MN Window Tint Law Explained

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  • darkdan
    got tint?
    • Jun 2005
    • 2203

    MN Window Tint Law Explained

    169.71 WINDSHIELD.
    Subdivision 1.Prohibitions generally; exceptions.

    (a) A person shall not drive or operate any motor vehicle with:

    (1) a windshield cracked or discolored to an extent to limit or obstruct proper vision;

    (2) any objects suspended between the driver and the windshield, other than sun visors and rearview mirrors and electronic toll collection devices; or

    (3) any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, sidewings, or side or rear windows of the vehicle, other than a certificate or other paper required to be so displayed by law or authorized by the state director of the Division of Emergency Management or the commissioner of public safety.

    (b) Paragraph (a), clauses (2) and (3), do not apply to law enforcement vehicles.

    (c) Paragraph (a), clause (2), does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles.
    Subd. 2.Windshield wiper.

    The windshield on every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a device for cleaning rain, snow or other moisture from the windshield, which device shall be so constructed as to be controlled or operated by the driver of the vehicle.
    Subd. 3.Defrosting requirement.

    No person shall drive any motor vehicle with the windshield or front side windows covered with steam or frost to such an extent as to prevent proper vision.
    Subd. 4. Glazing material; prohibitions and exceptions.

    (a) No person shall drive or operate any motor vehicle required to be registered in the state of Minnesota upon any street or highway under the following conditions:

    (1) when the windshield is composed of, covered by, or treated with any material which has the effect of making the windshield more reflective or in any other way reducing light transmittance through the windshield;

    (2) when any window on the vehicle is composed of, covered by, or treated with any material that has a highly reflective or mirrored appearance;

    (3) when any side window or rear window is composed of or treated with any material so as to obstruct or substantially reduce the driver's clear view through the window or has a light transmittance of less than 50 percent plus or minus three percent in the visible light range or a luminous reflectance of more than 20 percent plus or minus three percent; or

    (4) when any material has been applied after August 1, 1985, to any motor vehicle window without an accompanying permanent marking which indicates the percent of transmittance and the percent of reflectance afforded by the material. The marking must be in a manner so as not to obscure vision and be readable when installed on the vehicle.

    (b) This subdivision does not apply to glazing materials which:

    (1) have not been modified since the original installation, nor to original replacement windows and windshields, that were originally installed or replaced in conformance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205;

    (2) are required to satisfy prescription or medical needs of the driver of the vehicle or a passenger if:

    (i) the driver or passenger is in possession of the prescription or a physician's statement of medical need;

    (ii) the prescription or statement specifically states the minimum percentage that light transmittance may be reduced to satisfy the prescription or medical needs of the patient; and

    (iii) the prescription or statement contains an expiration date, which must be no more than two years after the date the prescription or statement was issued; or

    (3) are applied to:

    (i) the rear windows of a pickup truck as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 26;

    (ii) the rear windows or the side windows on either side behind the driver's seat of a van as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 40;

    (iii) the side and rear windows of a vehicle used to transport human remains by a funeral establishment holding a license under section 149A.50;

    (iv) the side and rear windows of a limousine as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 15; or

    (v) the rear and side windows of a police vehicle.


    This message is brought to you by Darkdan's Window Tinting of Southern Minnesota ( http://www.HurricaneTint.com )
    I'm Dark, I'm Dan...I'm Darkdan
    www.HurricaneTint.com
    Tinting and 3M Paint Protection Film (Clear Bras)
    Mustangs tint jobs starting at $170 for board members
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  • Yankee John
    TCS Regular
    • Jan 2009
    • 59

    #2
    It has been my understanding that if a vehicle is equipped with dual side mirrors for visibility, any windows behind the driver are not illegal if not present; aka the commercial cargo vans that have zero windows behind the driver.

    If this is true/legal, then I could theoretically customize my car (if I wanted to) and eliminate the rear quarter glass/opera windows and the entire rear window if I wanted to- IF I had dual door mirrors.

    I think that I read this in an MSRA newsletters a few years back.

    Laws have probably changed since........

    John

    Comment

    • darkdan
      got tint?
      • Jun 2005
      • 2203

      #3
      Originally posted by Yankee John View Post
      It has been my understanding that if a vehicle is equipped with dual side mirrors for visibility, any windows behind the driver are not illegal if not present; aka the commercial cargo vans that have zero windows behind the driver.

      If this is true/legal, then I could theoretically customize my car (if I wanted to) and eliminate the rear quarter glass/opera windows and the entire rear window if I wanted to- IF I had dual door mirrors.

      I think that I read this in an MSRA newsletters a few years back.

