An Intro To Tinting Laws For Mississippi
The regulations for auto window tint in Mississippi are lept tight. While most vehicle owners may be familiar with the restrictions imposed by their home state, they may not be quite as familiar with their car tint laws in other states. Specifically, it is essential to note that the tinting requirements can vary considerably from state to state, and if you are planning to drive in Mississippi, these are the tint laws you’ll need to follow.
Front Windshield: No more than 25% window tint is allowed in the state of Mississippi on the windshield. Also , it’s important to note that a clear non-reflective tint is allowed on the first inch of the windshield to the SOLAR PART OF GLASS.
Front Seat: No more than 25% window tint is allowed on both the driver and passenger windows in the front seat of the vehicle.
Back Seat: No restrictions on the amount of window tint on the back windows.
Back Seat window: No restrictions on the amount of window tint on the back window.
Reflectivity: Reflective tint is not permitted.
Permitted Tint Darkness
When it comes to tinted windows, the percentage of visible light that can pass through is measured in terms of VLT (Visual Light Transmission). In Mississippi, the law states that a windshield tint must allow at least 70% of light in. The same 70% VLT ruling is set for the driver and passenger front windows. However, the back side windows of a vehicle or van can be tinted so that only 12% of light passes through the tint. SUVs, vans and buses are exempt from the 12% VLT ruling on the back windows.
All other windows of any vehicle can have no more than 12% VLT. The window tint darkness for SUVs, vans and buses that are exempt from the back window ruling can still not go any lower than 12% light transmittance for all other windows. Additional notes on the window tint for these vehicles include the following: The legal window tint limit for SUVs, vans and buses takes effect from the front of the back seat of the vehicle to the rearmost (last) window of the vehicle.
Allowed Reflective Window Tinting
Reflective tinting is a matter of great concern to law enforcement and also to motorists who have to deal with their blinding glare. For this reason, Mississippi imposes some fairly strict regulations on the use of reflective window tinting.
Section 63-7-64 of the Mississippi Code specifies the amount of permitted reflectivity on tinted windows installed on a vehicle. As per these regulations, no tint can be installed on any window on a passenger car, van, or bus if that tint has a total solar reflectance greater than 20 percent on any window, except for the windshield. Windshield tint is exempt from this 20 percent limit, but when installed permit stickers must be present to alert law enforcement that the windshield is tinted.
Special Regulations and Exceptions
Exemptions to the regulations in Mississippi
In general, no exemptions exist for tinting cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles or other motor vehicles. There are no exemptions even if a passenger or the driver of the motor vehicle suffers from light sensitivity. However, specific exemptions exist for certified medical conditions, law enforcement, and governmental purposes. This could allow one to shield themselves from the sun, but evidence showing strict adherence to the law remains necessary in order to avoid problems.
For instance, if you have a documented case of light sensitivity and you can provide the necessary documentation, you might be able to have dark tint without receiving a ticket . To apply for a medical exemption, you must see your ophthalmologist or other eye care physician to undergo testing for any light-sensitivity issues. The doctor must sign off on a form which can be mailed or faxed to the state. Additionally, the state mails out placards to prove the vision disability so you may have it in your car at all times.
A similar exemption exists for law enforcement. Law-enforcement officials for state, local or federal governmental body may be exempted as well. If you can obtain a license plate issued by the Department of Public Safety, you may apply for an exemption which allows for darker tint than generally permitted by state law.
Penalties For Violating The Laws
If you fail to follow the regulations set forth by the state of Mississippi, you could face several penalties. The law enforcement officer who stops you could cite you or give you a warning and a chance to remove the tint. Alternatively, they could have your car impounded and take it out of commission until you remove your window tint. Going this route does require an extraordinary amount of work on the officer’s end, however, and frequently they will choose to simply pull you over in an effort to educate you rather than punishing you.
Another way you could be punished is through a fine. The fine for violating legal window tint for motorcycles under Mississippi window tint law is up to $1,000. For all other types of vehicles, the fine is $250. With these fines, however, you may be able to get out of paying for them if you show up to court with your tint already removed or to get the fine lowered with proof that you have taken the tint down.
It is possible that your vehicle could be subject to more surveillance if you continue to receive citations for your window tint, driving you to either change it or remove it entirely. Practically, however, officers are unlikely to follow you around for even the most minor tint violation.
Many vehicles are sold with factory tint applied to them. In most cases, this tint is perfectly legal and not too dark, but some officers may not know the difference. This can be frustrating to the owner of the vehicle, as they cannot prove that their vehicle has legal tint. If you run into this situation, the officer may allow you to use a handheld window tint meter to determine the legality of your window tint.
How To Choose The Right Tint
When you decide to install window tint on your vehicle, there are several ways to ensure that you stay within the legal limits. Here are some practical tips:
- Choose a reputable dealer – An experienced window tint professional will be able to show you samples of their work so that you can feel confident in their ability to deliver a quality product that meets all legal tinting requirements.
- Go the legal route – The whole point of window tint is to shield your car from UV rays, while still remaining legal. Choosing a tint that is legal while still meeting your aesthetic goals is the best way to ensure that you won’t have to replace the tint later on. Working with a professional window tint installer is key to achieving this goal .
- Consider professional install – The darker and more reflective the tint, the more likely it is to draw the attention of law enforcement. It’s also possible for improper installation to cause bubbles in the tint or other issues. If a police officer were to find out that your tint is illegal, they may request for you to drive the car home without the tint or else risk getting a citation. Ultimately, choosing to have your window tint professionally installed may end up saving you time and effort in the long run.
For vehicle owners who strive to comply with window tint regulations in Mississippi, the following tips can help keep you in the legal scope when planning for window tint on your vehicle.
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