According to research, the global automotive aftermarket industry is currently worth over USD 400 billion. Today, a lot of people spend thousands of dollars just to upgrade and modify their vehicles just to improve their aesthetic appeal and overall performance.
Before going ahead to upgrade your vehicle, you need to understand that a lot of factors need to be put into consideration. One of them is the legality of what you’re looking to upgrade in your vehicle. In many cities and states across the United States, some of the most popular modifications that you see in movies, such as adding a light rig on the roof of your car, using a radar detector, having offensively loud exhaust, and many more are illegal.
Mirror tinting on a car can also be illegal in some states in the US, depending on how dark the glass is. This is not to say that the law doesn’t permit drivers to tint their mirrors; however, there are restrictions as to how you can have your vehicle’s mirror tinted.
Is mirror tint dangerous to other drivers in traffic? Is it okay and legal to have a mirror tint on your vehicle? In which states is mirror reflective tint illegal? These and more are the frequently asked questions that I’ll be addressing in the rest of this article. So, without further ado, let’s get straight down to business.
Is Mirror Tint Dangerous to Other Drivers in Traffic?
No doubt, there are tons of benefits attached to having your vehicle’s mirror tinted. In case you don’t know, one of them is that it helps to reduce exceptional heat and glare, according to Tint-a-Car. Apart from that, another benefit of mirror window tinting is privacy.
Furthermore, mirror window tinting will also provide your vehicle with a distinctive and stylish appearance. That’s not all; it’ll also protect your vehicle from harmful ultraviolet rays – this means a lot to your health.
As essential as mirror window tinting is for a car, you need to understand that it also has its issues. One of them is that it can be dangerous to other drivers in certain driving conditions, especially if you find yourself stuck in traffic.
If not properly done, mirror window ringing can always affect the visibility of a driver. Unfortunately, if this happens, it could be a danger to the driver, the passengers, and many people across the road.
A very dark mirror tint on vehicles makes it pretty difficult for drivers to see clearly. In traffic, this could increase the incidence of traffic crashes.
Apart from that, it could also put the lives of police officers in danger. One of the roles of police officers is to check and stop bad guys in traffic. With tinted mirror windows, it becomes pretty difficult for officers to see quickly into a vehicle that they are stopping.
That said, the bottom line is that mirror tint on vehicles can always be dangerous to other drivers and police officers in traffic. This is especially true if the tint is very dark.
Can you Have a Mirror Tint on Your Car?
Now, you already know that window mirror tinting, in some cases, can be very dangerous to other drivers. With that, does it mean it’s illegal to have a mirror tint on vehicles?
You need to understand that it’s not entirely illegal to have a mirror tint on your car. Some states in the United States have requirements that you need to meet to be able to install a mirror tint on your car. For instance, in California, only up to 70% of tint darkness is allowed alongside factory-tinted windows.
That said, for you to have a mirror window tint on your vehicle, there are a couple of things that you need to put into consideration. One of them is the laws and regulations regarding tinted mirrors in your state.
Using California as an example; living in this state requires you to get familiar with the rules and regulations before proceeding to get your vehicle’s mirrors tinted. As earlier mentioned, the state government of California has laid down rules and regulations that frown against using reflected tint on the first 4 inches of the windshield as well as the front side windows.
In addition to that, it’s also illegal to have more than 70% of tint darkness in your car, excluding the rear windows. With that, it means you’re only allowed to have up to 70% tint darkness for your windows.
The bottom line is that you can always have a mirror tint on your vehicle. However, before you proceed to install it, you need to first check and understand the laws in your state and city. This way, you can rest assured that the tinted mirror is not against the laid down laws in your area.
In Which States is Mirror Reflective Tint Illegal?
Mirror reflective tint on vehicles is illegal in some states in the United States. As earlier mentioned, adding reflective tint to your car in California is illegal and punishable.
Apart from California, other states that partially or fully banned the use of mirror reflective tint in the United States are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Georgia, Delaware, and many more.
For instance, in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Wyoming, Virginia, Louisiana, West Virginia, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Minnesota, no more than 20% reflective is allowed. Some states, such as Arizona, Idaho, Michigan, and Massachusetts, only allow up to 35% of mirror reflective tint on vehicles.
In California, Maine, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Hawaii, and some other states, the use of mirror reflective tint on vehicles is completely illegal.