Louisiana Window Tinting Laws
The darkest legal tint in Louisiana is as follows:
Cars and Trucks – If your vehicle is registered in Louisiana, the law says that drivers and passengers in both the front and back seats must be able to distinguish the interior of the vehicle from a distance of 3 feet by both day and night.
No one shall operate on any highway any passenger van, bus, camper, or truck when the visible light transmission of the film applied to the windshield or window adjacent to the driver’s seat is less than forty percent. That’s a VLT of no less than 40%. And for the same vehicles, no one shall operate on any highway when the visible light transmission of the film applied to the windshield or window adjacent to the rear seat is less than twenty percent. That’s a VLT of no less than 20%. So yes, you can have darker tint on the rear windows.
If your vehicle has a window separated by a post from a smaller window, law requires you to have no less than 40% tint on the bigger window but no less than 20% tint on the smaller window. Just keep in mind that if you’re pulled over, it’s up to the officer’s discretion whether to ticket you or issue a warning. Be nice. Drive safely.
A windshield with a visible light transmission of up to twenty percent shall be allowed, and any other tint on a windshield shall be subject to the provisions of R.S. 32:303 which are colorless and nonreflective above the AS1 line or above the top five inches from the top of the Manufacturer’s AS-1 line .
You can apply one of these types of tint films:
We know that not every officer enforces the tint laws. Keep in mind, though, that Louisiana tint laws are very strict about the darkness of tint being no less than 20%. You know that your tint is legal when the VLT is at least 20%. Each vehicle has some regulatory compliance markings that state that it must comply with the Code of Federal Regulation CMVSS108 – Lighting & Retro-Reflective. Therefore, tinting shops must install tint only from companies whose products have been tested and verified as CMVSS108 compliant. The law says that tint shops must keep copies of test results and certifications from manufacturers of tinted products.
Each tint manufacturing company has their own measurement method and testing machine. Some manufacturers even scans the material and measure it by the level of darkness on a digital screen. What you must keep in mind is that manufacturers are required to have some device that can measure the percentage of light transmission (VLT) into the interior of the vehicle. As for your vehicle, the LG State Police and Department of Public Safety are going to use their own digital measurement device to determine if you have illegal tint.
The cost of a Louisiana tint strip sticker is $5.00 from your parish. Only a chief of police in your local area or a commander of a designee of the State Police Department that has the authority to issue such stickers. This sticker must be placed in the lower corner of the driver’s side of windshield.
Rationale for Window Tint Laws
A common question driving the legislative restrictions on the amount of tint your car can have, is why. Your car, truck, or SUV is a private space after all. Why can’t we choose how much light comes into our own car? The reasons are numerous, but no law has perfect motivations. In fact, many of the reasons for tint restrictions may not even be grounded in science, but instead be attempts to make law enforcement more effective. As diamond black tint gets closer to a 100% total light blockage level, the ability of law enforcement to determine who is behind the wheel of a vehicle diminishes. Since law enforcement needs to establish probable cause to pull a vehicle over, which requires observing who is driving, tinted car windows reduce chances that law enforcement will correctly observe the vehicle’s driver.
In a more technical sense, the darker window tint becomes, the less safe it is in bad weather. Louisiana’s daytime climate can be predicted with some certainty by looking at satellite data, however no government meteorologist or other expert can know for sure whether it will rain or not today. When rains come, they can come quickly, and when they do the ability to observe other drivers exceeds that of tinted windows. To avoid blind drivers on the road, Louisiana has some restrictions on darkened windows. Perhaps more importantly than this, is the fact that dark tinted windows are not foolproof to completely conceal the identity of the person driving the vehicle. Advanced infrared and ultraviolet cameras can make these windows appear almost clear, thus allowing law enforcement to see into the vehicles without obstruction.
Tint Penalties
Fines for Illegal Tinting can be steep, but it is important that you comply with the Louisiana Tinting Laws. Difference fines as follows:
*Vehicle operators shall be fined seventy-five dollars for the first offense, one hundred dollars for the second offense, and two hundred dollars for each subsequent offense.
*The law states that law enforcement agencies shall seize all tint meters and have them shipped to the state police crime lab for testing.
*Additionally, the law requires the driver to exhibit proof as to the window on the vehicle in regard to being legal to the officer.
*If you are unable to provide proof to the officer, you will be charged with a violation. It is generally better to be charged with a violation and get your tint removed, than to be charged with illegal tint.
Penalties for repeated offenders will increase as well, resulting in fines, as well as points off your driving record.
