[FONT="]I live in the suburbs (Alsip) and very often go into the city for business and pleasure. A few weeks ago I received 2 tickets. One was for and "obstructed windshield" and the other was for "obstructed sideview". I got the one ticket dropped for the windshield by submitting proof that the tint strip on my windshield is 6" like law says. However the “sideview” one is still not being dropped.[/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]Here is the issue. Chicago regulations say that ANY tint film on the side windows is illegal. Illinois state law states that 35% non-reflective tint is permitted as long as all windows are 35% with a 5% variance being observed. My tint is 35%. Chicago is supposedly using "home rule" to make this law. The problem is that my car is NOT registered in Chicago so why do THEIR laws apply to the equipment on my car that is legal where my car is registered? And on top of this the ticket is $250.[/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]Has anyone else gotten this ticket for LEGAL (35% or more) tint? I want to get a (class action?) suit together. I need a good lawyer and some other people to get this ball rolling. I don’t claim to be a legal expert so my terminology may be off. [/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]My goal is to get this amended or removed.[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]If you have gotten a ticket for LEGAL window tint in Chicago please email me at Timothy.Hoogland(AT)Gmail.com. Please put “CHICAGO TINT” in the subject line so it goes to my email filter properly. Please provide me with your name, phone number, address (city at the least if you are not comfortable giving out your full address, and relevant info from your ticket (date, time, where it occurred). I am getting a list of people that have also been hit with this so that I can assemble a large case against the city.[/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]TLR, I have tint that is legal in IL but Chicago says NO tint allowed and ticketed me $250 for it. I need help with this.[/FONT]
Sorry to hear of your troubles. I wish you luck fighting it, but you have an uphill battle. My neighbor in Wisconsin (where oddly its legal to drive without car insurance) got a ticket in DC for failure to have proof of insurance in the car with him while driving in DC (he does have insurance, as all sane drivers do, just doen't keep the little card in the car). He went back to challenge the ticket in DC traffic court where the judge said, "drive on our roads, follow our laws" and added court costs to the fine.
You might want to check out this facebook group. I have been following it ever since they started up. There are successful and unsuccessful stories. I have my windows tinted to the legal limit and live in Chicago. I am constantly worried about getting a ticket for something that is legal. Chicago just chooses to use the home rule and not follow the law. Welcome to Facebook - Log In, Sign Up or Learn More
You have to love illinois most cities have adopted home rule not just chicago. I guess before driving through some towns we need a pit crew to take parts off our cars then replace. That is a big problem in our country the completely different laws in different states and now every city has different laws All about money guess Richie needed a little pocket money as he leaves as mayor.....
Is this really any different than having to obey local speed limits and other laws about motor vehicle operation when traveling in jurisdictions beyond where your car is registered?
I'd say yes it was. How can a physical modification be legal in one city where the vehicle is registered and yet fined when visiting another (on a temporary basis) where these modifications would be illegal? If your visit was permanent then you'd have to register your car there are comply with relevant laws? Otherwise with all the different rules and regulations in all the different cities you'd not be able to travel anywhere. I thought madness like this would go on in Europe but surprisingly it doesn't seem as bad as your example. If I take my car to France and it is legal here then I'm likely to be left alone by the French Police.
Two questions based on the info you have given. Is this "Chicago Home Rule Tint Law" for the City proper, or for the County? Is Alsip in the same county as Chicago? Here, some things are based on the "County" you live/register in. Example: some require a smog check and others do not. Just curious because from what you presented, I could visit from another state and get the same ticket. The Police and Courts have computers. Something doesn't add up.
In the places that I have lived home rule petitions have had to be approved by the state legislature to go into effect. In this case I would imagine that the Chicago Police department made a convincing safety case for a ban on tint. I think that you would have an uphill battle on this. I just do not really get the whole tint thing. It seems like there are so many people oth there that push the legal limit on tint then complain when they have problems with it.
It's like fuzzy stated. It's their law and you must obey it's when in their state. This is different than emissions laws because you will not be spending enough time in their state to make a difference due to emissions. Window tint is a safety issue and outlawing excessive tint makes sense. I've done enough ride alongs with wardens and police units to understand their concerns. It's no different than going to someone's house and abiding their rules. If it is against their rules to crap on their couch then you don't do it. It doesn't matter if you don't live there an it's ok at your house! : p
As long as you don't donk your Prius in Cincinnati.... Cincinnati police target, impound 'modified' cars
So much discretion out there regarding equipment on vehicles. illinois 35 % tint is not that dark and it is lighter than factory suv tint. Actually changing from stock equipment technically is illegal in illinois could also include suspension, exhaust, wheels and tires and under the hood, but how many of these tickets are written. The fast and furious crowd and their vehicles are a rolling ticket machine and what about motorcycles with the exhaust baffles removed. All in all window tint if not above 35 % in illinois is a CHICKEN S**T ticket.
35% is pretty dark at night, especially with dark interior colors. The higher the # tint rating the lighter the tint is. Many people get that confused.
Is it a ticket or a citation, If you can go to a court, you have an opportunity to get off. If it is a city cittion that is not likely to be something to be fought. Starting a class action would be really be expensive.
This is a ticket. I am removing all my 35% and installing 5% on the rear just to avoid this bs in the future. They want no tint on the front? So be it. They won't be able to see how many people or what is in the back and with that dark on the back it will be even harder to see in the front especially at night.
Just to be clear the Illinois law (HB 3325 was passed) allows up to 35% on the WHOLE car. Chicago is the only place in the state that has laws against it.
Ignorantia juris non excusat or ignorantia legis neminem excusat. This law is a very good regulation to stop drug trafficking on city streets. You are behaving like a spoiled child who got caught with candy in his pocket. You have a simple choice if you want to be welcome in Chicago: 1) take the tint off or 2) keep your car out of Chicago. In either case, stop your complaining!
How about you give me your number so that every time I go into the city you can spend the hour or so removing my front tint and then when I leave you can re-apply it? I am not acting like a spoiled child. Chicago is taking advantage of their "home rule" in a way that is not legal. Either make it legal in the WHOLE state or not at all.
By what authority do you state that their "home rule" is not legal? You may not like it, it might not be fair, but it is most likely legal. Tom
