Legal question about window tint (I got a ticket)

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thePITman

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Mar 11, 2010 8:38 AM
I bought my car straight from a Toyota dealer on Whipple Avenue in Canton 2 years ago, and I've never gotten any grief for my windows. I got pulled over yesterday 2 blocks from my house, and I got a ticket for illegal window tint. Supposedly I have 23.6%, and the legal minimum is 50%. Sure, maybe my windows are not "legal", but I bought it like that from a dealer. How can I go about making the dealer responsible for this?

Thank you in advance for your help. Thanks!
Mar 11, 2010 8:38am
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

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Mar 11, 2010 8:42 AM
New or pre-owned car?
Mar 11, 2010 8:42am
krambman's avatar

krambman

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Mar 11, 2010 8:42 AM
Call a lawyer and ask them. That's where I'd start.

I've never gotten a ticket, but have been told that my back windows are too dark, even though they are the factory tinted windows that ALL Mountaineers come with.
Mar 11, 2010 8:42am
thePITman's avatar

thePITman

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Mar 11, 2010 8:49 AM
THE4RINGZ wrote: New or pre-owned car?
It was owned for 3 months by someone else previously. But the polieman even told me it was illegal for a dealer to sell it to me with illegally tinted windows.
krambman wrote: Call a lawyer and ask them. That's where I'd start.

I've never gotten a ticket, but have been told that my back windows are too dark, even though they are the factory tinted windows that ALL Mountaineers come with.
According to this, back windows do not matter: http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/OH/
Mar 11, 2010 8:49am
RedRider1's avatar

RedRider1

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Mar 11, 2010 8:49 AM
Ghetto.
Mar 11, 2010 8:49am
Little Danny's avatar

Little Danny

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4,288 posts
Mar 11, 2010 8:50 AM
You've had the car for two years. It would be one thing if you just bought it, but I think you are going to have a hard time trying to beat the wrap on a car you've had for two years.

As the above poster asked, was this a new car or a used car? If it is a new car, was the film certified?
Mar 11, 2010 8:50am
thePITman's avatar

thePITman

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3,867 posts
Mar 11, 2010 9:01 AM
So, I see there are some people that have responded already that know who I am (locally)... so I'll confess right now that it wasn't me that got this ticket. (I drive a Volkswagen, anyway) It was a co-worker that is having this issue, but I wanted to get everyone's advice. Please keep it coming, if you have any. Thanks!
Mar 11, 2010 9:01am
Chesapeake's avatar

Chesapeake

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1,603 posts
Mar 11, 2010 9:02 AM
It's like Fireworks, once you buy them in Ohio you're supposed to take them out of state.

Maybe the dealer that sold you the car was in the fireworks business before getting into cars.

It's your responsibility to title the car in a state where it's legal.
Mar 11, 2010 9:02am
S

Shane Falco

Senior Member

440 posts
Mar 11, 2010 9:21 AM
Got one for my tinted windows on my pick up ( bought that way). ... After the ticket was written and I had it in my hand, the statey asked if I had any questions I said " No but I would like to thank you because if you have time to write me a ticket for window tint I guess I will not have to worry about our ( wife was with me) safety all weekend in Columbus as all the major problems are taken care of...As he started to lecture me I put my window up and left, the look on his face in my mirror was priceless!
Mar 11, 2010 9:21am
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

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Mar 11, 2010 9:32 AM
I would say call the sales manager at the dealership and explain the situation. They might pay the ticket and rectify the situation because it would be less expensive for the dealership to do that than to hire an attorney to represent them in court if you explain to them that that is your next option.

You can probably double check how dealers view that situation by caling Matt D**n at his dealership. I am sure you know him.
Mar 11, 2010 9:32am
thedynasty1998's avatar

thedynasty1998

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Mar 11, 2010 9:40 AM
THE4RINGZ wrote: I would say call the sales manager at the dealership and explain the situation. They might pay the ticket and rectify the situation because it would be less expensive for the dealership to do that than to hire an attorney to represent them in court if you explain to them that that is your next option.