Advantages of Window Tint
In addition to the fashionable enhancement of tinting your windows, there are several benefits when using legal limits of tint in Louisiana. UV protection is extremely important to both you and your vehicle’s interior. The sun’s light typically travels through our windshield with little obstruction, often causing premature "curling" of your dashboard. In the United States, automobile dash pads have been associated with Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), a plastic which can yield harmful fumes when overheated. Unlike PVC, window tint can not cause such adverse results. Additionally, UV rays are involved in approximately 50% of skin cancers according to several dermatological studies. Legal tinted windows can reduce head and eye strain and improve visibility by reducing the glare radiated from bright sunlight. Window tint reduces this glare by blocking (at least) 90% of all visible light. The Health Physics Society reveals in its members do not recommend any particular maximum level of visible light transmittance for windows on cars or trucks. With this in mind , it is safe to assume that visible light will not be our primary concern when complying with Louisiana law. Research conducted by the Window Film Association suggests that solar protection is where the tinting film really shines. Through infrared analysis, it has been concluded that window tinting can block up to 99% of solar heat, not only in radiated sunlight but also from the sun’s rays. You will spend less on air conditioning. Most importantly, the cooler environment created by tinted windows creates a much more pleasant driving experience. Personal security is aided not only by privacy, but also by the additional "layer" placed within the window. In the event of a vehicular assault such as an accident, tinting may protect passengers by holding shattered glass in place. Also, the opaqueness of tinted windows can deter would-be criminals from the potential that valuables may be inside the vehicle, decreasing the chances of a theft.
Validating Legal Tint
Maintaining compliance with Louisiana’s darkest legal tint is the responsibility of vehicle owners. The process typically starts when a new vehicle is purchased, and that’s where most tint issues arise for vehicle owners.
Smart vehicle owners know the tint percentage is calculated by measuring the VLT of the window film and the VLT of the window itself. Typically, window film VLT’s that are 5% to 15% lighter than the legal limit are marked "CCC." Some manufacturers put this information on the edge of the film itself, and some will mark a small "C" on the edge of the window. So to avoid window film that is not CCC, always ask to have the CCC marked in case it’s not obvious.
The most common method used to ensure legal compliance is to go back to the tinting service that installed the window film for re-measurement within 14 days of the install. At this point, the VLT of the window glass will be re-measured to ensure the film and window match. If it’s determined the vehicle has more than the legal percentage of tint, the window film must be removed and re-applied until the tint is legal.
Any professional tinting service, regardless of whether they’re certified or not, should perform this re-measurement service free of charge as a part of their warranty. If a professional tinting service charges you, the service is being performed willingly, and you refuse to pay, you will be required to cover the removal and re-install, and will still be responsible for paying a re-measure fee(s). If you decide to proceed, any tint service that is willing to do the job for a fee will do the job right by removing and re-installing the window film to the proper percentage on the first try.
Additionally, all vehicles should have the tint certificate readily available for officers to look at if they request it. If you do not have the tint certificate and an officer stops you for a tint violation, they have the right to remove the tint from your window to measure it. If it’s determined that the tint is over the legal percentage, the removal cost must be paid by the vehicle owner, and a re-measure fee will be charged.
Although some states will issue tint certificates, Louisiana is not one of these states. State-certified tinting companies do not issue tint certificates, and neither does the state.
Instead, all state-certified tinting services retain the certification and can be identified by a large sticker or decal that says "State Certified Inspection Office" or "Specialized Vehicle Erosion Program."
It’s important to remember that because window tints are set by the state, any tint that exceeds the legal limit is illegal. If the window film is removed and re-installed, if it still does not meet the standards, then nothing further should be done. There is no reason for window film to be removed a second time and reapplied just because "it looks too dark." The removal and re-application simply needs to be done until it meets the VLT percentage and is legal.
Tint Questions and Answers
There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to tinting legalities in the Pelican State. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions you’ll find about this important topic:
How do tint laws differ when applying for medical exemptions?
Medical exemptions apply to anyone who has been issued a prescription from a physician for tinted windows. This is particularly useful for individuals who suffer from light and sun sensitivity. With proper documentation from your physician, you may be exempt from carrying out normal tint laws. You may even be eligible for darker tint, but you must receive permission from state police to do so .
What if I’m renting a car? Can I still tint it?
Yes, but tint cannot be applied to any vehicle registered with a rental company. That means for rentals, you will need to refrain from tinting the windshield and all side windows on the vehicle. If you’re not renting, only tint the four windows behind the driver.
Can I tint commercial vehicles, such as a taxi cab or rideshare vehicle?"
Commercial vehicles are especially likely to require brighter tint, as they are often used for public services and transportation. Commercials vehicles in Louisiana are not held to the same laws as private vehicles.