tint law

[speedminded]

This thread is hilarious, first off...the tint meter is correct, 500 times more accurate then the sample cards they would hold up and visually compare or the trick with holding a driver's license behind the glass and seeing if you can still read it...both are legal ways to "guesstimate" the tint. The tint law was and still is 32% plus or minus 3% on the front two window's, that's 32%...why 32% you ask? Because 2 to 3% is naturally blocked by glass. So for all you bitching about the meter being "off", you're the only thing off...that 1/4 inch of clear glass actually blocks some light. Plus what would it matter if the meter was inaccurate...even by as much as 10% for most of you...you're still 27% below the legal limit if you have 5% tint, lol...it's not like the fine is going to be any differant, whether it reads 3% or 20%.

A little history...the first tint law in georgia started in 1989...any car tinted before the date the bill was passed was excempt from the law. A couple years ago that 1989 law was fought and won on the basis it was unconstitutional to charge Georgia citizens but not out-of-state drivers entering Georgia with tint that was not legal under Georgia law.

Example: I have a couple friends from Indiana that have 20% on their black dually they use to pull the race trailer with, every single time (couple times a year to race at one of the local tracks) they come down I-75 and Georgia State Patrol would pull them over...not doing anything, obviosly in a race vehicle (number and name on trailer), yet they would still get pulled over solely for the window tint. Both the truck and trailer had Indiana tags as well and they simply said it's registered in Indiana, here's my license if you want to run it, fine, if you not then have a great day. Let go w/o tickets each time...went on for years and years, same thing over and over again.

Now, the law that was reinstated recently DOES apply to out-of state drivers, that's the only thing that was changed. It's bullshit, yes...why am I allowed to drive through Gwinnett County legally (where emmissions testing is required) if my car is registered in Hall County where there is no emmission testing??? Basically the exact same thing.

40-8-73
(a) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, side windows, or rear windows of such vehicle which obstructs the driver´s clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway.
(b) The windshield of every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a device for cleaning rain, snow, or other moisture therefrom, which device shall be so constructed as to be controlled or operated by the driver of the vehicle.
(c) Every windshield wiper upon a motor vehicle shall be maintained in good working order.
(d) No opaque or solid material including, but not limited to, cardboard, plastic, and taped glass shall be employed in lieu of a glass windshield or window.
(e) No motor vehicle shall be operated with a windshield or rear window having a starburst or spider webbing effect greater than three inches by three inches.

40-8-73.1
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Light reflectance' means the ratio of the amount of total light that is reflected outward by a product or material to the amount of total light falling on the product or material.
(2) 'Light transmission' means the ratio of the amount of total light, expressed in percentages, which is allowed to pass through a surface to the amount of light falling on the surface.
(3) 'Manufacturer' means a person who produces or assembles a vehicle glass-coating material or who fabricates, laminates, or tempers a safety-glazing material, which material reduces light transmission.
(4) 'Material' means any transparent product or substance which reduces light transmission.
(5) 'Multipurpose passenger vehicle' means a motor vehicle designed to carry ten persons or less which is constructed on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation.
(b) Except as provided in this Code section, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle in this state:
(1) Which has material and glazing applied or affixed to the front windshield, which material and glazing when so applied or affixed reduce light transmission through the windshield; or
(2) Which has material and glazing applied or affixed to the rear windshield or the side or door windows, which material and glazing when so applied or affixed reduce light transmission through the windshield or window to less than 32 percent, plus or minus 3 percent, or increase light reflectance to more than 20 percent.
(c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section shall not apply to:
(1) Adjustable sun visors which are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the glass;
(2) Signs, stickers, or other matter which is displayed in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver or signs, stickers, or other matter which is displayed in a five-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver;
(3) Direction, destination, or termination signs upon a passenger common carrier motor vehicle if the signs do not interfere with the driveŕs clear view of approaching traffic;
(4) Any transparent item which is not red or amber in color which is placed on the uppermost six inches of the windshield;
(5) Any federal, state, or local sticker or certificate which is required by law to be placed on any windshield or window;
(6) The rear windshield or the side or door windows, except those windows to the right and left of the driver of:
(A) A multipurpose passenger vehicle;
(B) A school bus, any other bus used for public transportation, and any bus or van owned or leased by any religious or any nonprofit organization duly incorporated under the laws of this state;
(C) Any limousine owned or leased by a public or private entity; or
(D) Any other vehicle, the windows or windshields of which have been tinted or darkened before factory delivery or permitted by federal law or regulation; or
(7) Any law enforcement vehicle.
(d) The Department of Public Safety may, upon application from a person required for medical reasons to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun and only if such application is supported by written attestation of such fact from a person licensed to practice medicine under Chapter 34 of Title 43, issue an exemption from the provisions of this Code section for any motor vehicle owned by such person or in which such person is a habitual passenger. The exemption shall be issued with such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed by the Department of Public Safety.
(e) No person shall install any material upon the windshields or windows of any motor vehicle, the installation of which would result in a reduction of light transmission or an increase in light reflectance in violation of subsection (b) of this Code section.
(f) The Department of Public Safety is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Code section.
(g) Any person who violates subsection (b) or (e) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/hb20.pdf