Window tint inspections - do stations vary?

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Sun Apr 18, 2010 11:31 pm

This is a weird one. I had the windows tinted on my F250 last year. Its state inspection is due, so I took it in. To my amazement, they failed the window tint.

Any of you who have seen my S2000 might remember that it's got pretty dark tint on it, 35%, the legal limit. And it passes every year. The F250's windows don't seem anywhere near that dark. Do inspection stations vary on tint readings from place to place? That seems crazy, but no more crazy than the mild tint on my truck failing while the dark stuff on the S2000 passes.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Not crazy. I failed once in my 540, passed once -- at the same place. I am trying a new place this week Karl, I'll let you know if it's a "passes marginal" shop or not.

clinehall · **Posted:** Mon Apr 19, 2010 6:48 am

Roll your windows down before you pull in. I only experienced this once before I got arrested for my window tint and removed it, but when I got it inspected I was advised to do that so the inspector would not have to address the issue.

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:25 am

The jiffy loobz on Harrison Ave in cary always passes mine.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

clinehall wrote:

Roll your windows down before you pull in. I only experienced this once before I got arrested for my window tint and removed it, but when I got it inspected I was advised to do that so the inspector would not have to address the issue.

Do you mean arrested or ticketed?

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:14 am

Karl Shultz wrote:

This is a weird one. I had the windows tinted on my F250 last year. Its state inspection is due, so I took it in. To my amazement, they failed the window tint.

Any of you who have seen my S2000 might remember that it's got pretty dark tint on it, 35%, the legal limit. And it passes every year. The F250's windows don't seem anywhere near that dark. Do inspection stations vary on tint readings from place to place? That seems crazy, but no more crazy than the mild tint on my truck failing while the dark stuff on the S2000 passes.

Did the station have the approved light meter? To say it doesn't pass they have to prove it with he meter that hangs on the window.

BTW, as you said 35% VLT is legal in NC, but I wouldn't call that 'dark' at all. In the past ('86 Camaro) I had 20% on the side windows and 8% on the back glass.

FYI, I have 35% all around on the Z-24 and never had a problem with it passing inspection.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:23 am

Vincent Keene wrote:

Did the station have the approved light meter? To say it doesn't pass they have to prove it with he meter that hangs on the window.

They definitely had some sort of meter, though I wouldn't know if it's the "approved" one by looking at it. They weren't eyeballing the test.

Chris Halweg · **Posted:** Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:40 am

Technically, 32% transmittance is required I think. That accounts for the loss from the window itself. I'm guessing I don't have remind you to make sure your windows are clean.

clinehall · **Posted:** Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:48 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

clinehall wrote:

Roll your windows down before you pull in. I only experienced this once before I got arrested for my window tint and removed it, but when I got it inspected I was advised to do that so the inspector would not have to address the issue.

Do you mean arrested or ticketed?

Ticketed but felt like being arrested. Pulled me over as I was leaving my neighborhooe, Asked if I had a gun in the vehicle, said they had to be able to identify me, guess my name on the car 8 places is confusing. I got the ticket and he said if I would remove the tint and have it inspected at the SHP station it would be dropped. I went the SHP and the guy says "how do I know this is the car that caused the ticket?" Didn't want to sign me off because he didn't know what car was ticketed sense cars don't get tickets people do. Finally did, then had to go see DA for an hour to get it finally dropped. What a great use of the law enforcement budget!

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

Wait what? Being sent to jump through hoops by the cops!? Why I never...

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Chris Halweg wrote:

Technically, 32% transmittance is required I think. That accounts for the loss from the window itself. I'm guessing I don't have remind you to make sure your windows are clean.

Yeah, factory windows can have a SLIGHT tint to them as well.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Apr 19, 2010 12:48 pm

clinehall wrote:

guess my name on the car 8 places is confusing.

Time for some neon

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:04 pm

I second the "roll down the windows" comment. The only time I ever got charged for the tint on the M3 was the day I had to get inspected in the rain and had the windows up.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Just got back from an inspection. I just realized now that I got back home that I forgot to mention my windows were tinted! I had all 4 windows down and I forgot to put them back up since it was such a nice day out! I feel so guilty, do you think I should go back?

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

if you've failed for tint, they will know to look for it when you go in for re-inspection.

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Window tint inspections - do stations vary?

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