% or higher. 70%? Um....that is basically clear glass. Also, I told him I had the tint applied in CO at a shop within the legally allowable tint of CO. He said "You aren't in CO anymore." No ****! He ticketed me $70 for the tint job. I then told him that I'm not going to change it. He said "you'll continue to get tickets". I said "fine with me".

WTF....Aren't there more important things to be chasing down as a state trooper?

Nope, you broke the law, you get a fine. Makes perfect sense to me. Besides, state budgets are tight, and you are gonna help fund them.

 

[l2alphmacchio]

Nope, I've been pulled over 3 times for mine coming away with 2 tickets. Legally you can have 30% tint (which is the 70% the meter reads) but you can have a doctors note for 35%. Trick is, if you notice them ahead quickly role down your window, therefore they cannot tell what your front window is as you pass.

 

[CyinCo]

Why do you have window tint in the first place? Or am I not cool enough to know?

A) I'll be really honest, I like the way it looks
B) The CO sun is intense like most western states. The little Subaru A/C did a horrible job of cooling my car down on hot sunny days. I got the tint applied and the problem was solved.

 

[JP4CY]

It is the most rediculous ticket ever. It's just an excuse to give you a ticket. Window tint does not make a cops job easier or safer either way. It makes a car look better. Apparently this cop did not like that you had a better car than his.

Actually I think its also so people on foot, bikes, etc. can see you at intersections. I think its also for cops to be able to see into your vehicle while walking up to it and making sure you don't have a gun pointed at them.

 

[CyinCo]

I heard another similar story. My cousin got pulled over for the excact same thing, his story is almost excactly the same.

I agree that it is stupid, but the reason they do it is for like theifs on the run or something like that? There's some story behind it.

But all in all it's very questionable.

He educated me on the law. He said that dark windows endanger pedestrians. He said that pedestrians need to be able to make eye contact with drivers and that tinted side windows don't allow that to happen. Whatever.

I'll think of it as a donation to my state.

 

[iowast8fan]

I get real sick of people getting caught breaking the law and then complaining about it.

 

[clones_jer]

and just to **** you off even more you'll see plenty of caddy's and escalades driving around with tint that won't get troubled. but don't be a guy between 20-45 or you're getting a ticket.

 

[iowast8fan]

and just to **** you off even more you'll see plenty of caddy's and escalades driving around with tint that won't get troubled. but don't be a guy between 20-45 or you're getting a ticket.

How do they know you are between 20 and 45? They can't see you through the tint.

 

[CyinCo]

Nope, I've been pulled over 3 times for mine coming away with 2 tickets. Legally you can have 30% tint (which is the 70% the meter reads) but you can have a doctors note for 35%. Trick is, if you notice them ahead quickly role down your window, therefore they cannot tell what your front window is as you pass.

Good tip on the roll down. I really thought he was going to ticket me for 74 in a 70. I was getting passed all day at 74 like I was standing still.

 

[mj4cy]

Sounds like the states need to all agree on the right amount of tint. You should charge the state of colorado haha!

 

[BryceC]

it looks nice. it's a cosmetic enhancement. and, no you're not cool enough

I'm still driving a 96 Camry with 270k miles, no driver's side door handle, and no passanger side mirror so I'm not out to impress anybody.

However if people don't like the law they should contact their representative and not take it out on the guys who get paid to enforce them.

 

[cytheguy]

I think it also allows officers to keep an eye on drivers to make sure they're not drinking and driving or smoking anything illegal. I know that's part of it.

Personally, I stopped thinking tinted windows were cool when I hit 20.