Window Tint Law in Louisiana: An Overview
Window tint laws in Louisiana come under the jurisdiction of both federal and state levels. They are enacted by the Louisiana Legislature and are designed to protect both drivers and pedestrians from potentially harmful effects as well as filter some of the harsh, glaring heat from the sun, thus making driving a safer experience as well as cutting down on energy costs for air conditioning. These laws are the starting point for safety in window tinting in Louisiana.
The three categories of tint are NVR or normal vehicles, MVR or multi-visibility-restricted vehicles as defined by Louisiana window tint laws, and MVRX which applies to multi-visibility-restricted vehicles that do not meet factory standard tint in terms of darkness. In other words, NVR vehicles must have at least 40% light transmittance rate on windows. That means that only 40% of the light coming through the window is permitted. MVR and MVRX vehicles must have at least 20% light transmittance rate, meaning that 20% of the light penetrating the window of the car can be permitted.
This is good , sound legislation aimed at improving visibility. Most states have similar laws for safety reasons, and in Louisiana, the tint laws can be found in the Revised Statues of Louisiana, Title 32, Section 3 (Refer to Act 435 of the Louisiana Legislature). In it, you find the language covering all aspects of tinting for every vehicle on the road in this state. Moreover, Louisiana has passed a law that requires state-issued identification cards for all drivers to report what the percentage of window tint on their vehicles is.
Even if a driver does not have the percentage of window tint on their vehicles, this information is now available to law enforcement. Since the state requires that those drivers who have the window tint act of 1988 sign a form allowing law enforcement to check the models and numbers of window tint on their vehicles, violations can easily be verified. Law enforcement can look up whether or not a vehicle is in compliance with the law by checking the percentage of window tint set by the driver on the form they signed when applying for the special I.D. and license plate during state emissions and inspection testing.
Legal Tint Percentages for Windows in Louisiana
In Louisiana, back windshield tints must be about 12%, and color is not specified. All SUVs may have tint percentages of about 26% on the windshield and about 27% on the back sides and rear windows. Super dark tints are prohibited and may lead to your window film being confiscated. Motor homes and vans are also limited to 27% tint, but it is important to note that any tint that is darker than this may void your warranty. When it comes to commercial vehicles in Louisiana, the front glass tint cannot exceed 30%. The back side tinted glass must have 20% to 35% tint, and the rear tinted glass must have 20% to 35% tint also. With both factory-applied and additional tinted glass, the manufacturer’s or sticker labels on the windows must be placed to the immediate left of the driver.
Penalties and Fines for Window Tint Violations in Louisiana
Once a law enforcement officer has confirmed that your tinted windows don’t meet Louisiana’s window tinting laws, you can expect a traffic ticket from the officer. The window tint ticket will carry a monetary fine, but the exact amount of the fine may differ among police departments and jurisdictions.
Violating Louisiana’s window tint laws is a violation of R.S. 32:362. As such, tint violators face penalties ranging from a fine of $25 to $750 depending on the severity and frequency of the violations during the previous four-year period for which they are being assessed. The minimum fine of $25 can also carry an addition $10 to pay for the traffic court costs. Subsequent violations after the initial $25 fine within the four-year period will double the minimum penalty to $50. The fine triples in severity for for repeat offenders, as the third time results in a $75 fine. After four total violations, all punishments do not go higher than $750.
A normal traffic stop provides the officer with enough evidence to write the traffic ticket if they believe your tinted windows do not comply with Louisiana’s rules and regulations. However, an officer might be reluctant to provide you with a window tint ticket without an official measuring device. This is because most officers do not have an official tint meter, nor the training to use one. Instead, an officer might first ask you to roll your window down and take a measured, visual look at the window tint. If the officer believes it is dark enough to constitute unsafe driving conditions, the officer issues the traffic ticket.
As with all other traffic offenses in Louisiana, a window tint violation goes on your driving record. While it is not a serious offense that may subject you to criminal responsibility, the traffic violation can stick with you for a long time. Upon conviction or payment of the traffic ticket, the clerks at the court will make a notation of your conviction or payment and place the ticket on your record. An additional $16.50 is often tacked on to the $25 fine amount made out in the traffic ticket, as that is a mandatory state fee to collect for the state’s administration of traffic courts. This additional fee is paid directly to the state of Louisiana. Like the base ticket fine, this fee will pop-up on your record and stay there.
Finally, Louisiana’s window tint law is designed to protect all motorists and pedestrian from the dangerous effects of sun glare. It is up to every driver to avoid create unreasonable risks that differ from the normal driving risks that they would otherwise encounter. Louisiana’s window tint laws are designed to knit back together the social contract between society and the government. To get it right, all drivers must be held to the same standard.
