[Mrtofu1017]

I'm considering tinting my white '10 328i with 35% tint all around. I was just wondering how many people with similar tints have been ticketed especially for those in the Los Angeles area. Is 35% a safe amount to get away with in California?

[PKL]

Originally Posted by Mrtofu1017

I'm considering tinting my white '10 328i with 35% tint all around. I was just wondering how many people with similar tints have been ticketed especially for those in the Los Angeles area. Is 35% a safe amount to get away with in California?

It will certainly stand out less than a 20%. I have 30%

In my experience cops here do not pull you over for tint. But they will write you a ticket for tint if they pull you over for something else.

Unless your tints really standout and are obvious, like 20% or darker.

[BmF36]

I got 35% 3m all around, so far so good...

[info@VMRWheels]

35% is a pretty decent amount without getting hassled. It really comes down to the area you live in and how your car looks. My sister's Civic came from the factory with really dark tint on the rear windows and she's never been hassled for it, considering the car is completely stock.

Like PKL mentioned there's a good chance that they won't pull you over specifically for tint, but the officer could write you a ticket for it while you are pulled over.

[D_Dubz69]

You are allowed to have as dark tints as you want in the back windows in CA.

[seoulmandmd]

Originally Posted by PKL

It will certainly stand out less than a 20%. I have 30%

In my experience cops here do not pull you over for tint. But they will write you a ticket for tint if they pull you over for something else.

Unless your tints really standout and are obvious, like 20% or darker.

I have 30% all around and got pulled over for no front plate. Nice officer but he wrote me up for the tint as well - no fixit so could'n't get out of the fine. I now have a front plate so as to not attract attention which is a good thing.

[SV Concepts II]

I had 15% tint on my front windows and 5% on the back three for over 5 years until I finally met a CHP officer on the highway that decided to pull me over for tint and no front plate while people were passing us 80mph +. I think it all comes down to the officer and how bored they are. I spoke to a different officer and his take was as long as he can see a silhouette, he won't pull people over. I don't understand California's law on tinted front windows. They say it's for "the officer's safety". People in Texas can have their windows painted black and they all carry guns!

[335iFab]

Originally Posted by Bryan@Jlevi SW

I had 15% tint on my front windows and 5% on the back three for over 5 years until I finally met a CHP officer on the highway that decided to pull me over for tint and no front plate while people were passing us 80mph +. I think it all comes down to the officer and how bored they are. I spoke to a different officer and his take was as long as he can see a silhouette, he won't pull people over. I don't understand California's law on tinted front windows. They say it's for "the officer's safety". People in Texas can have their windows painted black and they all carry guns!

+1
Usually cops in the city care less because they have real crimes to attend to but like everyone says, if their bored or need an excuse to pull you over they could use the tint as the reason

[carlos916]

I used to have 18% all around in my e60 but I had beige interior and now in my e92 I have dark interior so I got 18% rear and 35% fronts but you should be coo with 35% unless the cops got nothing better to do then they will pull you over for ur tints

[ES_TRADER]

advice: when u see a cop or chp, just roll em down...tint whatever % u like..

[SV Concepts]

I've got 35% in the front and 5% in the back. Only time I was pulled over the cop actually just wanted to look at my car. Win!!

[Mrtofu1017]

Sweet, thanks guys for the speedy responses!

[cekim]

I have 22 in the front and 13 in the back. I haven't been pulled over for it yet, but I do try to roll my windows down when I'm off the freeway.
I do believe that a white car looks better with darker tint though (at least the e92). Makes it look less girly.

[TommyK]

Depends on the cop 100%

I had 35% all around on my previous E90 had no issues for 5 years

Got 20% in the rear and 35% in the front now and got ticketed for not having a plate but gave me a tint ticket instead by CHP

It just depends usually you will only get a tint ticket if you got pulled over for something else first.

[335 oClock]

got 35% all around and 80% on the windshield, looks nice.

[MKR_DmD]

It all depends on the cop. If you deal with CHP a lot they will burn you or if you go to a lot of car meets. Cops love to harass people at car meets because it is easy tickets. I have 5% on all my rears and clear fronts. I deal with way to much CHP on a daily basis.

[TheJacka]

Originally Posted by richpuer

advice: when u see a cop or chp, just roll em down...tint whatever % u like..

It is not that simple. I've personally been pulled over driving past an officer late at night during cold weather, with front windows down. He never saw the tint, but pulled me over and asked me to roll up the window. Said he knew I had tint, the “roll the windows down technique” is certainly know by most CA officers and in fact will bring more attention to you during the night.


My past E46 M3 had 18% all around with 35% on the front windshield, daily drove this car for 6 years like this. But got ticketed over a dozen times for the tint + no front plate.

It’s strange how certain cars/drivers will not have a problem with tint. My 54YO Mother daily driving an E60 550I M-Tech has 20% all around with 50% front windshield but has never been pulled over for anything, let alone for the tint.

My RS has 18% sides and 35% front windshield, which I've never been pulled over for. But all my past BMWs and Rovers with the same exact tint has gotten me at least two dozen tint tickets over the years. Although I feel lucky as I have them signed off by a CHP officer (high school best friend) so it helps not having to take the tint off after a ticket.

[Jace_91]

Probably want it light enough to profile, not just racial, but age, sex, looks.

[M340i Pride]

35% sounds light enough to be safe, though its not absolute... there is no percentage that cops pull you over for. its for any tint in front window if they want to. 35% would not catch that much attention in so cal where lot of people are 20% and under.

[SpaceGrayE90]

0% on the windshield is the only way to go

[N0OS3]

Originally Posted by SpaceGrayE90

0% on the windshield is the only way to go

you mean "zero tint"? because 0% would be like duct tape on your windows lol... and NO light would shine through... O_o

unless you were being sarcastic and i didn't pick up on it...


***aside from this, i have 15% up front, and 10% everywhere else (except the windshield) but i'm in WA. I took a road trip to Redding, CA a month ago and went by about a dozen cops and none of them pulled me over...

(i know, cool story bro)

[ItsmeX5]

4 different cars ive owned in Los angeles and hollywood

1: white clk 20% front 5 % rear pulled over because of tinted taillights and wrote me for windows...
2: e46 jb 20% all around never ticket...
3: e60 35% all around no ticket...
4: current e90 sbm 15% all around

on a white car I would go 20% depending on any other mods