Thinking about tinting your windows in Illinois? While window tint can reduce UV exposure, block heat, protect upholstery, and increase privacy, Illinois has some of the strictest tint laws in the country. Failing to follow these rules could result in fines and traffic citations. Here is everything you need to know before tinting your windows.
What is the Illinois window tint law?
Illinois regulates window tint using Visible Light Transmission (VLT) and reflectiveness.
VLT measures the percentage of light that passes through a window. For example, a 75% VLT allows 75% of light to pass through. The higher the VLT percentage, the lighter the tint. The lower the VLT percentage, the darker the tint.
Law enforcement officers use a device called a tint meter, which beams light through the window and calculates how much light is transmitted to determine whether the tint complies with Illinois law.
For most passenger vehicles, the legal requirement is 35% VLT on several windows.
Sedans and passenger vehicles:
- Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed only on the top 6 inches of the windshield.
- Front side windows: Must have at least a VLT of 35%.
- Back side windows: Must have at least a VLT of 35%.
- Rear window: Must have at least a VLT of 35%.
SUVs and Multi-purpose vehicles:
- Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed only on the top 6 inches of the windshield.
- Front side windows: Must have at least a VLT of 50%.
- Back side windows: Any VLT is allowed.
- Rear window: Any VLT is allowed.
Other regulations:
- Tint variance: A 5% variation is allowed, meaning that if a front side window must have a VLT of 35%, an actual VLT of 30% is acceptable.
- Side Mirrors: If the rear window is tinted at all, dual side mirrors are required.
- Colors: No specific colors of tinting are regulated or banned by Illinois window tint laws.
- Certificate Requirements: Manufacturers and automotive services are not required to certify the tint film they sell.
- Sticker requirements: No stickers are needed to identify what is legal or illegal tinting.
- Medical exemptions: There are medical exemptions allowed for specialized tint VLTs.
How can it affect drivers?
There are a few ways window tinting can affect drivers, some of them regarding the law, and some simply regarding safety.
Fines and Legal Penalties
Violating Illinois window tint laws is considered a petty offense and can result in fines, citations, and possible court appearances. Fines range from $50 to $500 for a first offense and $100 to $500 for repeated offenses..
Hindered vision:
These laws are not simply about making work easier for police. Their top priority is the safety of drivers. One consequence of having too dark of a tint is hindered vision. This is especially true when driving at night with excessively tinted windows.
Hindered communication
Don’t be shocked by this information: excessively dark window tints can prevent you from being seen. While this may be one of the key pros of window tinting, it is also a con when communication with other drivers is considered. Take an intersection for example. It is important for drivers to give signals to each other, indicating that all drivers understand who has the right-of-way. Lack of this communication can cause confusion and even accidents.
Prevention of rescue
If you are in a car accident, tinted windows will make assessing your condition difficult, preventing rescuers from finding the best way to help you.
Attracting more attention
While the purpose of dark tinted windows is probably to secure increased privacy, they can actually have the opposite effect. For example, if a car with blacked out windows is driving through traffic with all the other cars having normally tinted windows, it is easy to single out and raise suspicion. Additionally, imagine a potentially embarrassing if not dangerous situation where police are looking for a suspect with a car that matches a heavily tinted car. If the police cannot see the driver, not only will their suspicions be raised, but they can’t verify that the driver is not their suspect, making stopping the vehicle more likely.
Increased insurance rates
Given that all vehicle modifications have to be reported to insurance providers, heavily tinted windows can actually increase insurance rates, as insurance providers see these as a potential liability. While safety might not sound like an immediate concern for overconfident drivers, raised insurance rates can certainly be felt immediately.
Whether you are trying to reduce unwanted glares, from the sun or from other drivers, you should first consider your state’s laws regarding window tinting and all the ways that it can affect you. If you have received a citation or were involved in a traffic stop related to window tint in Illinois, speaking with an experienced attorney like Michael J. Brennan can help you understand your rights and legal options.
