Illinois - Window Tint Law as of 10/30/2009

Chedman13

Chedman13

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2014 Mercedes-Benz GL63 4Matic
Please double check, but effective 10/30/2009:
NOW LEGAL tint combinations.
1. Up to 35% in the Rear/up to 35% front
2. 35-30% in the rear/up to 50% front
3. IF YOU HAVE BELOW 30% TINT IN THE REAR, YOU CAN NOT HAVE FRONT TINT If you have an MPV, which include but are not limited to, SUVs, Station Wagons, minivans, Toasters, etc., and said MPV has factory installed privacy glass (smoked), you are allowed to have up to 50% tint in front.

In summary for our FX, you can tint the front to 50% if you did not tint the rears.

The rears come factory 20%, which is below 30% in the rear, so you can have 50%. If you added tint, that is considered not factory, then you cannot tint the front.

HB3325, Public Act 096-0815, effective 10/30/2009
 
I remember seeing this law a few months ago. I've always run 15-20% on my fronts for the past six years on two vehicles without ever having any issues.
 
aerobfa said:
I remember seeing this law a few months ago. I've always run 15-20% on my fronts for the past six years on two vehicles without ever having any issues.
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You live in the suburbs -- Naperville for that matter -- with white picket fences and 2.5 kids and a golden retriever =)

Closer to Chicago, cops are more likely to pull you over. Most even carry the light meter thing to measure the light transmission.
 
Chedman13 said:
You live in the suburbs -- Naperville for that matter -- with white picket fences and 2.5 kids and a golden retriever =)

Closer to Chicago, cops are more likely to pull you over. Most even carry the light meter thing to measure the light transmission.
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This is a yes and no thing. I live in downtown Chicago and the cops here could care less what you do. As long as you don't look drunk or some punk kid up to no good then they leave you alone. They do pull over tinted cars, but the ones that look more "troublesome" if that makes sense. They don't really pull over more expensive, luxury cars or "grown up" cars for tints... *crossing fingers*

Personally, I've had more problems in picket fence neighborhoods where cops don't have anything better to do.
 
Lol I've gotten three tickets up here in NY already. First one I got was the during the next couple of days after getting my windows tinted lol. I got 35% tint on the front windows and 20% all around. I just pay the ticket when I get it cause I'm not getting rid of my tints. It makes the car look alot cleaner like that. I'm doing my windshield next in 50% or 35%. Cops are so gheyyyy here lol.


You know what really gets me mad. There are worse things going on in the world, but cops are too busy getting people for stupid things like tinted windows when there are more serious crimes going on.
 
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I have 15% all around and have not had a problem yet!! -knock on wood-

Also I think its funny that the tint shops raised their prices when this law was passed....OK not funny, total BS!
 
haha nice, not even close to the 2.5 kids or white picket fences....yet. I had my share of downtown trips too and never had issues with the city. I also been running no front license plates since 2002 and never got a warning or ticket either. But yes, I know the city is much tighter on those issues than the 'burbs in my opinion too.

Chedman13 said:
You live in the suburbs -- Naperville for that matter -- with white picket fences and 2.5 kids and a golden retriever =)

Closer to Chicago, cops are more likely to pull you over. Most even carry the light meter thing to measure the light transmission.
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aerobfa said:
haha nice, not even close to the 2.5 kids or white picket fences....yet. I had my share of downtown trips too and never had issues with the city. I also been running no front license plates since 2002 and never got a warning or ticket either. But yes, I know the city is much tighter on those issues than the 'burbs in my opinion too.
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He's one lucky dude I tell ya. I keep telling him. One day... No just kidding. Good for you.
 
Chicago Window Tint Violation

I got a $250 City of Chicago window tint violation mail to the house a couple of days ago. Do any of you guys have any insights to contest the ticket? Do the city issue this type of ticket like a parking ticket where they slap it on the window/windshield? I don't even aware of such ticket until I open up the mail. Do they take picture or use a meter to measure the tint percentage? On top of not aware of the ticket, it's at an address that I don't even recall be there on 04/05/11.

Any comment would be appreciated.


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Moderator, please merge this to an existing thread. ///10769. Thanks.
 
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Tint Violation

You can either contest it in person or request a hearing by mail. Its strange that they mailed you the ticket as the police officer needs to see through the window for the validity of the tint %. I would contest it. 90% of the time officers dont usually show up for those hearings anyways.
 
Wow, what is your front tint?

I think you can only have at darkest, 30% all around. If the rear is darker than 30%, you cannot have ANY tint in the front windows.

Police now carry around a meter. But the meter goes on both sides of the window to measure light transmission...

