Can Police Cars Have Tinted Windows? (Explained) (2024)

It is common to see police cars with tinted windows, but it is illegal in some states for civilians.

Can Police Cars Have Tinted Windows? Police cars have tinted windows to hide the identity of police officers for safety purposes. It is also necessary to protect the officers from outside attacks, reduce public attacks, and hide victims’ identities while dealing with confidential cases. In addition, the cop cars have tinted windows for transportation of criminals and to get rid of media and their questions. It is allowed in states like Georgia, New York, Texas, and Alabama.

Cop cars do not have tints for designing purposes, but they are specially used for safety purposes and to prevent unwanted attention from outside people.

Contents

  • 1 Why do police cars have tinted windows?
    • 1.1 Hide identity
    • 1.2 Use for the handling of confidential cases
    • 1.3 Protect the police officers from outside danger
    • 1.4 Reduce attacks by public
    • 1.5 Hide the identity of the victim
    • 1.6 Get rid of media
    • 1.7 Beneficial for transportation of criminals
  • 2 Is it illegal for police cars to have tinted windows?
  • 3 Which states of America allow tinted windows for cop cars?
  • 4 How dark can police car window tint be?
  • 5 Why do police officers hate tinted windows?
    • 5.1 Decrease visibility
    • 5.2 Phone and seatbelt usage
    • 5.3 Difficult to identify the weather
    • 5.4 Increased accidental cases during the night
  • 6 What do police officers say about this?

Why do police cars have tinted windows?

Cop cars have tinted windows, which means that these are laminated with a thin layer to block the inside view. Many people also use this to prevent the entry of UV radiation into their vehicles and decrease the risk of cracking.

Hide identity

The tinted windows, mostly with black laminated sheets, block the inside view of the cop vehicles. So you cannot see who is inside and what he is doing.

It is necessary to hide the identity of the police officers for their safety. The safety of officers comes first when you are dealing with serious crimes.

You have to hide the identification of police officers to provide security and safety to their life.

Use for the handling of confidential cases

It is a challenging situation to deal with confidential and serious cases.

Moreover, you can also move smoothly on the road with the protocol. It is necessary to protect you from other public persons and civilians when you are handling confidential cases.

These are tinted with black lamination to handle the confidential cases privately. In addition, most cop cars also have tinted windshields for extra security.

Protect the police officers from outside danger

The criminals can attack them to get rid of jail and close their files. Therefore, you have to take special care during their movement.

It is necessary to provide them full security from other outside people. It is beneficial when you pass from the public because no one knows about you.

It is helpful to blur the inside view of cop cars and make them safe for cops.

Reduce attacks by public

Many times, these vehicles are at risk of attack from public persons. Therefore, you have to decrease this risk by hiding its interior view so the public cannot see who is inside the vehicle.

It becomes difficult for the public to find the exact person when they do not see inside the car. Moreover, you can also speedily move from the busy roads and get rid of public attacks.

When you drive cop vehicles without dark windows, it becomes easy for the public to identify you as a criminal.

Hide the identity of the victim

It is not only necessary to hide the identity of police officers from the public and other outside people. The identification of victims or criminals is also essential.

You have to hide them from the outside because they can attack the vehicles after seeing their criminal friends there.

You should hide them in the dark interior so no one can see that these people are in the cop cars. The outside people can attack you if they know about the identity of criminals to take them out.

Get rid of media

Most of the police car’s windshields and side mirrors are covered with laminated sheets to get rid of media persons.

Most of the time, the media can trap you in getting information about the crimes and criminals. However, you can keep them away by providing security to officers with black tints.

It is helpful to avoid the crowd of media and their stupid questions. Moreover, it is also beneficial to protect the glass from shattering issues.

Beneficial for transportation of criminals

Sometimes you must transport the victims or criminals from one place to another. It is necessary to transport them safely in the darker environment so they cannot identify the outside environment.

Moreover, safe transportation is necessary because criminals know many ways to escape from cop cars.

You have to keep them in a darker environment to reduce the risk of any problem.

Is it illegal for police cars to have tinted windows?

Many people use tint for their vehicle windows to maintain the internal temperature of their vehicles in the summer season.

Using window tints is illegal in some states, and you must pay for tickets if you do this. In addition, cops can easily capture you when you drive on the road with laminated mirrors.

It is only legal for cops to have tinted windows because you have to provide safety to police officers and protect them from harmful attacks on the public and media.

The cop cars do not have to pay tickets for this because law enforcements exempt this law in most states.

Which states of America allow tinted windows for cop cars?

The rules regarding tinted windows for cop cars differ from state to state in America. Some states have strict rules about these laminated sheets.

It means you cannot darker the windows and windshields; otherwise, police will catch you, and you have to pay heavy fines and tickets.

