Window tinting on vehicles has become a very popular topic. It is important to understand the history of window tint before delving into a scope of legal issues that many people face on a daily basis. Here, we will breakdown the scientific reason for the laws and regulations surrounding window tint. Oftentimes people are confused when they receive a traffic citation for their window tint when they did not think they were being too dark. Hopefully, this will clear up some of the confusion and give you a little more perspective on the scientific requirement for window tint in Florida.
Florida strictly requires that vehicles maintain a certain degree of light transmittance. Light transmittance is the measurement of the amount of light entering your vehicle. The purpose of this law is to protect law enforcement officers and other motorists from excessive glare. It is serious safety issue that affects everyone on the roadway. These rules are laid out in chapter 316 of the Florida Statutes and must adhere to national standards. These standards are set out in federal law which require manufacturers to make sure their products comply with federal requirements. So not only are these rules mandated by the state of Florida, but also the federal government.
As such, the State of Florida uses technology to measure each tint level by visible light transmittance percentage or VLT%. As a quick refresher, visible light transmittance is the total amount of visible light that goes through the tint film. You may not realize this but tinted windows are actually manufactured with a factory tint. If the tint is at or above the minimum legal limit established under Florida law, then a vehicle generally is not required to be modified. Therefore, in Florida, the state requires medical exemption. A medical exemption will allow a driver to have darker tint due to a medical condition. To qualify for the exemption, a doctor’s order is typically necessary. The order must state that the tint is medically required and not just a preference.
Given that the climate in Florida is hot and humid year around, it is understandable that many feel as if window tint is a necessity since the temperature of the internal vehicle can be drastically decreased with the application of window tint. However, even though people feel as if window tint is a necessity and not merely a preference, which is the requirement under Florida law, this does not necessarily mean that the tint is legal.
In the event you were pulled over the officer will likely request what is called a tint ticket. The tint ticket will measure the degree of tint in your window using the machine that determines the amount of light transmittance for visible light. When the officer pulls you over, he or she will see the windshield and any side windows are tinted with an aftermarket tint. The officer will then measure the tint and determine whether you are over the legal limit for window tint in Florida. If you were not tinted dark enough you will be given a citation. No one wants to receive this citation since it will become a moving violation on your driving record, the insurance rates will increase and you will have to pay the traffic citation. The traffic citation carries a minimum fine of $260 and up to three points on your driving record. This is not a good thing and should be avoided at all costs.
However, it is important to remember that in order to avoid this, you also must comply with the Florida legal limit for window tint. One key to avoiding this situation is the selection of the tint you apply to your windows. In the event you do receive a tint ticket, then the tint must be remediated to the legal limit or below within 20 days of your receipt of the ticket. This is legally required to prevent any further infractions. So, now you have a little more background understanding of why window tint is important when legally applied to your vehicle. In the event you are cited for any window tint related issue, you need to consult with an attorney who has a history of handling window tint cases and knows the area of law you will need to address.