I guess I shouldn't complain, my 2002 L200 has worked fine ever since I drove it off the showroom floor over 4 years ago -- but now I've got a problem. When I took the vehicle down for it's annual inspection sticker, the attendant refused to pass it because of the window tint being too dark. Stupid me, I thought that since it came equipped that way from the dealership, there would be no problem - after all, it's passed inspections for the last four years. WRONG!!! Apparently, my state has revised it's window tint laws in the last eight months or so, and now I'm considered no longer "legal". I thought that there was some type of "grandfather" clause in laws like this that exempted vehicles that were previously within compliance, am I wrong, or does the inspection station just want to make money off stripping the windows and applying new tint?
I would only question why you would want any shade of that shit on your windows to begin with. Any shade of it should be outlawed.
How did they quantify "too dark"? What was their method of objective measurement? You may want to take a close look at what those revised laws specify. It's kind of like a cop pulling you over and telling you that your exhaust is too loud and a Harley goes roaring by loud enough to wake the dead... Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]
Key phrase "since it came equipped that way from the dealership". If it was put on by the factory, inbetween the glass, I doubt they could say anything. Do you have a receipt for the tint? That may be helpful to have. http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/ Some degree of tint is nice but not so much that some drug dealer can run around in they day time without his face being seen. http://www.tintcenter.com/articles/bt_benefits.html
The "Mirror" tint from that "Cheech & Chong" Movie comes to mind, where when the tinting first came out....the one where he was driving right next to the cop car and giving him the finger and the cop couldn't see it....
Guys, this person has a serious prob, let's stay on topic ( I do like harleys too just for the record, lol). Mike, you do need to find out specifically what this new law states, specifically what the percentage of tinting allowed is and what windows the law applies to, front, passenger, etc. Secondly, Saturn does not tint windows in the factory, period. Tinting is a dealer option and at the time, as you say was legal as applied. What state do live in? Perhaps if you ststed that, someone here lives in that state and can help you better. As far as the tint itself, I would take the car back tot he dealer, explain the problem and see if they can assist you in having the tin either reduced or removed by the tinting professionals (which is a 3rd party). It will be a simple job for them and far less expensive than tickets and inspection failures. Just FYI, for example, here in FL window tinting must be 20% visibility on the drivers and front passengers windows and it is illegal to have a strip on the front windshield beyond the mirror or oem mark on the window. This difers in many other states. marx404
OK -- Here is the info ... The vehicle was bought in Alabama in 2002, and I live in Mississippi. Current laws (revised 08/05, used to be 25%) in Mississippi state minimum side window transmission is 30% as measured by hand-held equipment. Measured value of my vehicle is 29.6 at one testing station, and 29.8 at another. Front and rear windows are not a problem because the tint in manufactured into the glass. The tint is not the silvered type, nor is it like what you find on "limos", it simply reduces the amount of UV glare and heat transmission.
