What’s Legal and What’s Not: Louisiana Window Tint Laws
Do you need Louisiana window tint law advice? We can help you understand and appreciate Louisiana window tint laws, whether you’re a car owner, enthusiast, or inquisitive about them. We’ll explain the regulations based on vehicle type, darkness, and penalties for noncompliance.
Key Points To Know:
- Understanding Visible Light Transmission: VLT measures visible light passing through window tint. VLT compliance is essential to prevent legal issues, fines, and driving limitations.
- Legal Tint in Louisiana: Louisiana law regulates window tint darkness for passenger automobiles and SUVs/vans. These rules also specify window tinting locations.
- Window Tint Reflection: Tinted windows in Louisiana should not be more than 20% reflective, ensuring that at least 80% of outside light can pass through without reflecting more than 20%.
- Exceptions for Medical Conditions: Individuals with medical conditions requiring darker window tint can seek exemptions by consulting a licensed physician and following an application process.
- Additional Regulations: Louisiana may have rules related to side mirrors, color restrictions, film certification, legal tinting stickers, and notifications for unusual tint applications.
- Penalties for Violations: Violating window tint laws can lead to traffic citations, fines, fix-it tickets, increased insurance premiums, and even driver’s license suspension for repeat violations.
Our Louisiana window tint lawyer goes beyond legalese. We’re dedicated about educating you. We notify you so you can choose your vehicle’s window tint. We can answer your questions, address your concerns, and explain how these laws affect your life.
Louisiana window tint restrictions shouldn’t cloud your legal path. Call Hammond Law now! We’re your approachable, knowledgeable legal partner.
What is VLT in Louisiana State Law?
VLT is Visible Light Transmission. VLT measures a vehicle’s window tint’s visible light transmission. A greater VLT percentage means more light can pass through the glass, whereas a lower percentage means more opaque tint.
Louisiana’s car window tint laws limit VLT for separate windows. The rear side windows and the rear window may have differing VLT criteria or allow a larger range of VLT percentages than the front side windows.
Louisiana’s VLT regulations must be followed while tinting your vehicle to avoid legal issues, penalties, and driving limitations. Contact our legal professional or the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections for the latest information to assure compliance.
What is the Legal Tint in Louisiana?
Louisiana has specific laws and regulations regarding window tint on vehicles. These regulations include guidelines on the permissible darkness of window tint and which windows can be tinted. Here’s an overview of Louisiana’s window tint laws:
Passenger Vehicles
- Front windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top five inches of the windshield.
- Front Side Windows: Tint on front side windows must allow more than 40% of light to pass through.
- Back Side Windows: Tint on rear side windows must allow more than 25% of light to pass through.
- Back windshield: The tint on the back windshield must allow more than 12% of light to pass through.
SUVs and Vans
- Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top five inches of the windshield.
- Front Side Windows: Tint on front side windows must allow more than 40% of light to pass through.
- Back Side Windows: Tint on rear side windows can have any darkness level.
- Back windshield: The tint on the back windshield can have any darkness level.
Window Tint Reflection in Louisiana
Louisiana’s window tint laws limit reflection to 20%. The tint on your car’s windows should let at least 80% of outside light through and reflect no more than 20%.
Using window tint that exceeds these reflectance limits might lead to legal issues, penalties, or citations from law enforcement.
Are There Exceptions To Legal Tints?
There are exceptions to the legal tint regulations. These exceptions typically apply to individuals who have a medical condition that requires a darker window tint for medical reasons. Here’s how these exceptions generally work:
Medical Exemptions
Louisiana allows individuals with specific medical conditions that make them sensitive to light to obtain a medical exemption for darker window tint. To qualify for a medical exemption, the following steps are typically required:
- Consult with a licensed physician who can verify your medical condition and the necessity of darker window tint for your well-being.
- The physician may need to provide a prescription or written documentation stating the specific VLT percentage that is required for your condition.
Application Process
Once you have the necessary medical documentation, you may need to submit it to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections or another relevant authority. This documentation will be reviewed, and if approved, you may be granted a medical exemption to use darker window tints on your vehicle.
Other Louisiana Window Tint Rules and Regulations
In addition to the specifications for window tint darkness and reflectivity, Louisiana’s window tint laws may have other regulations and requirements. Here are some additional aspects and considerations that may be part of Louisiana’s window tint laws:
Dual Side Mirrors
Louisiana often requires that vehicles with tinted rear windows have dual side mirrors for enhanced visibility.
Color Restrictions
Louisiana’s window tint laws allow the application of tint in various colors except red and amber.
Side Mirrors
Vehicle side mirrors were not required in Louisiana. Even though Louisiana does not mandate side mirrors, having properly functional ones on your car is suggested for safety and to prevent accidents. When tinted rear windows impede visibility, side mirrors may be practical.
Certificates
Film manufacturers are required to certify the films they sell in Louisiana.
Stickers
The legal tinting sticker must be placed between the film and the glass on the driver’s side window.
Others
It’s possible that you’ll need to notify the Department of Public Safety and Corrections about any unusual window tint applications, such as those used on armored vehicles or government vehicles.
What are the Penalties for Breaking the Law?
Louisiana window tint law violations carry penalties. The severity of the offense, such as tint darkness and prior citations, might determine the penalty.
- Traffic Citation: Law enforcement officers can issue a traffic penalty for breaking window tint rules. This citation usually demands court appearance or a fine.
- Fines: Violating Louisiana window tint restrictions can result in fines. The fine depends on the violation and whether it’s a first-time or recurrent offender.
- Fix-It Tickets: In some situations, you may receive a “fix-it ticket” or “compliance ticket.” This ticket allows you to remove or modify window tint to comply with the law. You must show cooperation to the court or issuing authority.
- Additional Violations: Driving with illegal window tint after receiving a citation may result in extra consequences, including increased fines or car impoundment.
- Driver’s License Suspension: Multiple window tint offenses or other driving violations may result in license suspension or other administrative procedures.
- Insurance Implications: Depending on the circumstances, a window tint violation could result in increased insurance premiums.
To avoid legal and financial penalties, window tint laws must be followed. If you receive a window tint violation citation, you should immediately alter your window tint to conform or consult our Louisiana tint laws attorney if you believe the citation was unfair.
Helping You Understand The Louisiana Tint Laws
To drive safely and avoid penalties, you must know and follow Louisiana’s window tint restrictions. Since window tint rules change, it’s vital to check with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections and our window tint attorney.
To guarantee you are complying with Louisiana window tint rules and enjoying the benefits of your tinted windows without incurring penalties, consult our legal team. We also provide legal assistance in negligent injury lawsuits, catastrophic injury cases, bad faith insurance claims, and more.
Get started on your path to resolution – schedule a consultation with Hammond Law today. Your compliance and peace of mind are just a phone call away.
