How dark can you have window tint in the state of Washington?  For
this question it would be for regular 2 or 4 door cars.  Not limos or
SUV's.

I know that there have been recent discrepancies of how the law is
interpreted in Washington State concerning window tint?  Some people
say material that allows 35 percent light transmission (plus or minus
three percent) is ok some say this is not correct.  Some say that 35%
is a mis nomer - Washington State law says the maximum is 24% but who
is correct.  This is what the law says below but how can it be decided
or interpreted by normal people?

"The maximum level of film sun screening material to be applied to any
window, except the windshield, shall have a total reflectance of
thirty-five percent or less, plus or minus three percent, and a light
transmission of thirty-five percent or more, plus or minus three
percent, when measured against clear glass resulting in a minimum of
twenty-four percent light transmission on AS-2 glazing where the
vehicle is equipped with outside rearview mirrors on both the right
and left."

So when I got to the window tint store and ask for to have my window
tint as dark as possible should I ask for 35% or 24%?

Dear petesampras-ga;

Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question. This
issue in Washington (like many other states including my own) is a bit
complicated depending on what type of film you have and what kind of
vehicle it is applied to. According to Washington State statute RCW
46.37.430 the law reads thusly:

?The maximum level of film sunscreening material to be applied to any
window, except the windshield, shall have a total reflectance of
thirty-five percent or less, plus or minus three percent, and a light
transmission of thirty-five percent or more, plus or minus three
percent, when measured against clear glass resulting in a minimum of
twenty-four percent light transmission on AS-2 glazing where the
vehicle is equipped with outside rearview mirrors on both the right
and left. Installation of more than a single sheet of film
sunscreening material to any window is prohibited. The same maximum
levels of film sunscreen material may be applied to windows to the
immediate right and left of the driver on limousines and passenger
buses used to transport persons for compensation and vehicles
identified by the manufacturer as multi-use, multipurpose, or other
similar designation. All windows to the rear of the driver on such
vehicles may have film sunscreening material applied that has less
than thirty-five percent light transmittance, if the light reflectance
is thirty-five percent or less and the vehicle is equipped with
outside rearview mirrors on both the right and left.?

I encourage you to read the entire law yourself, as there are some
areas where the law is except (such as, windows behind the front side
doors are exempt.) and other areas where exceptions do not apply (such
as, Washington?s Tint Law applies to non-Washington registered
vehicles as well as those registered in Washington.)

RCW 46.37.430
SAFETY GLAZING -- SUNSCREENING OR COLORING.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/RCW/index.cfm?fuseaction=section&section=46.37.430


THE LAW SHOULD BE INTERPRETED THAT WASHINGTON PERMITS AUTO WINDOW TINT
(FILM) OF THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT OR LESS. The number 35 is not indicative
of how much light is obscured by the tint but that only 35% of the
light is transmitted THROUGH the tint. So, you can legally ask for and
get an application of 35% window tint because the ?plus or minus?
reference is not for application purposes, but merely intended to
legally allow for disparities in measurement by various measuring
devices and disparities in tint and reflectivity between different
qualities of window tint products.

Most people simply ask for the darkest legal window tint and the
applying technician knows what that consists of. In fact, the
applicator is required by law to apply a sticker to certify that his
work complies with state tint and reflectivity law:

?A person or business tinting windows for profit who tints windows
within restricted areas of the glazing system shall supply a sticker
to be affixed to the driver's door post, in the area adjacent to the
manufacturer's identification tag. Installation of this sticker
certifies that the glazing application meets this chapter's standards
for light transmission, reflectance, and placement requirements.?

Simply ask for the darkest legal tint and make sure he applies the
certification sticker and you should be ok. Even though I?ve now spent
more than 20 years in law enforcement myself, the various window tint
laws sometimes confuse me too. This one however seems relatively clear
? no pun intended of course.

I hope you find that my research exceeds your expectations. If you
have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating
and your final comments and I look forward to working with you again
in the near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher



INFORMATION SOURCES

RCW 46.37.430
SAFETY GLAZING -- SUNSCREENING OR COLORING.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/RCW/index.cfm?fuseaction=section&section=46.37.430

TINT DUDE
http://www.tintdude.com/ptow.html#Washington

STATE-BY-STATE AUTO TINT LAW CHART
http://www.doityourselftint.com/tintlaws.html


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