      Laws have probably changed since........

      John
      Sorry, incorrect. It works that way for vans, trucks, SUVs, MPVs, but not cars!

      In MN (one of those things that are left up to the states), if it's a passenger car.........it's 50% net all around.
      I'm Dark, I'm Dan...I'm Darkdan
      www.HurricaneTint.com
      Tinting and 3M Paint Protection Film (Clear Bras)
      Mustangs tint jobs starting at $170 for board members
      Vinyl Signs and Decals
      AMSOIL Dealer http://www.dantheoilman.com
      Online Vitamin/Enzyme Store

      Comment

      • BLK82GT
        Four Eye Fanatic
        • Feb 2009
        • 2

        #4
        Hey, new guy here i noticed the tint forum so i had to chime in, So i no this is no arguement but, why does the state think that they can tell you what to do with your windows, it your car you pay the payments, ins etc
        My Tinted Cars
        2k GT Vert 3% all around (Gone)
        95 K1500 13% all around (Gone)
        82 GT Some Purply-ish crap
        99 LHS 15% Rear 3 Windows
        If This Spring You Ever Need Some More Work Tinting You Can Finish The LHS Windows & Redo The 82's Windows..........!!
        1982 Mustang GT
        347 Stroker
        5-Lug Conversion In Progress
        Tubular K-Member In Progress

        Comment

        • darkdan
          got tint?
          • Jun 2005
          • 2203

          #5
          the state doesn't think about the individual. they care about the whole. the extreme tint law is to protect other citizens (by reduced accidents by maintaining vision) and "officer safety".

          really it comes down to the fact the law was written twenty years ago when everyone thought gangsta rap waa going to turn society into the wild west.
          I'm Dark, I'm Dan...I'm Darkdan
          www.HurricaneTint.com
          Tinting and 3M Paint Protection Film (Clear Bras)
          Mustangs tint jobs starting at $170 for board members
          Vinyl Signs and Decals
          AMSOIL Dealer http://www.dantheoilman.com
          Online Vitamin/Enzyme Store

          Comment

          • Torkuda
            ˙uo ƃuıoƃ sʇɐɥʍ ɐǝpı ou ǝʌɐɥ ı
            • Dec 2007
            • 314

            #6
            Originally posted by darkdan View Post
            the state doesn't think about the individual. they care about the whole. the extreme tint law is to protect other citizens (by reduced accidents by maintaining vision) and "officer safety".

            really it comes down to the fact the law was written twenty years ago when everyone thought gangsta rap waa going to turn society into the wild west.
            Well, thankfully all you need is a note from your doctor to legally allow you to go lower than 50%. Thats what Im hoping to get before I get my tint so I should be good to go.


            Comment

            • darkdan
              got tint?
              • Jun 2005
              • 2203

              #7
              Originally posted by Torkuda View Post
              Well, thankfully all you need is a note from your doctor to legally allow you to go lower than 50%. Thats what Im hoping to get before I get my tint so I should be good to go.
              You don't need a note, you need a prescription.

              Then do some paper work with the state. Also, it expires every two years (they changed that last year).

              Hopefully your doctor is willing to put his medical license on the line and say you have a medical NEED for window tint. Also, the prescription must state the actual darkness (which means if you want 35% window film, the prescription has to be for 25% to 28% because tint + glass nets a bit lower).




              I get dozens that tell me they're going to bring me a Rx and the required paper work every year.........I've never seen it though. =(
              I'm Dark, I'm Dan...I'm Darkdan
              www.HurricaneTint.com
              Tinting and 3M Paint Protection Film (Clear Bras)
              Mustangs tint jobs starting at $170 for board members
              Vinyl Signs and Decals
              AMSOIL Dealer http://www.dantheoilman.com
              Online Vitamin/Enzyme Store

              Comment

              • Torkuda
                ˙uo ƃuıoƃ sʇɐɥʍ ɐǝpı ou ǝʌɐɥ ı
                • Dec 2007
                • 314

                #8
                Originally posted by darkdan View Post
                You don't need a note, you need a prescription.

                Then do some paper work with the state. Also, it expires every two years (they changed that last year).

                Hopefully your doctor is willing to put his medical license on the line and say you have a medical NEED for window tint. Also, the prescription must state the actual darkness (which means if you want 35% window film, the prescription has to be for 25% to 28% because tint + glass nets a bit lower).




                I get dozens that tell me they're going to bring me a Rx and the required paper work every year.........I've never seen it though. =(
                Well, Im going to give it a shot, so well see how it goes.

