A Brief Look at Alabama Window Tint Laws
The Alabama Department of Public Safety’s Law Enforcement & Commercial Driver’s License Policy Manual addresses window tinting, stating, "Sec. S. 2. Window Tinting (Automobile): The law specifically prohibits the sale and/or installation of vehicle window tinting that in any way obscures the visibility of an odometer reading. This was done for the purpose of preventing odometer fraud, which is sometimes facilitated by the use of tinted windows. This section also applies to truck windows; however, the department does not enforce this requirement when the truck window is manufactured with a work opening. For front windshields subject to being tinted-dark, the darkness (as referred to in the regulation) must be within the manufacturer’s specifications, not because otherwise the instrument no longer can be read; rather, because the device would be inconsistent with the manufacturer’s original certificate of compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Reg. 435-2-4-.13(8)."
Alabama window tint laws limit the visible light transmission to a maximum of 32% with no metallic or reflective tint allowed . The front windshield cannot be tinted above the AS-1 line (the line that runs horizontally across the windshield) or for SUVs or vans may be placed five inches below the AS-1 line. Any tint on the windshield must allow a minimum of 32% light transmittance and must meet the same reflectivity requirements as the front window. However, the rear and back window can have any level of tint, including a dark black tint, on sedans, SUVs, vans and minivans.
Exemptions to the Alabama window tint exemption law state:
"If for medical purposes, the doctor’s certificate must be presented to the law enforcement officer and placed on the vehicle’s right front windshield upon request. If the tinted windows were installed prior to the passage of the Act, no exemption is allowed. There is no provision in the Alabama tint law for the repair of tinted windows that may be causing safety or medical problems. Brassler v. State, 628 So. 2d 742, 752 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993); Ex parte Cofer, 565 So. 2d 1159, 1160 (Ala. 1990)."
Legal Window Tint Darknesses
Legal manufacturer tinted auto window film must transmit more than 20% of the visible light falling on it (do not confuse "lumens" with "watts" when doing calculations) in both the front windshield and all those side windows of the car. In addition, at least 43% must be reflected. And, less than 7% light transmittance is allowed on all rear windows of multi-purpose vehicles, vans, and buses. A sticker identifying the person or entity who installed the window tinted film must be placed between the film and glass in the lower corner of the driver’s side window of the vehicle as well.
These window tinting laws are enforced by officers of the law who can issue a citation or ticket and indicate that the tint is illegal. Upon affirmation of the ticket by the district or municipal court of jurisdiction, the vehicle’s operator is assessed a fine. The fine is $15 for a first offense and not more than $100 for a second or subsequent offense. The operator of the vehicle is subject to certain exemptions from window tinting laws, however, provided that the operator has an affidavit from a licensed physician that certifies the physical condition of the operator requires the operator to drive with a window tinted film that does not conform to the window tinting law. Any such exemption is subject to administrative regulations promulgated by the enforcement authority. To be lawful, such an exemption must be carried in conjunction with the motorist’s driver’s license.
Compliance with window tinting law is determined by visual observation by a member of the law enforcement community. A device for measuring at the point of a violation a reading on tinted film is incompetent to establish compliance with window tinting law. Tests for purposes other than window tinting law (e.g., Dyer’s of ascertaining the probable cause for arrest) are permissible.
Advantages of Legal Window Tinting
Adhering to Alabama’s darkest legal window tint for cars is not just a legal requirement, but also provides numerous benefits. Firstly, it enhances the safety of the driver, passengers, and pedestrians by reducing glare and allowing for better visibility on the road. When used on the windshield, higher respect levels of VLT will permit for optimal driving conditions, even during bright sunlight and at night. Apart from safety, legal window tint can also provide the driver and passengers with increased privacy and comfort, especially while travelling through areas with high density or heavy traffic. Tint can also exclude 99% of UV rays from the interior components of your vehicle, helping to ensure that your car’s upholstery and interior surfaces stay in great condition for a longer period of time. This also applies to your skin when you’re in the driver’s seat or in the passenger seat, as prolonged exposure to UV light is harmful to the skin and can sometimes even cause skin cancer. In addition, legal car window tint can enhance the overall aesthetics of the vehicle and add a level of sophistication to the exterior. Many car manufacturers such as Mercedes, BMW, and Audi have incorporated window tints onto the windows of their cars to promote an image of elegance and prestige. This trend has also been transferred to sedan models such by popular aftermarket installers of dark window tints.
Dangers of Illegal Window Tinting
The next potential penalty for illegally dark window tinting in Alabama is the fine that you may receive. While fines vary, one thing is certain: it’s more expensive than the legal limit. A simple traffic stop can result in a fine that ranges from hundreds of dollars to even a few thousand. Given that, it’s essential to understand what is and isn’t allowed in Alabama when it comes to window tint. An officer who notices a driver with dark window tints during traffic enforcement has a few options for follow-up. They may take a closer look at the window tint using a tint meter, which is a tool that measures the tint on a vehicle. If the tint is darker than allowed, the officer can issue a traffic citation for the illegal tint, generally in the form of a ticket. In Alabama, the penalty is a fine of $50 and up per incident of illegal tinting detected. So, for example, if an officer discovered illegal tint on the driver’s side window of your vehicle, then your window tint would be considered illegal. If the officer discovers that the tint on your rear window, rear side windows, and driver’s side view mirror is also darker than the legal limit, they could issue a total of four tickets for the incident, with an aggregate fine of at least $200. If the officer also discovers that your front windshield is tinted as well, the officer could issue a fifth ticket for the illegal tint on the windshield, which could carry an accrued penalty of $250 or more. To avoid the hassle of fines, however, many drivers may not even report illegally tinted windows to the Alabama Department of Public Safety (DPS). It’s also possible that DPS isn’t notified of every instance of illegal window tinting in the state. That said, the DPS would have the authority to suspend the tinted vehicle’s registration in Alabama for a period of time. The result could easily culminate in problems getting that vehicle on the road legally, which means that it’s best to make sure that your window tints complies with Alabama law.