Most states have lenient rules that you can tint the police cars without getting worried about fines and tickets.

States like Georgia, New York, Texas, and Alabama exempted their police cars from tint laws, which means that these types of vehicles are not restricted in these states.

How dark can police car window tint be?

The police car’s tint is darker than the normal ones that are allowed in some states of America for civilians.

It is 20% to 25% more than the average range for civilians or outside public. You can make the interior darker for security and safety purposes.

Adding thick laminated film can cause problems if you make them too dark.

Why do police officers hate tinted windows?

Some police officers hate tinted vehicles because of their several drawbacks.

Decrease visibility

These black sheets block the entry of outside light into the vehicle’s interior. As a result, it can make the inside darker, and you cannot see the criminals doing what they are doing.

In addition, the darker environment can also cause an issue when you see it from the side mirror. The blackish mirrors make it difficult to view the roadside from the side mirror.

You cannot interpret the outside images from the darker side mirrors.

In addition, you are also unable to maintain eye contact with other people on the road. You cannot talk to them by maintaining eye contact.

Phone and seatbelt usage

The officers on the roads hate these tinted vehicles, whether these are civilians or police.

It makes them challenging to identify the illegal activities in the vehicles. For example, you cannot see drivers wearing their seatbelts while driving o not.

Moreover, you cannot see when drivers use mobile phones during driving on roads which increases the risk of accidents.

Difficult to identify the weather

The laminated sheets on the windshield cause issue when you see outside. You cannot appropriately identify the outside weather and drive your vehicle accordingly.

It becomes necessary to identify the outside and drive your cop cars according to this. You should have to adjust the speed during the rainy season for safe driving.

The darker windshields make this identification difficult and cause accidents.

Increased accidental cases during the night

It also becomes difficult to drive at night because of the absence of daylight and a darker environment. The tints on windows cannot directly affect driving at night.

However, it blocks the light, affecting visibility during driving at night. It can also cause accidents and collisions with other vehicles due to darker tints.

What do police officers say about this?

I surveyed 297 police officers to take their reviews about tinted cop cars. The survey was conducted to determine whether it is beneficial or not.

142 police officers (48%) out of 297 said it is good to allow the darker papers on windows for our security from the public and civilians.

82 people (28%) said it makes them safe from the media and their unwanted questions, while 73 officers (24%) are not satisfied due to decreased visibility.

One of the officers mentioned: “I feel safe in these vehicles because of darker windows which block the inside view and increase our security.”

The other person mentioned: “It is problematic for drivers to identify the outside weather due to darker mirror shades.”

Another cop said: “It is suitable for safely transporting criminals from one place to another.”

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Can Police Cars Have Tinted Windows? (Explained) (2024)

FAQs

Can cops pull you over for tint NY? ›

If you're asking yourself, “can you get pulled over for tint in New York?” the answer is yes, police can pull you over for a possible tint violation. The DMV said police issued more than 710,000 tickets for window tint violations between 2012 and the new law in 2017.

Are police exempt from window tint laws in Texas? ›

Vehicles belonging to police, or vehicles belonging to a law enforcement agency, that are intended to be used in law enforcement purposes are exempt from Texas window tinting regulations. Similarly, vehicles that are used for medical purposes are also exempt from following Texas window tinting laws.

Do cops in California care about tint? ›

The way Andrew Gade sees it, cops enforce California's tint law the way they do the speed limit: They let people slide up to a point. To be sure, you won't see many California Highway Patrol officers pulling drivers over for doing 75 mph on a freeway with a posted limit of 65.

Do cops care about tint in PA? ›

The initial answer is yes. If a car is registered in PA, then the police can pull you over for having non-factory installed tint on windows.

Are 35 tints legal in NY? ›

The legal limit for tinting in New York is 30% VLT for all vehicles, making a tint of 35% illegal.

What tint is legal in NYC? ›

Section 375 (12-a) of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law does not allow a windshield or front side windows that are dark. The windshield and front side windows cannot block more than 30% of the light. Seventy percent or more of the light from the outside must pass through the window.

How do cops know if your tint is too dark? ›

Nowadays, police carry small portable devices that can test the tint of your windows quickly and accurately. The device measures the amount of light that passes through the tinted windows (the VLT), and if it is too low, you will be issued with a ticket.

What state has the darkest tint law? ›

Car Window Tinting Laws By State:
StateFront Side WindowsWindshield
Alaska70%5 inches
Arizona33%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer's as-1 line
Arkansas25%5 inches
California70%4 inches
46 more rows

Whats the highest tint you can get? ›

When vehicles come with a factory tint, it's usually between 15% and 20%. A 5% is the darkest tint you can get, and you can't see through 5% tinted car windows at all. In most states, a 5% tint is illegal. It's most commonly used on the back windows of private cars and limousines.

