Date:         Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:44:53 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: more on window tinting.. (CA)
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              reply-type=original

From the CA DMV page.
As far as the CHP ticketing out-of-state drivers for things that are
permanent parts of their vehicles, iirc correctly they're supposed to allow
for that for the same time period that you are allowed to operate the
vehicle in the state without registering it in CA, which was 90 days at the
time I heard about it; that's been more than ten years ago so that could
very well have changed, if it was accurate to begin with. That doesn't mean
that some less-than-scrupulous chippies might give out tickets to pad the
coffers to folks they think might just pay the fine out of ignorance or
because they don't want to come back for a court date.

Cya,
Robert

California

VEHICLE CODE

26708.  (a) (1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or
material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the
windshield or side or rear windows.
(2) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material
placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle
which obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or
side windows.

(3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle with the
driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or rear windows,
obstructed by snow or ice.

(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) Rearview mirrors.

(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors which are mounted forward of the
side windows and are not attached to the glass.

(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 7-inch
square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the
driver, signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 7-inch
square in the lower corner of the rear window farthest removed from the
driver, or signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a
5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver.

(4) Side windows which are to the rear of the driver.

(5) Direction, destination, or termini signs upon a passenger common carrier
motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do not interfere with the
driver's clear view of approaching traffic.

(6) Rear window wiper motor.

(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.

(8) The rear window or windows, when the motor vehicle is equipped with
outside mirrors on both the left- and right-hand sides of the vehicle that
are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through
each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.

(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite the driver
on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and which occupies an area not
exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest corner toward the rear of that
window and which provides the driver with a wide-angle view through the
lens.

(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section 26708.2
installed on the side windows on either side of the vehicle's front seat, if
the driver or a passenger in the front seat has in his or her possession a
letter or other document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon
certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a medical
condition, or has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed
by a licensed optometrist certifying that the person must be shaded from the
sun due to a visual condition. The devices authorized by this paragraph
shall not be used during darkness.

(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost
portion of the interior of a windshield within an area that is not greater
than 5 inches square, if the device provides either of the following:

(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the
California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle equipped with the
device.

(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public or
private roads or facilities.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), transparent material may be installed,
affixed, or applied to the topmost portion of the windshield if the
following conditions apply:

(1) The bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the
undepressed driver's seat when measured from a point 5 inches in front of
the bottom of the backrest with the driver's seat in its rearmost and
lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface.

(2) The material is not red or amber in color.

(3) There is no opaque lettering on the material and any other lettering
does not affect primary colors or distort vision through the windshield.

(4) The material does not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the eyes
of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles to any greater extent than
the windshield without the material.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent
material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows,
located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following
conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including
the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion
resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability of the
existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.

(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle, a
certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the windows
with the material installed meet the requirements of this subdivision and
identifies the installing company and the material's manufacturer by full
name and street address, or, if the material was installed by the vehicle
owner, a certificate signed by the material's manufacturer certifying that
the windows with the material installed according to manufacturer's
instructions meets the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the
material's manufacturer by full name and street address.

(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles, or is
otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed or replaced.

Amended Sec. 77, Ch. 1154, Stats. 1996. Effective September 30, 1996.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 476, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.