You can probably double check how dealers view that situation by caling Matt D**n at his dealership. I am sure you know him.
Or the dealership will laugh at him for threatening a lawsuit over a $50 ticket.
Mar 11, 2010 9:40am
ManO'War's avatar

ManO'War

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Mar 11, 2010 10:08 AM
I had my windows tinted dark in Florida, when I moved back here I had to go through Ohio inspection to get my plates changed. It passed. But then while in downtown Pittsburgh, coming home from work, I got pulled over for having my windows tinted too dark. They gave me a ticket and told me to have the tint removed, even though I didn't live in Pa. I paid the ticket, but kept the tint, since it wasn't worth fighting the ticket.

Bottom line is that tint laws are BS. There should be a set standard for all the states to agree on. How can a certain tint be safe in Florida, but not safe in Pa???
Mar 11, 2010 10:08am
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jordo212000

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Mar 11, 2010 10:53 AM
Why do people tint their windows anyways?
Mar 11, 2010 10:53am
NNN's avatar

NNN

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Mar 11, 2010 11:12 AM
jordo212000 wrote: Why do people tint their windows anyways?
Because it goes hand-in-hand with other things like pit bull ownership.
Mar 11, 2010 11:12am
ManO'War's avatar

ManO'War

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Mar 11, 2010 11:14 AM
jordo212000 wrote: Why do people tint their windows anyways?
Well, in Florida if you don't do it, you'll be roasting like a pig, regardless of AC.
Mar 11, 2010 11:14am
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

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13,948 posts
Mar 11, 2010 11:16 AM
Actually, window tinting can be very helpful if you're not keeping the car in a garage, which is why I have my windows tinted. It helps to keep the fabric from fading.
Mar 11, 2010 11:16am
S

sportchampps

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7,361 posts
Mar 11, 2010 11:35 AM
my room mate at the time once got a ticket for tinted windows (he only had his side windows tinted) while they were rolled down. The officer had said he saw them the day before but, didnt have time then to ticket him for it then.
Mar 11, 2010 11:35am
majorspark's avatar

majorspark

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Mar 11, 2010 11:54 AM
Ohio must really be getting desparate for cash. Window tint used to be just a warning for 1st time.
Mar 11, 2010 11:54am
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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Mar 11, 2010 4:14 PM
jordo212000 wrote: Why do people tint their windows anyways?
I have to park out on the street in front of my house...I did it to prevent people from looking inside and seeing what's inside my SUV.
Mar 11, 2010 4:14pm
Flash's avatar

Flash

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Mar 11, 2010 5:35 PM
Does he have a vision problem that he got them tinted for? An Optometrist can write them an excuse if there's a medical reason. I've written a couple and swore I won't do it again because I got all kinds of Highway patrol guys calling me up to see if it was bogus.
Mar 11, 2010 5:35pm
F

FairwoodKing

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2,504 posts
Mar 11, 2010 6:58 PM
Apparently it's OK to have tinted windshields out here in Washington. I bought a used Chevy Tracker a couple of years ago, and the windows are so dark I can hardly see out of them. No cops have stopped me. Of course, now that I've said that, this will be the time when I do get picked up.
Mar 11, 2010 6:58pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Mar 11, 2010 7:56 PM
krambman wrote: Call a lawyer and ask them. That's where I'd start.

I've never gotten a ticket, but have been told that my back windows are too dark, even though they are the factory tinted windows that ALL Mountaineers come with.
Back windows are apparently okay. I've always tossed the idea of getting mine tinted and I'm doing a thing online right now. It says side windows area a 50% limit in ohio, the others have no limit.
Mar 11, 2010 7:56pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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Mar 11, 2010 8:11 PM
dlazz wrote: Back windows are apparently okay.
Correct..the rear windshield and the back side windows can be any darkness, the front side windows can be no darker than 50%, and the non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 5 inches of the front windshield.
Mar 11, 2010 8:11pm