I had wondered about the window tinting in California. I got pulled over in Salinas, CA back in 1997. I was in a 1994 T-Bird and had driven out for a cousins wedding. Her brother and I had spent the day touring down Hwy 1 and were heading back to the house on Hwy 101 around 9pm that night. The cop pulled me over and said the window tinting was one of the reasons why. He never accused me of speeding although I was running about 5 mph over on the cruise control. He held me up for about 20 minutes as he interviewed me, and then my cousin. I think he wanted to see if he'd get the same story from both of us, which he did.

In the end, he stated that he could ticket me for $250 for the window tinting. I just pointed out that the tint job on my car was perfectly legal in Texas and "that" was where the car was registered. I was here on vacation and would be heading out of the state in the next day or so. All in all, the incident was cordial. The cop was professional and polite through the entire process. I think it helps when they think that we're not trying to BS him on anything. The end result was that he let us go without any citations, not even a warning.

Anyway, I've wondered why this was such a big deal in California since, most other states, by my experience anyway, allow a certain level of window tinting.

Drive Safe,
Steve R.

 

What the hell do these cops expect you to do if you're from out of town? Just buy a 2nd car for your trips to CA only. Geeez.

 

There are so many people here who don't know their rights. Why would a cop impound your car because you won't open your hood? You don't have to let a cop search anything. And don't even bring up "probable cause." There are standards for that, not just you denying him looking at it takes away your rights.

The cop was giving the OP a hard time no matter which way you slice it. It was cool that he didn't give him all those tickets, but the fact that he waved them over the OP's head is a jackass move. Get your power trip somewhere else. But yes, the OP should've rolled down his windows and turned on his interior lights.

 

I'll have to admit I am clueless as to what our rights are when it come to these circumstances. Although after reading these nightmare experiences, I am now more interested in finding out.

 

It would've been worth a $10 fix it to NOT have to pull your tint off on the side of the road.

 

I could forgive you for everything except not signalling before the turn - that's just the sign of a bad driver.

 

 

Maybe that is the case in Cali where they will ticket you for blowing your nose while driving...

I have had 20% for nearly a year and state law prohibits anything darker than 35%, have been pulled over twice...and one time at night...and neither has said a word. And neither of the two law enforcement officers were worried about the fact that I am not displaying my front vanity plate, when its law that I have to.

Its all where you live and your location's culture. You can have Calfornia.

 

Story sounds/smells like


Scan a copy of the ticket & post it.

 

Those kind of cops are people who have failed in life and probably have taken a lot of abuse as children. They are on a power trip and think they are above the law.

If a cop was being that smart ass with me I'd be a smart ass too and if he got aggressive I'd file a law suit or serious complaint.