What are Tint Laws?
Tint laws refer to the laws governing the amount of light that must be able to pass through your car windows in order to ensure safety for you, your passengers, and those sharing the road with you. These laws determine the darkness of the tint, the reflection levels, and the ability to see into the car through the windows at night. While in most cases a factory tint is perfectly acceptable, even tinted cars must meet the tint level requirements in order to be in compliance with state and local laws. Some factors to consider when applying window tint that are responded to by tint laws include: Every state has slightly different tint laws, but most regulations take into consideration tint darkness, reflection, visibility, transparency, windshields, and information about the side and rear tints . Windshield tint is applied to the top of the windshield in a strip about five inches long, but the amount of tint on the bottom of the windshield must allow more than 70% visible light transmission. The only exception to the tint darkness rule for windshields is in emergency situations. If your windshield tint does not abide by these regulations, as well as regulations about tint on both the front and rear windows of your vehicle, you can be pulled over and fined. Obeying your local tint laws and understanding the effects of tint on your vision and the vision of others will help you avoid accidents caused by vision impairment and negative effect of tinted windows in your car. In addition, tint compliance will keep you from being pulled over by the police because of non-compliance, saves you the hassle of having to remove the tint, and keeps your car looking brand new!
Basics of Kansas Tint Laws
The tint laws in Kansas are just that: the exact laws put in place by the state of Kansas that govern what certain window tinting looks like. There are window tint laws for car windows, along with laws about tinting on trucks, SUVs, vans, motorcycles, and even semis.
Here are all of those specifics about window tinting in Kansas that every driver needs to know:
Windshield: Must allow more than 35% of light in. Only the top 4 inches can be tinted.
Front seat side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Back seat side windows: No restrictions on darkness. Reflectivity must not be more than 20%.
Rear seat side windows: No restrictions on darkness or reflectivity.
Rear window: No restrictions on darkness or reflectivity.
If you’re going to tint your windows, you need to get the proper Certificate of Compliance which has to be placed in the vehicle. This certificate will come from your installer.
Exemptions & Special Conditions
There are a few exceptions and special conditions under which even darker tint may be accepted in Kansas. Medical exemptions exist for drivers and passengers who can fully document a condition requiring increased levels of light. The application process for tint exceptions is often rigorous, with many steps. For both the application and tint removal processes, the kinks are often worked out by an experienced tint professional. Kansas tint shops that offer window stamp service with a designated certification number for their products are generally the most resourceful and responsive providers for general tint laws and special condition exceptions.
The Kansas state statute regarding tint exemption for medical conditions recently passed into law in July of 2012. This law outlines that "upon application to the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) motor vehicles routing for tinted glass that do not comply with K.S.A. 8-1749, and amendments thereto, may be issued a sticker upon demonstration of a medical need for tinting."
Exemptions are not applied lightly, nor are they automatic. Exemption applications must be submitted to the KHP and approved before any tinting work is performed on the vehicle. The tinted window must have a sticker affixed pursuant to K.S.A. 8-1749b(a). If an individual has made all attempts to comply with State law and an exemption is denied, that person can file a waiver request with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle and name and local jurisdiction of the tinting shop. It is the tinting shop’s obligation to provide substantiation of exemption, after which the local KHP office will be contacted to verify the disclosure; the Chief of Police will ultimately determine whether the tint is warranted or not. A penalty up to $100 may be assessed in some circumstances.
There is another special condition indicated within the Kansas state chapter of Motor Vehicle Regulations. Individuals who are driving larger capacity vehicles designed for greater passenger counts, such as vans, trucks and buses, and those used by churches and school institutions are permitted to go darker than the legally allowed percentage. These vehicles are required to have a sticker indicating the vehicle is manufactured for the legal tint and must also have a sticker certifying that the tint law requirements are met.
Penalties and Enforcement
Kansas active law enforcement agencies and specially designated law enforcement agencies are authorized to enforce the laws regarding window tint. All monitoring activities should be performed by law enforcement personnel trained in the proper use of measurement devices. There are several methods for making sure window tint complies with Kansas law. Commercial window film vendors, installers, and/or installers are also able to use special state-issued certificates of tint conformity.
Any vehicle stopped at the discretion of the officer and showing evidence of tinted windows or windshield shall be cited according to K.S.A. 8-1748c (fines will vary) or to K.S.A. 8-1751. The court shall order the owner to remove or have the tint removed from the windshield or window and return to the court , a date and time specified by the court, to show the window tint is removed from the vehicle or comply.