They must have thought your tint was dark enough to write you a ticket, you should be able to easily contest this (if you have more than 30% or more light transmission that you are aware of).

What a pain, sorry to hear that. $250 is a lot!! that's more than parking or red light tickets.

BTW where were you in Chicago that you didn't give me a call??:rofl: J/k, but seriously next time you're down here give me a buzz.

la_fx35 said:
I got a $250 City of Chicago window tint violation mail to the house a couple of days ago. Do any of you guys have any insights to contest the ticket? Do the city issue this type of ticket like a parking ticket where they slap it on the window/windshield? I don't even aware of such ticket until I open up the mail. Do they take picture or use a meter to measure the tint percentage? On top of not aware of the ticket, it's at an address that I don't even recall be there on 04/05/11.

Any comment would be appreciated.


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Moderator, please merge this to an existing thread. ///10769. Thanks.
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Well, it's now legal for IL to have front tint matching factory rear tint:

Illinois Window Tint Law

Illinois Tint Law Enacted: 2009

HOW DARK CAN WINDOW TINT BE IN ILLINOIS?
View attachment 213556
Darkness of tint is measured by Visible Light Transmission percentage (VLT%). In Illinois, this percentage refers to percentage of visible light allowed in through the combination of film and the window.Windshield Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 6 inches of the windshield. Front Side Windows must allow more than 35% of light in. Back Side Windows must allow more than 35% of light in. Rear Window Must allow more than 35% of light in.

More Legal Combinations:

1. 30-35% in the rear/up to 50% front

2. If you have below 30% tint in the rear, you cannot have front tint.

3. If you have an MPV, which include but are not limited to, SUVs, Station Wagons, minivans, Toasters, etc., and said MPV has factory installed privacy glass (smoked), you are allowed to have up to 50% tint in front.

HOW REFLECTIVE CAN THE TINT BE IN ILLINOIS?
View attachment 213556
Similar to sunglass lenses, some tinting film contain metallic elements that help in reflecting incoming light and reducing the glare and heat generated by visible light. Front Side Windows Must be non-reflective, state law is not specific about what this means. Back Side Windows must be non-reflective, state law is not specific about what this means.

Ok so that was alot of text just now. But reading into it, if our cars have factory tint at 35% we can have tint up to 50% or so on the front. Now unless someone actually measured the tint with a meter, you may be out of luck. Maybe you can contest it and say you have 50% up front and refer to the IL tint law.
 
When I was 16 or 17 in a Mustang with 35% tint all around, a cop in the Chicago suburbs (LaGrange) pulled me over, gave me a ticket for the tint, yelled at me to the point I was crying, and pulled off the front tint fast leaving all the sticky residue on the car. I pretty much haven't liked cops since that experience.
 
Yeah, not sure why I didn't get a real ticket. I thought it something new in Chicago now aday (you know Daley's Green Initiative) that they don't give you a real paper ticket. The fact is the location of violation not even register in my head at all. It was on 04/05/11 (Tuesday) 6pm at 4736 W. Schubert Ave. in Chicago. I wanted to drive there just to jock my memory.

Yeah, I'm planning to contest, but have not decided to do it by mail or in person.
Currently, my front windows are 20%. Rears are just OE. I will have to take the tint down and go by the law, 50% in the front just to avoid anymore hassles.

Thanks for your inputs guys.
 
jdTrader said:
When I was 16 or 17 in a Mustang with 35% tint all around, a cop in the Chicago suburbs (LaGrange) pulled me over, gave me a ticket for the tint, yelled at me to the point I was crying, and pulled off the front tint fast leaving all the sticky residue on the car. I pretty much haven't liked cops since that experience.
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I don't like anyone that likes to abuse their power. I had a cop hit my hood with his hand for no good reason, because he was pissed (long story but it was on the highway with traffic stopped due to debris on the road). I knew I was right when a highway state trooper not in his department (different uniforms), came over and apologized for his actions and said I could go along my way (city cop told me to go into "time out" and pull over on the side until I realized what I did wrong -- because I had to ask him what law I violated and he wanted me to think about what I did to see if I could figure it out).

Anyway, he was on a power trip and I stayed level headed.
 
No, don't remove your front tint just yet! What's kind of funny is that you really don't remember why you were in that neighborhood that day? Did you Google map the address and maybe it will trigger your memory? Also next time you park around Chicagoland, have the sunroof shade open so it lightens up the interior a little bit. :laugh:
 
Yeah, that was the first thing did was google the address and I could not remember that I was there at all. Therefore, I question about whether Chicago police still write out traditional ticket like any other ticket because I did not get a physical ticket. Like I said before, I might have be there to jock my memory.
 
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