Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 15:13:26 -0700
Reply-To: Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
Subject: Re: Question about running reflective tint in CA
In-Reply-To: <000801c495ea$e250f9a0$49d2ea42@ttower>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
CHP gave you the straight scoop, as far as they are concerned. That is what
they normally do. However:
They can do practically anything they want as can local enforcement. The
difference is the locals WILL sometimes do it. That is, ticket anything
they don't like, and the CHP will only if you piss the officer off. Once
you're ticketed it's up to you to prove what you have is OK and since the
law is fairly vague you can't unless you're a lawyer or have enough money to
hire a good one.
This information is all based on working for California's DMV next to and
with the CHP for many years.
But it all could have changed or be changed at any time.
Mike
Fairfax, not Sacramento
On 9/8/04 2:29 PM, "Doug in Calif" <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET> wrote:
> Any other vanagon folks have any experiences with running various types of
> window tint in CA or Oregon, Nevada, AZ, WY, WA, ID, UT, or other places I
> may travel out west.
>
> Here's the specifics to my questions:
>
> The non reflective "dark limo" tint will actually raise the interior temps of
> your van.
> It absorbs heat and radiates this heat into the van.
>
> The "reflective" (slightly mirrored) tint will reject this heat energy and
> will cool down the interior.
>
> State laws on tint are all over the place on what is legal.
>
> CA has a MNIR law which states (must not increase reflectivity)
>
> Yet I could not find the specifc MNIR vehicle code.
>
> The closest thing is could find is 26708.a-1
> Which pertains to blocking of light not reflectivity.
> This would also not allow you to tint the back window at all.
>
> I called my local police and call the local California Highway Patrol and they
> told me "the way its enforced"
> is you can put whatever you want on the back and sides just not the windshield
> and front drivers/ pass windows.
>
> I asked specificly about a "reflective or mirrored" tinting and was told "no,
> you should not have any problem with that, just as long as its only on the
> back and side windows".
>
> The guy at Tap Plastics told me the (reflective, mirrored, metallic) types of
> tint are only sold for residential use and not "recommended" for auto
> applications.
>
> Reason given is the mirrored tint can reflect sunlight into the eyes of other
> drivers.
>
> The reflective tint is the only tint that has the heat rejection ratings that
> are worth putting on.
> The dark limo tint is junk in my opinion.
>
> Any thoughts of California enforcement or what others have had as far as
> other states on this would be appreciated.
>
> Just trying to keep the solar gain down out here in CA, temps near 100 today.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Doug
>
>
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