                Well, heres what the statute says:

                (i) the driver or passenger is in possession of the prescription or a physician's statement of medical need;

                (ii) the prescription or statement specifically states the minimum percentage that light transmittance may be reduced to satisfy the prescription or medical needs of the patient; and

                (iii) the prescription or statement contains an expiration date, which must be no more than two years after the date the prescription or statement was issued; or


                Doesnt seem like it would be too difficult to get. I guess Ill find out though.


                Comment

                • GTS5.0
                  TCS Regular
                  • Aug 2011
                  • 27

                  #9
                  Anyone have any luck with getting a prescription for window tint? I think it sounds a little hokey unless you can prove your sensitive to light but how can one tell? I guess i can always say it's my children that need it but i have a feeling if i went to my doc and told him i needed a prescription for window tint he would laugh at me...

                  Just wondering if anyone has been sucessfull in this dept? I have had tinted windows on all my 60+ vehicles in my driving years and only got 1 ticket even when my windows were 20%. The funny thing is i got a ticket when my windows were 32% but never when they were 20%

                  Just goes to show you if you dont give them a reason to bother you (driving habits) they generally wont waste their time.

                  Comment

                  • darkdan
                    got tint?
                    • Jun 2005
                    • 2203

                    #10
                    MN has really started to crack down on tint the past year, especially the state patrol. A prescription is cheap insurance that you won't get a $128 ticket. It seems this year I've been removing more tint than I've been applying.

                    Not to mention, it is now a misdemeanor for a tinter to go darker than 50% unless the customer has a prescription.

                    But many of my customers are getting them from their optometrists. It reduces eye strain, stops 99% of UV light, etc. Since 35% is considered safe, and therefore legal, in 32 states it isn't out of the question or absurd.
                    I'm Dark, I'm Dan...I'm Darkdan
                    www.HurricaneTint.com
                    Tinting and 3M Paint Protection Film (Clear Bras)
                    Mustangs tint jobs starting at $170 for board members
                    Vinyl Signs and Decals
                    AMSOIL Dealer http://www.dantheoilman.com
                    Online Vitamin/Enzyme Store

                    Comment

                    • Neltech
                      TCS Homer
                      • Aug 2008
                      • 749

                      #11
                      Dan, I see how the cops use that meter for the windows but how do they check windows that don't roll down?

                      You think i could get away with doing front windows 50% and the rears 35%? (fox)

                      Comment

                      • D3thM3tal
                        IT Pro / Mechanic
                        • May 2006
                        • 3665

                        #12
                        I've gotten a few tint tickets instead of speeding tickets

                        50% in the high reflective 3M tint actually looks good -
                        08' Focus Coupe MTX 2.0 / 00' Contour SVT 3.0 / 95' F150 5.0 / 86' F350 6.9IDI / 74' Bronco EFI 5.8 / 74' Bronco Ranger EFI 5.8 / 66' Mercury Monterey 352FE / 64' Galaxy 500 390 FE
                        I bleed blue

                        Comment

                        • darkdan
                          got tint?
                          • Jun 2005
                          • 2203

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Neltech View Post
                          Dan, I see how the cops use that meter for the windows but how do they check windows that don't roll down?

                          You think i could get away with doing front windows 50% and the rears 35%? (fox)
                          Remember, the back window is the one they're looking through when they decide if they want to pull you over or not.

                          The court tends to view a police officer's senses as super heightened and calibrated. This is why them perceiving your tint being too dark is enough to pull you over and why courts have upheld plenty of cases where a cop perceived or "paced" someone and knew they were speeding. So if your front windows meter legal, but there is a visual difference with the back windows then that is enough to give you a ticket. Then it is up to you to win in court.

                          A few select agencies out there also have the two piece meters to measure back windows.

                          Not worth the risk IMO. Just get a prescription.
                          I'm Dark, I'm Dan...I'm Darkdan
                          www.HurricaneTint.com
                          Tinting and 3M Paint Protection Film (Clear Bras)
                          Mustangs tint jobs starting at $170 for board members
                          Vinyl Signs and Decals
                          AMSOIL Dealer http://www.dantheoilman.com
                          Online Vitamin/Enzyme Store

                          Comment

                          • Neltech
                            TCS Homer
                            • Aug 2008
                            • 749

                            #14
                            what about 3m privacy film on the side windows rear window wouldn't work because it's tilted down but i think the side windows miiiight work

                            Comment

                            • N8Dogg98
                              Nasty
                              • Mar 2010
                              • 1885

                              #15
                              How difficult is it to get a 'script for tint? Is it one of those things you have to renew every once in a while?

                              Comment

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