Call for Action - Chicago Window Tint Ticket

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

 

Donk? Shouldn't it be DORK?

 

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.

 

Well that relieves my worry that he might actually have been a victim.

 

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!

 

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