Window Tint Laws in Connecticut
Connecticut is a state that has added some recent changes to its auto law with respect to window tint. The law applies to front and rear side windows, rear side windows and rear windows. Some are as follows:
Front Windshield:
Above the AS-1 line, no film darker than 70% is allowed.
Below the AS-1 line, no film dark than 35% is allowed.
No film is allowed on the windshield within the area 4 inches wide adjacent to the driver side and passenger side mirrors and the lower corner of the windshield on each side that is 4 inches wide and 6 inches long .
Front Side Windows:
Any film darker than 35% is prohibited.
Back Side Windows:
No film darker than 70% is allowed.
Back Windshield:
For passenger vans manufactured after 1954, only those windows which are required by the manufacturer to be tinted, as specified in the information provided to the commissioner during the manufacturing process, are allowed to have tint film installed.
No tint film is allowed on the uppermost five inches of the rear window if the model year of the vehicle is after 1989.
Reasons for Window Tint Regulations
Understanding the Legal Tint Limit in Connecticut
There are various reasons for regulating the darkness of window tint on vehicles. The first is simply safety, and who can argue with safety, especially when it comes to something that requires instruction like driving a car or truck? If suddenly becoming blind to everything but the brightest shade of light, because of window tint that is too dark to see through, doesn’t count as an issue of safety, probably not much else does. But since more than one little thing can cause a field sobriety test to be failed, that is not the only reason some degree of regulation exists. Another biggie is simply necessity, especially for law enforcement officers. Outside of having escaped from South Africa, where dark tint is just part of getting a job done, a window tint installation that makes it impossible to see much at all is the very definition of a regulation violation. While most of the time law enforcement doesn’t have a problem with window tint, when they do, it usually isn’t something to which they respond lightly. Finally, there is visibility, which goes along with safety and necessity. The fact of the matter is that you can’t just tint a car until it’s completely black, and then complain when someone can’t see you because your visibility is reduced. Really, you can complain about it but pretty soon you get a ticket for violating the very law that you claim is being violated when someone else can’t see you, and you are the one who wanted the blackened-out tint to begin with. That sort of testing of the tint limits set by Connecticut law doesn’t go over well, as you might imagine, and therefore it’s best to play along with the rules and regulations and stay on the good side of the law.
Window Tint Law Violations in Connecticut
The penalties for violating Connecticut’s vehicle window tint laws vary based on the nature of the offense. In some cases where you violate the window tint laws without a judicial order allowing to have tinted windows, you face fines and trouble obtaining your vehicle registration. In situations where you violated the window tint laws after a judge ordered you to have tinted windows for medical reasons, you face the complete opposite.
Fines Administratively Imposed
When you violate the tint law without judicial permission, you face fines set by the Connecticut DMV. Those fines are high because tint violations are considered criminal offenses, not civil matters. It is illegal to sell or transfer just about all tinted glass from a vehicle with tinted windows to another vehicle without modifying it. It is illegal because the tint laws are designed to prevent a potential safety and health risk to both the operator and passengers. Potential fines include:
● A fine of up to $200 for your first offense
● A fine of up to $600 for your second offense
● A fine of up to $1,000 for your third offense
You may also face penalties through insurance. Most insurance companies do not cover anything that violates the law. That includes window tinting. That is because insurers only pay out after a violation if they have no choice. When you violate the law, an insurer who covers the cost of a claim with a tinted vehicle window is well within its rights to require you, as the owner of the vehicle, to pay them back for the cost of the claim, assuming the vehicle was involved in an accident. Another issue you may have is finding replacement parts if you need to replace tinted windows. Many OEM suppliers will refuse to sell window products to a vehicle owner after you have tinted your window with material that does not meet the legal tint level.
Medical and Other Exceptions
When we talk to potential clients about Connecticut’s window tint law, it is not uncommon for us to hear "But I have an exception to the legal tint limit!" or "Sometimes it is a medical issue and the tint is medically necessary." Since these come up so much I thought I would write a quick blog post about these two topics.
There are a few different legal exceptions in Connecticut but they are actually rather limited: If you do not fit into any of these categories, you probably broke Connecticut’s window tint law and should explore your options about getting your tint fixed or potentially fighting a ticket.
There are also medical exemptions to the Connecticut window tint law that would allow greater levels of tint on a vehicle . However, you typically need to go through a process to obtain the resolution prior to tinting your windows with darker tint.
Within Connecticut, the exception will be noted in the Commissioner’s records.
For the full text of the Connecticut statute regarding medical exemptions for window tint, check Connecticut General Statute 14-110b:
Of note, the statute requires a vehicle owner to apply for a certificate of medical exemption prior to tinting. The Registry of Motor Vehicles will create a record of the medical exemption in their files. It does not appear that the certificate would serve as documentation in your vehicle.
Selecting the Right Tint Since
When choosing a window tint for your vehicle, it is important to consider the regulations that govern the amount of light that can pass through. In Connecticut, the legal tint limit is 35% VLT for all passenger windows, with no more than 29% VLT on the windshield. These regulations are designed not only to enhance the appearance of your car or truck but also to provide safe visibility while driving. To ensure that you choose a window tint that complies with Connecticut state law, consider a few key factors. First, determine the vanadium value (VLT) of the tint you are interested in. The VLT of a tint indicates the amount of visible light that passes through it expressed as a percentage. For instance, a tint with a VLT of 35% allows 35% of visible light to pass through the window and so on. After determining the amount of visible light passing through the tint, compare it to the legal limit of 35%. Additionally, consider the net VLT which is the percentage of visible light that is allowed into the vehicle after it has been manufacturer-tinted. Manufacturer tint is applied to the windows at the factory. When the vehicle is manufactured , it is tinted even from the factory. The net VLT is the actual percentage that the tint allows visible light to pass through, after taking into account the manufacturer-tint already applied to the windows. When selecting a window tint that will be installed on your car or truck, make sure the supplier and installer are familiar with the legal tint limit in Connecticut. Most window tint suppliers are licensed to operate in Connecticut and so are a good choice for having your window tint applied to your vehicle. The legal window tint in Connecticut is not the only rule that must be followed. There are also several rules that your window tint suppliers and installers have to follow as well. Of course, the biggest factor to keep in mind is that the tint applied must be no darker than 35% VLT for all passenger windows. Be sure to check and ask your supplier about their regulation compliance not only for the tint but for the equipment and other products they use to apply the tint both in your car and at their ventilation location.