Modders Beware

Fixed it for you. You knew the tint was too dark and took your chances. I hate dark tinted brake lights because you often can't see them during the day.

I test drove a S2000 the other day with very dark tint that made the car feel like a cave. I told the dealer that removing the tint would have to be included in the sale price.

 

Unfortunately, the factory glass is already tinted ~75% all around so 35% tints would put it over the limit and that's already pretty light.

The first I've heard about getting ticketed for the Valenti taillights. Was it for lack of side reflectors or something else?

 

If "Modding" means breaking the law, it becomes even less appealing.

 

Can go either way. Twice I've been pulled over for speeding, talked my way out of it and got ticketed for having no front license plate instead.

 

Funny I was just commenting to some friends the other day how my Prius is basically invisible to the police. Guess that invisibility is lost when you put a bunch of flashy stuff on your car.

No offence meant, just reality.

Edit - NY tint law is 70%. Even if everyone else has darker doesn't change the law. I'd speculate he singled you out due to your car being flashy, it looks really cool but still stands out, and he was hoping to catch you with drugs or something.

 

It's not covered as in tints and not entirely as it has fully exposed rear reflectors. The only thing the Valenti lights runs foul of is lack of side reflectors, but that needs to be specified on the ticket.

I just looked up New York tint law. Wow, front and back side windows must allow more than 70% of light in. Basically can't have any tints on top of 75% factory glass in order to be legal.

 

You broke the law, you knew you were breaking the law, you got caught, and now it somehow not your fault. Your not a victim, your a perpetrator! The police were doing their job. You should thank them!

 

Redacted.

 

Maybe I'm a rebel, what laws are made by people and some people are stupid but they're able to pass laws nevertheless under the radar so that others or at least the main population never gets to vote or knows about them.

Many laws are made to fulfill a certain need but are poorly written laws to spread out globally because many applications are not applicable . I was running LED lights on my license plates and my parking lights and cat getting pulled over so I changed them back to the incandescent bulbs, meanwhile people are still running around with purple lights and blue lights that blind people even know they can't see well enough to drive with them especially in the rain but they still get away with it and that's not enforced so you tell me what makes sense in what should be enforced in what shouldn't.

Alan.. Sent with Tapatalk 2

 

You know, I commiserate with the OP. Who I think is someone just trying to enjoy his automobile. And idealism in application of the law aside, the police officer could of been cool and let it go.

But the problem is there has to be standards, and at some level they need to be applied. I think we need compliance from owners....don't push the tint beyond legal levels for your area, I don't care how many people you see that "get away with it". And I think Tint Shops need to help. They should be looking at where the vehicle is registered, and NOT tinting windows beyond the legal limit for that area, even if the owner begs, and swears they want to take the risk.

It's not quite as random and arbitrary as it seems. It's bad enough now, WITH standards being applied. If states decided to not apply standards to tinting at all? Can you imagine how much worse it would become?

I'm NOT a police officer, but I can certainly understand the increased risk in approaching a vehicle with heavily tinted windows. With no standards applied, how soon before a LOT of the vehicles on the road became impenetrable shells of highly tinted windows?

My bottom line has to be, tint if you wish....no problem with that. BUT...follow the guidelines and laws for the area in which your vehicle is registered and in which you do the majority of your driving.

"I'm at 35%, which is not much over what is legal"...translates to "My Tint Is Illegal".

 

Just as I will never thank those who decide they are above the law, and run no reflectors, illegal tints, jacked up bumper height, lowered bumper height, illegal HID headlights, sloppily aimed lights, too loud exhausts, LHD headlights, etc. to run up my insurance rates and degrade the driving experience for others.

 

Make no mistake.
I believe the OP's primary motivation is simple enjoyment of their automobile. And all things being even, I usually side with supporting "Personal Freedom".

But it's NOT just this thread, not just this site. I get tired of reading threads from people who admit to knowing they surpassed the legal level of tint for their registered vehicles area of operation and ownership but then complain when they get caught.

Usually BEFORE they get caught, it's grandiose claims of "not caring" or being willing to pay the tickets....or simple declarations that "They Won't Get Caught because Everyone is doing it". But then when they DO get the ticket, then it's "Woe Is Me!....The police are picking on me!".

Whether your vehicle rubbed the officer the wrong way, or he for whatever reason decided to pull you over is rather immaterial. If your tint was illegal? It was illegal.

If your tint is within legal guidelines? If then the police STILL give you a ticket? Then I'm with you. Otherwise, it's simple....anyone driving with illegal tint.....is NOT driving legally....