Kansas laws require all vehicle windows to allow 70% or more light transmittance. If the window tint does not comply with the law, the following penalties will apply: The first violation will result in a fine not exceeding $250. The second offense will result in a fine not exceeding $300. The third or subsequent offense will result in fine not exceeding $500.
Violations of Kansas tint laws can cause your insurance rates to go up if you are cited for window tint violations. When you are stopped for a state traffic violation, your insurance company is notified by the state department of motor vehicles. In addition, when you make a claim, the insurance company is notified of all traffic violations.
How to Stay Compliant
To ensure that your window tints are compliant with Kansas regulations, it’s essential to perform due diligence before and after installation. Here are some practical tips for vehicle owners. First, always check the VLT% of your tint before installation. This is crucial as it allows you to make any necessary adjustments before application. The VLT% indicates how much light is allowed to pass through the tinted window. If it’s too low, you may be in violation of Kansas law. After installation, it’s wise to review the documentation provided by the installer. Generally, a label or certificate indicating the VLT% will be included with your tinted windows. This paperwork is not only important for the purpose of verifying compliance, but also may be required by law enforcement if they stop you for any reason related to your tint. If you’re ever unsure about your tint’s legality, don’t hesitate to ask the installer for clarification. A reputable installers should be more than willing to explain the various regulations and help you understand how they apply to your vehicle.
Questions and Answers
Frequently Asked Questions about Kansas Tint Laws
Q: Do my tinted windows need to be inspected?
A: Yes. In fact, there are two separate inspections that must be performed. First, the tint manufacturer or installer must certify the tint by providing an ID certificate. The ID certificate must be presented to the Kansas Department of Revenue when your vehicle is registered. Second, the driver or registered owner of a tinted vehicle must carry the ID certificate in their vehicle at all times in the event they are pulled over and questioned about the legality of their tint.
In other words, over time, you may end up with two separate forms of verification that your tint is within the law – one for the Department of Revenue and one for potential traffic stops.
Q: But what if I’m pulled over and the police say my tint isn’t legal?
A: First, if your window film exceeds the allowed darkness and/or reflection percentages for your vehicle, the rear windows and rear windshield typically won’t need to be replaced as the windows can be replaced with normal untinted ones. That is not always the case, however, particularly with the windshield and front windows, which sometimes can’t be safely returned to a transparent condition and will need the entire window to be replaced with a non-tinted replacement.
What if my tinted windshield or front windows have to be replaced?
If your tinted windshield is replaced, the new windshield must either be "clear" or "green". If afterwards law enforcement again claims that your tinted windshield is illegally dark, you will need to remove the tint. If your tinted front windows need to be replaced, the new front windows must have a VLT (visible light transmission) of 35% or higher.
The tinting on your windows must be installed according to the provisions of Section 8 of the K.A.R. 92-52-1 regulation.
Q: What is the process for removing illegal tint from my vehicle?
A: There are three common methods for removing tint from your windows.
The first is heat removal, where you simply heat the tint with a hair dryer or heat gun and then peel the tint off yourself . This is a very time-consuming method that requires extreme care to ensure that damage does not occur to the glass or window defects do not result. This is something that you should only attempt to do if you have windows that can be returned to a transparent condition.
The second method is adhesive solvent, which relies on a chemical designed to remove the adhesive used to install the tint on your vehicle. This method usually costs around $40 to $50 to have done. It is fast, but generally does not result in the tinted window film being reusable, nor does it allow for adjacent windows to be tinted.
The third method is abrasive removal, which uses a special process and tool to remove tinted windows in their entirety. It is significantly more expensive, costing in the region of $100 to $200, as it typically results in the tinted windows being completely removed from the vehicle and needs to be performed by a professional.
You will need to provide the tint shop with the official K.A.R. 92-52-1 regulations so they know what is expected of them for your particular vehicle. When tint is removed with these modern methods, it does not need to be replaced with a greater VLT. However, while your vehicle may return to the maximum legal amount of tint, you may not be able to re-tint with darker, illegal film.
Q: My tinted window film has bubbles, turns purple or has another imperfection. Can I get a refund or a respray?
A: No. These are signs of bad film and an incorrect installation. You can demand a full refund from the product supplier or manufacturer in writing, or you can remove the film and replace it yourself or have it replaced by a professional shop. Should the supplier or manufacturer refuse you either option, you can sue them in small claims court.
Q: What happens if I have illegal tint and then get into a car accident?
A: If you are in an accident and prove to be at fault for the incident, your insurer will not pay your medical claims or the claims of the other party if they find that your illegal window tint stopped you from avoiding a collision. An improperly tinted windshield, for example, can reduce vision and facial recognition and injury mitigation.