A Brief Overview of Nebraska’s Window Tint Law
The scope of Nebraska’s window tint laws are fairly straightforward. When outlining their guidelines, Nebraska law state that all vehicle windows must allow for a percentage of light to shine through at all times. The main caveat to this is that vehicles cannot use any reflective tint materials on the windshield and front side windows. While these are permitted in some other states, this regulation is unique to Nebraska’s window tint laws.
More specifically, Nebraska’s law states that windshields must transmit a minimum 70% of all available light. Regarding the front side windows, these cannot transmit more than 35% of light.
For the back side windows , however, the law opens up slightly, allowing for windows that transmit only 5% of available light. So long as the windows are not also mirror-like in their quality, then back side tint may go as low as 5% without violating the law. For windows in the rear of a vehicle, they can go as low as 20% light transmittance.
Nebraska is an interesting case because window tint laws have changed over the past few decades — but not by much. Laws first began to take shape back in the 1980s, though at this time, their focus was mainly in the form of driver-side windows. Regulations slowly changed as the years went on and finally settled into what we know today in 2006.
Allowable Window Tint Darkness and Exceptions
Nebraska law outlines different permissible tinted windows for various vehicles, as follows:
Front Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line or the top five inches (whichever is longer).
Front Side Windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Back Side Windows: Must allow more than 20% of light in.
Back Window: Must allow more than 20% of light in.
The back side windows and the rear window on SUVs are seven inches wide on large trucks and 34 inches wide on other vehicles.
Mirrors and other reflective tint are strictly prohibited in Nebraska.
There is an exception for those citizens who may need to have darker window films on medical grounds, such as the individual who suffers from certain eye problems or the person that suffers from certain skin conditions and must remain shielded from the sun’s rays during the day. While you may apply for this waiver, there is no separate form to complete. You must combine it with the application to obtain a certificate for exemption from window tinting. The certificate must be signed by an eye doctor or medical doctor, and you must also include a fee of $200. The completed application must be sent to the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles in Lincoln, Nebraska, but must not be sent until after the order has been approved by your physicians. If the order states that you will need this window tinting every day, then the exemption from the window tinting law will be granted.
Front and Rear Windshield Window Tint Visiblity
Nebraska window tinting statutes are described in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,162.02. They differentiate between the windshield, front side windows, back side windows, and rear windows. The front windshield has an AS-1 or manufacturer’s tinted section at the top and a VLT of 70%. Windshields can’t have any other reflection than a factory tint, and no tint can be applied below the AS-1 line. Other restrictions are that no more than five inches are allowed to go over existing tint lines. There can be any amount of darkness in the top five inches above the AS-1 line. There are two restrictions regulating front side windows. First is the same VTL of 70% that’s required for the windshield. Second is that the total amount of reflectiveness on the windows can’t be more than five percent. Both the back side windows and the rear window must have a VLT of no less than 35%.
Penalties Under Nebraska’s Window Tint Law
When it comes to penalties, the state of Nebraska has made some fairly strict measures in an effort to maintain observance of the law. When a motorist in Nebraska is stopped and found to have illegal tints, several outcomes are possible. If a driver has their windows tinted illegally, the penalties accrued from not complying with Nebraska’s window tinting laws can include points, fines, and other actions taken which may include having to completely remove the tint and/or windshield banner. The violation is usually enforced at the discretion of the state patrolman, who will pull you over and inspect the windows of your vehicle. You will then be asked to provide the proper information to back up your tint code. If you can’t prove that your car is in compliance with the law, the officer will most likely write you a citation for failing to abide by Nebraska’s tint law. If your car is tinted illegally, the driver technically is driving an un-insured vehicle, which is subject to several penalties including: The penalties for violating the window tint law include: However, somewhat lenient like other states in the area, Nebraska does try to account for motorists whose windows become damaged with age, or that previously had a tint that was all legally applied from the time of manufacture of the vehicle. Unlike the fact that Missouri is strict about having darker windshields than the side windows, Nebraska may allow more leeway in this type of situation . However, while there are grey areas regarding tint levels, for white or clear tint, a cloudiness can still be an issue of in-violation of the law. This means that basic transparency of window tint is legally mandated, and any "misalignments," could get you into some big trouble. This means you need to be especially careful if you are using any sort of coloration that is not transparently. Not only do you need to be on the lookout for allowed colors, but most importantly, allowed levels of tint. First are those drivers that originally purchased their car with the permissible tint fully installed. These drivers do not face any penalties because their tint was applied by the manufacturer, and they can prove it. Nebraska realized that this gray area has existed, and now allows drivers who have a tint that was previously legal, to receive a temporary "fix-it ticket." In this case, the tint will need to be removed, and replaced with legitimate tint. The penalty concerning a tint ticket is a fine for all those caught driving with illegal tint levels. The fine associated with a window tinting violation is $250 for the first offense. This fine will double if a 2nd ticket is issued. Most of us have heard the old adage "ignorance is no excuse." However, that will not stop the officers of the Nebraska State Patrol from pulling over a driver who has tint shadows or illegal tint levels. Even if you weren’t aware of your tint being in violation of the law, you could end up paying $250 plus court costs for not having known the law of the state of Nebraska.
How to Choose Legal Window Tint for Nebraska
When it comes to selecting window tint that complies with Nebraska’s window tint laws, knowledge is paramount. The first step is to understand the varying levels of darkness, or VLT, that you can legally have on your vehicle. You should also be familiar with the reflective characteristics of window tint; reflective tint is generally less transparent than non-reflective and may not be allowed at all for your windows, so be careful and make sure you select a tint that meets both the darkness and reflective characteristics required by Nebraska law.
Choosing a reputable window tint installer is crucial to ensure that you get the right tint for your vehicle and that it is installed correctly. Make sure that your window tint installer is familiar with Nebraska’s window tint laws and that the installer explains them to you.
You should choose a window tint installer who understands that it is your responsibility to know the laws and to clarify any questions. When in doubt, the installer should err on the side of caution to avoid a potential ticket to you, the buyer, by failing to take responsibility for the tint that was installed.
Reputable window tint installers will not only have a clear understanding of the Nebraska law on window tint, but they will also have the written policy from the Nebraska State Patrol with the specific requirements that should be followed and adhered to when installing window tint.
Window Tint Law FAQs
What is the legal limit for window tint in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, the front side windows have to allow more than 35% of light in. The back side windows can be tinted as dark as you want. There are no restrictions on the tint across the rear window.
Will my vehicle be inspected for window tint?
No, nothing happens until you are pulled over for some reason. If your vehicle is found to have illegal window tint, you will be cited and you will need to get the tint removed and vehicle re-inspected . There is no measure to check the tint when you register your vehicle.
What if I have vintage windows where the tint is not removable?
Nebraska does have an exemption for older vehicles. However, the vehicle must be registered as a vintage car, and in most cases, you should be able to prove the tint was installed before the current laws were enacted.
Are there any exemptions for SUVs or vans?
No, there are no exemptions for SUVs or vans. The law applies to all vehicles equally. All tint must be at least 35% or higher, unless it is factory tint.