For California residents (tint)

If it's way too dark, YES....if it's 50% depends on offcer who stopped you... I have been running Pinnicle 50 for 2 years now, 2 stops, no mention about my tint, and surprisingly, both times, NO TICKETS for anything!!!

 

Around where I live, the only agency that give out tinted window tickets is CHP. They ticket 50% or darker. Local and sheriff only ticket limo tint in the front.

 

You can have any tint in the back windows - it's the passenger and driver windows (and of course windshield) you need to be careful of. For those front windows, 70% of visible light has to be transmittable (i.e., 30% tint is acceptable), so 35% front tints is technically out of spec and illegal. Therefore, if the cop stops you and light/UV gun to test your windows, you're screwed.

However, my tinting guy said that in his customers' experience, cops were much more lenient with the Prius since its a green car. Also, keep in mind the OEM windows have close to a 30% tint already, so the difference between that and your 35% is very minimal.

If I were you I wouldn't remove it until you got caught. CA cops usually only pull you over if it looks suspiciously or noticeably dark. 35% is only 5% greater than the legal limit.

 

When I got my windows tinted, the guy at the shop said 70% of the light must pass through the front windows to be legal. But whether or not you get a ticket depends on the citing officer. Most officers are okay if you can see through both windows (drivers and passenger). The main concern is being able to see what you are doing inside the car when an officer is approaching.
I ended up getting 50% which I think is the darkest I'd go. I think 35% might be too dark and you run the risk of getting cited. Like Mac said, I'd probably keep it until I get caught with it.

 

CHP doesn't like tinted front windows for the reason that it compromises officer safety. You are ok with tint in the rear side windows (behind the drivers head) or in the hatch but not in the forward side windows.

 

Sorry, I was confusing myself in my first post and got it backwards - a 70% tint on the front windows is acceptable (not 30% of course). Since most car glass almost already has a natural 70% tint (again not 30% as I said earlier), with your 35% film tint, you end up with a combined 24.5% overall tint.

This, of course, is is much darker than I originally thought, especially when you remember that the effect is cumulative since all windows are tinted. I still think you don't need to remove it and it can be done if he gets caught. Any window tinting shop can remove tints for your brother. However, it's your decision and I think there's nothing wrong removing it yourself especially after I rehashed my thoughts.

Also, make sure he stops at a red light before making a right turn, if it's unprotected.

 

There is a biennial (every two years) smog check, but no safety check.

 

Well good because thats actually the cause of most window tint violations -- a cop pulls you over for speeding or something else, and sees your tints while he's writing you up and busts you at the same time for that. Haha.

 

FYI - the fine for running a red light is now over $400 in Sac County.

 

You'd be safe with an aggregate of around 35% (which would be a 50% tint for the Prius) or higher. I drove with a 35% for 10 years in a previous car and was never ticketed for it, even when pulled over for speeding (once) or for not having a front license plate (twice).

 

SuperDrol, could you elaborate upon the process in which you endured to take off those tints?

 

I was ticketed twice by CHP for 35% tint on my front windows. I have Ivory interior which is very light and makes window tint appear lighter yet I still got hit twice. I finally removed it and applied 70% and have not been hassled since. The back windows are 5%.

 

i used to have limo all around in my mkiv jetta, it was a cop magnet. in my other 04 accord had limo in back and 35's in front.. no cop cared.

in the prius, i went even lighter to not attract attention, as i've learned in the past, and so i went with 35's out back and 50's up front.

the bottom hatch is a different color, not charcoal, like my 3m film. i did not tint that window as the 35 matched up really well from the outside looking in. let me know if you would like to see pics.