Louisiana Tint Law Exceptions: What You Should Know
Exemptions to Window Tint Laws in Louisiana
There are a few notable exemptions to Louisiana’s window tint laws. Medical exemptions are probably the most common, and allow drivers who have certain medical conditions that require treatment with a certain amount of light to be allowed to legally possess tint on their car’s windows that are otherwise prohibited. This exemption applies to drivers with lupus, sun allergies, certain live skin cancer treatments, and others. Those with this exemption must have special stickers placed on their vehicles.
Specialty vehicles such as motorhomes, buses, and multi-purpose vehicles also might have some special regulations and exemptions to window tint laws in Louisiana . While tint laws do exist within Louisiana’s regulations for those vehicle types, there might be case-by-case exceptions made that allow tint that is otherwise commercially unavailable in ways that comply with tint regulations.
Certain tinted stripes on windshields can be allowed as long as they conform to the standard heights for tint stripes. These heights sometimes are based on the height of the driver’s seat, auto manufacturer’s specifications and regulations, or other factors. These stripes permit a small band of tinted material along the top of the windshield.
How to Comply With Window Tint Laws in Louisiana
To stay on the right side of the law and keep your vehicle safe and comfortable, there are a few key steps to take when considering tinting your windows. First and foremost, make sure to choose a window tint that meets the specific requirements laid out by Louisiana law for passenger vehicles. The governor has strict guidelines on the tint your car can legally have for both the windshield and front side windows, so play it safe and stick to these rules. If you are unsure whether your current window tint is legal, the best course of action is to test it using a tint meter at your local tint shop or law enforcement office. This will give you an accurate measurement of the VLT, or percentage of light that passes through the window, as well as the SR or solar reflectance rating, which is a measure of how much sunlight is reflected back. If the readings exceed the legal limits, it may be time to consider having the tint removed and redone. When it comes to having window tint applied, the safest option is always to hire a professional. Most reputable tint shops will be familiar with the laws and will ensure that your tint is installed correctly and legally. They can also provide you with a warranty on the tint, giving you peace of mind in case any issues arise down the road. By being diligent about selecting and maintaining your window tint, you can enjoy the many benefits it has to offer while staying in compliance with Louisiana window tint laws.
Louisiana Window Tint Law Updates: Changes
The Louisiana legislature is very active in the field of window tints and is constantly looking at ways to strengthen and clarify the existing law. With this mind, recent bills were introduced to change the tint percentage allowed on vehicles in our state. These bill would have forced vehicle owners to have their window films removed, and also all metallic film as well as reflective window films would be illegal. The Administration of Motor Vehicles and various police departments testified in favor of these changes. Thankfully, the bills were never passed.
There is an important distinction in Louisiana Law that would benefit all in the gathering of information as it relates to tint. The Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 332 only allows for 3 feet of the front windshield film to be tinted as it applies to out of state tinted windows. However, Act 511 of the 1999 Regular Session made an exception for out of state tinted windows on vehicles traveling in North Louisiana for less than 30 days.
Senate Bill No. 452 was enacted in the 2006 Legislative session and it allows law enforcement officers to remove any mounted object that obstructs the operator’s view or interferes with the windshield wipers to spring loaded, nonsharp edged, temporary windshield hangers. This Bill ensured that if tinted film is installed on the upper portion of the windshield to prevent ultra-violet rays from entering the passenger compartment, a winter hanger may be attached to the tint as long as it does not extend more than 4 inches below the tint .
Act 511 of 1999 is an additional law that should be discussed and understood as it allows the installation of a non-reflective 3 crystal inches wide tint band across the top of the windshield. The coloring of the chin of the windshield however must not be darker than the manufacturer’s window shade.
Section 7 of Act 705 of the 2005 Regular Session allowed Belle Chasse residents to apply for a permit of exemption to allow tint that exceeds the standard limits stated in Section 8 of Chapter 1 of Title 15 under the Louisiana Revised Statutes, if the tint is necessary to protect the health of an individual residing within the residence of the tinting vehicle.
Act 700 of 2005 Regular Session amended Title 15 Section 504.1 Subsection 70 and allowed the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to implement rules and regulations for the inspection of window tint upon new motor vehicle sales. These rules are to enforce the requirements of Chapter 1 of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes respectively.
In the 2008 Legislative session Senate Bill No. 485 expanded on the width of non-reflective tint on the windshield of vehicles for trucks, vans, sports utility vehicles and buses. The law increased the non-reflective tint to 6 inches of the top of the driver’s side and passenger’s side window.