Measuring Your Window Tint Darkness
For vehicle window tint darkness, we measure the amount of visible light transmission (VLT%) that is allowed to pass through the material to your eyes through the tinted glass. When measuring VLT%, two factors are considered: 1) the level of visible light that can penetrate the tinted material, causing a perceived increase in light getting into the car, and 2) the visible light reflectivity of the interior surfaces of the vehicle, which include the dashboard, upholstery, console, steering wheel, etc. Since there is no formula to calculate VLT% that incorporates the tint reflectivity or the visual reflectivity of the interior surfaces of the vehicle, VLT% is based on the visible light reflectivity being zero percent (0%).
We can measure VLT% by using a "tint meter," which is basically a small box with a small glass window. We can use the tint meter to measure the top of the window tint (the band) or the window film applied to the window. While we are not required to leave our tint meter with your vehicle during a traffic stop, we can take the tint meter out of the box and observe the readout from the meter on the LCD screen on the top, which does not require our leaving the meter with the vehicle . If the percentage is greater than the level of acceptable VLT% allowed by Alabama law, we will issue a citation.
Some tint shops sell handheld tint meters, but these are typically not as accurate as the tint meters used by law enforcement officers. Consequently, a ticket we write for excessive window tint may be contested if it is more than three years old, but still may be used as evidence that probable cause existed to stop the vehicle for a traffic violation. Any citation we write will note the make and model of the vehicle, the date, time, and address of the traffic stop, the county where the stop occurred (or the hours a patrol officer was on duty on that day), the VLT%, and the percentage the tint meter was reading.
An experienced judge will be able to differentiate between an officer who is eye-balling the tint level and someone who is accurately measuring the percentage at the time he or she wrote the citation. Since all of our contact with you is videotaped, the dashcam video will capture our stop as well as any information to which our video cable attaches. (The backup cable for our system is at the courthouse.) As a result, there really is no way for us to cheat and write you a citation without measuring the tint level.
Finding a Reliable Window Tint Installer
Finding a trusted window tint professional who understands the state laws and rules surrounding the darkest legal tint offered in Alabama can seem like a daunting task. It is during this important hiring process that even more questions seem to arise, such as whether there are specifically trained and licensed tint professionals, what exactly must be learned to become a respected professional in tint application, and questions about past jobs and history in the tinting industry. To find a trusted professional, it is crucial that you consider some of the following.
First and foremost, do not consider hiring any window tint professional that cannot provide you with solid references from satisfied customers. Respectable installers of window tint should have worked with a wide range of different cars and trucks, and should know how to apply the tint to windows without bubble spots and lines. Most installers will be proud to display a portfolio of their tint projects. Second, window tint installation is a type of industry that is not reliably regulated. Since the tinting film is applied to the windows of a vehicle, there are no licensing requirements for installers or regulations from the state or local governments that must be met in order to install the window films. All vehicle tints must meet local laws and standards, however the installers are allowed to roughly estimate the level of darkness of the film installed. Third, when hiring a window tinting professional, ask whether or not they require a license. The state of Alabama does not limit the application window film to licensed window tinting professionals, so none are required to be licensed. However, tinted window installation and its associated chemicals can have adverse health impacts if done incorrectly. For this reason, it is a good idea to seek out tint professionals who are voluntarily licensed. Fourth, many tint professionals require their workers to be formally trained in the industry, passing two five-hour training programs covering topics such as workplace safety and understanding the various chemicals used during the application process. These programs also cover the correct procedures to guarantee the installer will not possibly damage the windows while installing the window tint.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
There are a number of Frequently Asked Questions about Alabama Window Tint Laws and we hope to shed some light on them in this section. We’ve answered a few below.
Q. What exemptions are there for the Alabama tint law?
A. Not everyone must conform to the visability requirements. If you have a medical condition that requires you to have window tint on your vehicle, then you may apply for and receive a medical exemption. Forms can normally be obtained through your doctor. An exemption is usually only granted for the rear side and rear window.
Q. My window tint was measured at an Alabama law enforcement stop. Do I have any recourse if the officer’s equipment gave an incorrect reading?
A. You may think there’s something wrong with the law enforcement equipment , but there is not. The window tint laws in all states are written in such a way, that it’s extremely difficult to dispute the law enforcement officer’s word. The state laws are not written to allow wiggle room or loopholes. The police officers make a determination if the tint is darker than Alabama law allows.
Q. How is window tint measured?
A. In Alabama, window tint is measured with a light meter. The officer shines a beam light at the tinted glass. The light meter measures the amount of light that penetrates the film and the glass. A window tint film cannot be darker than 20 percent on the front windshield or a combined 40 percent on the front two side windows.
Q. Does these laws apply to my windshield?
A. Alabama law prohibits the tinting of the windshield.