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E-mail this ArticlePeople love to customize their cars, with window tinting being one especially popular option. However, those who add tint risk breaking the law, especially if they do a lot of interstate driving. Regulations on what’s an acceptable level of tint vary widely by state. In New York, the tint on the side windows must allow at least 70 percent of light through. But, in Connecticut, it’s only 35 percent, meaning a much darker-appearing window is legal. In New Jersey, no tinting is allowed on the front side windows, but any level of tint is okay for the back side glass—the windows can be completely black. A driver could be subject to a fine simply by crossing state lines.
Law enforcement personnel dislike window tinting because it can hide a person with a weapon. Yet, scientific studies have shown there is a medical benefit to tint: Skin-cancer risks are decreased by several kinds of tint, which block up to 99 percent of the sun’s UV radiation, equaling an SPF rating of 250. If passed, a bill currently in the New York State Assembly will include tinted windows in the vehicle-inspection process to make sure they are legal. AAA New York supports the legislation as a way of increasing safety and making sure drivers obey the law.
