Do you ever see those cars race by you on the highway, and you want to see who’s driving but you can’t because their windows are so heavily tinted?
Yeah, that’s illegal, at least in Maryland.
Window Tinting by State
Window tinting laws vary from state to state, and province to province. Thus, before applying any tinting materials, or embarking on a procedure, you should be sure that what you want to complies with all legal, applicable standards.
Darkness of tint is measured by VLT% – Visible Light Transmission percentage, meaning the percentage of visible light that can come in through the tinted film and window.
Some states also do place limitations on the reflectivity of tinting film; some contain metallic elements that reduce the heat and glare that are generated by visible light, acting almost as sunglass lenses.
Maryland Window Tinting Regulations
Darkness of tint is specified for four distinct categories in Maryland:
- Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 5 inches
- 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
And, surprisingly there are no limitations to reflectivity in the current law.
However there are some other rules and regulations that drivers in Maryland must be aware of:
- Red window tinting is illegal
- Both side mirrors are required if the back window is tinted
- The sticker that identifies legal tinting is required between the film and glass on each tinted window
- There are medical exceptions for special tints
Penalties
Violations of any of these conditions are punishable by a traffic citation and a fine of $40 or $50.
