Maryland - Tint law enforcement

Yesterday I got my 88 olds cutlass ciera tinted with a 32% tint all around (XD). Then the shop put on a darkass strip across my windshield that's a bit over 5 inches :(

Anyways my questions are these:

Is there really a noticeable difference between 32 and 35?

Also, how much do cops actually enforce this? I was actually tailed by a cop yesterday on my way home and never got pulled over. And I've heard all the stories that unless you give them a real reason to pull you over (like speeding), they won't get you for that.

The only ones I'm worried about are the state troopers :S

Anyone have any experiences with tinting in maryland?

cops being board can cause you problems, but whats the standard in Maryland? In Ohio its 50% front windows and anything the rest.. State Patrol might hassal ya, they do here.. BIG TIME.

The legal in md is 35% on everything except windshield, and I'm pretty sure it can be anything on the windshield topstrip , just not more than 5 inches in width

I live in Bowie, Maryland and I have the tint right before the limo tint on a red 2000 pontiac grand am and have never gotton pulled over. I don't speed, or do anything wrong or illegal in the car so that might be why.

I have heard my friends getting pulled over and the cops make them take off the tints, but only cause they were speeding and such.

So in the end, it's really just a matter of "we won't get you for it unless you give a reason to"?

I'm not in maryland but where I live (Illinois) the law is you can have as dark as you want on the all the back windows but there cant be ANYTHING on the driver and passenger side windows. as far as the windshield, we can have 6 inches down from the top and 6 inches from the bottom up. I have only got a warning for mine because I got pulled over for no from plate and since that really wasnt anything to big he started walking around my car looking for things to get me for. :banghead: but I guess the only time they will really get you for tint is if they pull you over for some other reason.

I'm not in maryland, but what is important is whether it is a violation that they can actually pull you over for. In most states I don't think it is, I could be wrong, but I don't think it is. But they will a) pay alot more attention to you, and probably follow you more b) probably hit you with a fix-it ticket next time you get pulled over for speeding.

I have a light tint on my vr4, which already attracts plenty of attention, but even after being pulled over in it a few times, not once has a cop said anything about it. My friend on the other hand has a black jetta with exhaust, a LOUD system/sub, and ridiculously dark tint (can't see at night). He rarely speeds, but everytime he gets pulled over for something he gets a ticket for hte tint and has to remove it and redo it.

Basically, don't do anything else to attract attention and you will probably just get followed more than usual. Do ANYTHING else to attract attention, and plan on getting ticketed for 2 things instead of 1.

I just realized a couple of you mentioned state troopers, that who pulled me over and gave me the warning for my tint.

I'd suggest reading the Maryland copy of "Rules of the Road", you can probably find them online or at the DMV. It should state how much window tint you can have (or if you can have it at all).

It seems that every other state allows some front window tint besides Illinois :frown: (and I know IL cops enforce it too) . So i think you should be okay.

How would they actually know the percentage of your tint? Can they test it in the field?

Hi JustJCarr73, and Welcome to AF. Just a quick heads up, look at the last post's date before you post, and try not to bring anything back more than 30 days old.

That said, the answer to your question is that some police officers carry a light meter, which tests the ambient light then compares to what they get from behind the tint. Laws vary from state to state about just what is legal.