Pulled over for Tint off 66
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: md
Pulled over for Tint off 66
Be careful folks. Got some cops strolling for trouble around there, near the Rosslyn exit. He even told me not to challenge the ticket. If I did, he'll also make a note in the citation that my DL is from out of state - and will somehow get me for the DL. After driving around town with fear and apprehension, for a couple of weeks, I've decided to bring a heat gun to the front side windows. 
No worries, she still looks good
No worries, she still looks good
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 760
Likes: 3
From: VA
Don't ya love it when the budgets are tight and they try to close the deficit by running down illegal tint...lol...only thousand more to go and he can keep his job and justify his salary. Good thing they are not patrolling for REAL crime who knows what might happen!
Got pulled last year on Greenway then tried to bust me on the exhaust too got up all under the car too...$80 thank you very much!
Got pulled last year on Greenway then tried to bust me on the exhaust too got up all under the car too...$80 thank you very much!
Man, that is harsh. I always thought tint was a "Tier 2" ticket, meaning that they can't bust you for it unless you get pulled for something else. Given the number of NoVA drivers with illegal tint on their cars, they must really be hurting for revenue. You sure you didn't do something else to catch his attention?
I would have left the tint on, btw.
I would have left the tint on, btw.
I have been waiting to get pulled over for my tint. I think its like 15% all the way around. Came on the car when I got it.
I think the only thing that is helping me is that I kept my WV plates when I moved to VA.
I think the only thing that is helping me is that I kept my WV plates when I moved to VA.
I have 5% all the way around and trust me, I'm not waiting to get pulled over. If it's 15% you have, that's still enough for them to ticket you. I realize that there is a chance to get a ticket "just because". I think other things that a cop observes you do or have will warrant them to slap you with a tint ticket. Where I worked at, I usually grabbed coffee at Dunkin Donuts and there is a building half a block away where the state troopers reside. I always come off the highway, pass the trooper building in order to get DD and never got pulled over. I always try to not give them a reason to ticket me because of the tints.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 760
Likes: 3
From: VA
Man, that is harsh. I always thought tint was a "Tier 2" ticket, meaning that they can't bust you for it unless you get pulled for something else. Given the number of NoVA drivers with illegal tint on their cars, they must really be hurting for revenue. You sure you didn't do something else to catch his attention?
I would have left the tint on, btw.
I would have left the tint on, btw.
I get the safety thing and all but comeon I know this is PURELY a revenue generator. Oh well. Have the designation on most my cars now so I am "safe".
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I have been pulled over a few times for tint on my other cars in VA (Vienna area). A cop stopped rush hour traffic to pull me over on 123 (chain bridge)! Don't give them any reason to get you. Also, no they don't need any other reason besides you having dark tint!
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I also thought that tint was a secondary ticket, but that has obviously changed. Oh well, I'm fairly close to legal so I think I'll be okay
i got a ticket for tint + exhaust back in 01 for my old car in fairfax county and more recently i got 3 tint tickets $80 each in 1.5 years on my previous gs400 which had 2% tint, 2 tickets in fairfax county and 1 in loudoun county (haters). I read VA law said that if the tint is within 10% of the law its at the cops discretion to ticket or not but you can actually fight it and win if its within 10% of the legal limit. in MD they write you a ticket to have it removed or replaced, not just an easy pay online fine like VA, but VA cops are dicks and MD cops seem pretty chill so far to me.
CT has the 35% side windows thing going, no windshield, unlimited back. I purposely got 35% on the side windows for that reason. I had 20% on my integra 3 years ago or so and I used to get looked at funny and got a warning ticket one. My audi had tint from the previous owner, it wasn't 50% but it wasn't 35% either, so I never got bothered. This is what can happen here...
1) Warning with no fix it.
2) Fix it ticket...has to get inspected at main dmv.
3) Violation ticket with fix it ticket. Has to get inspected.
With the integra I only got a warning, but considering it's a GS and how funny they look at everyone in this town, I'd bet I'd get 3 with this car if it was blatently illegal.
1) Warning with no fix it.
2) Fix it ticket...has to get inspected at main dmv.
3) Violation ticket with fix it ticket. Has to get inspected.
With the integra I only got a warning, but considering it's a GS and how funny they look at everyone in this town, I'd bet I'd get 3 with this car if it was blatently illegal.
I got a Tint ticket in FFX county like 2 years ago. I tried to argue that I live in MD where my car is also registered. Cop said it doesn't matter. I only had to pay $80 fine. Revenue was the motive. Funny thing is this dude pulled me over in front of a 7/11 with a bunch of illegals waiting on work and he's sitting there harrasing a veteran.
Was pulled over on 66W just past the Monument Dr. overpass near Fair Oaks Mall. State Popo pulled me over AT NIGHT and said my tint was too dark. Put the meter on it (I have 35% all around). I said I bought the car used from MD, came back and told me to 'take care of it' ... no ticket ....... dillweed.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: md
Think the cop was giving me a chance by doing the following:
Trailed me for around 2 minutes.
Pulled beside me for 15 seconds.
Slowed down, got behind me again for another minute.
Then the blue and red lights came on with the god awful horn.
My naivety prevented me from realizing I had tint problem, since I've been driving around town for the last 2 years without hassle. If I would of known the tint is an issue, I would of popped the 2 front windows and the sunroof to allow light in.
Initially, I did not want to remove my tint. However, driving around with fear, popping windows in the cold and rain , I feel, is not a sustainable solution.
BTW, when he dropped the photon meter on my windows, he claimed only 11% of light traveled through the windows, which is not physically possible. At that point in time, he realized his meter is full of crap and might of been broke. That is probably when he decided to use the treat technique.
I know it's a Cali car and all, but 11% will prevent me from driving the vehicle and seeing the side of the car.
Lastly, I've had nothing but terrible encounters with NoVA cops. They treat me like human trash. Why oh why?
Trailed me for around 2 minutes.
Pulled beside me for 15 seconds.
Slowed down, got behind me again for another minute.
Then the blue and red lights came on with the god awful horn.
My naivety prevented me from realizing I had tint problem, since I've been driving around town for the last 2 years without hassle. If I would of known the tint is an issue, I would of popped the 2 front windows and the sunroof to allow light in.
Initially, I did not want to remove my tint. However, driving around with fear, popping windows in the cold and rain , I feel, is not a sustainable solution.
BTW, when he dropped the photon meter on my windows, he claimed only 11% of light traveled through the windows, which is not physically possible. At that point in time, he realized his meter is full of crap and might of been broke. That is probably when he decided to use the treat technique.
I know it's a Cali car and all, but 11% will prevent me from driving the vehicle and seeing the side of the car.
Lastly, I've had nothing but terrible encounters with NoVA cops. They treat me like human trash. Why oh why?
Man, that is harsh. I always thought tint was a "Tier 2" ticket, meaning that they can't bust you for it unless you get pulled for something else. Given the number of NoVA drivers with illegal tint on their cars, they must really be hurting for revenue. You sure you didn't do something else to catch his attention?
I would have left the tint on, btw.
I would have left the tint on, btw.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax,VA
I got 35% all around..included windshield..and I got the free pass
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/med20.pdf
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/med20.pdf