What is the darkest legal tint in California? ›

California Tint Laws
  • Front Side Windows: 70%
  • Back Side Windows: Any.
  • Rear Windows: Any.
  • Windshield: 4 Inches.
  • Reflectivity: No more reflective than a standard window.
  • Other Restrictions: Red, amber, and blue not allowed. dual side mirrors required for back tinted windows.
Apr 16, 2020

How much is a tint ticket in California? ›

HOW MUCH DOES A WINDOW TINT TICKET COST IN CALIFORNIA? In California, if you are only issued a fine, it will be $25 according to Vehicle Code 26708, and you will be required to remove the illegal tint film. If you are also charged with an offense, the fine could be $197.

Does Florida care about tint? ›

Florida may have some of the most generous window tint laws due to the state's incredibly hot and humid weather most of year. Florida window tint law states cars must follow: Restriction of window tint to top AS-1 line. Visual Light Transmission (VLT) over 28%

How do I get a PA tint waiver? ›

Pennsylvania Window Tint Medical Exemption

To get this exemption, you must have a letter from your doctor that specifically states that you need to tint your windows for medical reasons. The letter must include your name, date of birth, and the specific reason why you need to tint your windows.

How much is a tint ticket in PA? ›

Police say they will continue to tell drivers with tinted windows to know the law and obey it. Drivers found in violation could face fines up to $110.

Does 70 tint make a difference? ›

Getting a 70% tint on your windshield can help you to reduce the glare and temperature in your vehicle. A 70% tint on your windshield can help you to reduce the glare and temperature in your vehicle.

Are front tints legal? ›

The front windscreen must allow a minimum of 75% of light in at all times. The front side and passenger windows must allow at least 70% in. This means that if you are pulled over and have the tints on an officer will not ask you to remove it or issue a ticket.

How much is a ticket for tinted windows in NYC? ›

If a law enforcement officer pulls you over, the penalty for illegal window tinting can be up to $150. DMV advises New Yorkers to always get a vehicle inspection completed prior to the expiration date. Under this new law, vehicles with illegal window tints will fail their annual vehicle inspection.

How do you get around the tint law in NY? ›

Here are the reasons or ways that you can get around the law and get an exemption, keep in mind, these are all listed as medical reasons and you will need a form signed by your doctor.
...
What are the 3 ways that you can 'get around' the NYS Window Tint law?
  1. Porphyria.
  2. Xeroderma pigmentosum.
  3. Severe Drug Photosensitivity.
Feb 15, 2022

What does 70 Window Tint mean? ›

A tint darkness rated at 70% means that the tinted window allows 70% of all visible light to pass through the window. This means in turn the tint rejects just 30% of the visible light. This is a very light tint option, and one that appears clear to many viewers.

How do you get tint exempt in NY? ›

NY Window Tint law- Medical Exemption

To apply for authorization from the DMV, The Driver must obtain a letter signed by a physician or optometrist indicating that the special window treatment or application is a medical necessity.

Do police target cars with tinted windows? ›

Why does window tint make me a target? In the modern era of policing, there are usually officers assigned to look for people who are committing moving and equipment violations on every shift. Cars with excessive window tint have become one of the top reasons for police to make stops, particularly in urban areas.

Why you shouldn't tint your windows? ›

Although tinted windows can definitely protect your eyes from the sun, it can also impede your vision on very cloudy or rainy days, and seeing outside through heavily-tinted windows is very difficult.

How accurate are tint meters? ›

Window tint meters work by shooting a beam of light from one sensor to the other through the window. The amount of light received by the sensor will be displayed and given the VLT as a percentage. How accurate are window tint meters? This means that if you get a reading of 52% it could actually be between 50-54%.

How do you get around the tint law in NY? ›

Here are the reasons or ways that you can get around the law and get an exemption, keep in mind, these are all listed as medical reasons and you will need a form signed by your doctor.
...
What are the 3 ways that you can 'get around' the NYS Window Tint law?
  1. Porphyria.
  2. Xeroderma pigmentosum.
  3. Severe Drug Photosensitivity.
Feb 15, 2022

Can you see through 15 tint at night? ›

And at night, you can still see through this dark tint. It will reduce the view out a bit, but it's a great choice for rear windows where 15% VLT tint is allowed.

Can cops pull you over for tint in VA? ›

If you're asking yourself, “can you get pulled over for tint in Virginia?” the answer is yes. In the state of Virginia, a police officer is legally authorized to pull you over if they suspect that your windows are not up to code.

What is the difference between ceramic tint and regular tint? ›

Summary of ceramic tint vs regular tint:

Regular window film only has an anti-scratch coating. Ceramic window film is coated with durable ceramic particles. Ceramic film blocks harmful UV rays, glare, and heat (the regular film doesn't) Regular window tint makes glass heat up more (the ceramic film doesn't)

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