Window Tinting Regulations
NEW HOLLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
436 E MAIN STREET, NEW HOLLAND, PA 17557
Window Tinting Fact Sheet
THE PURPOSE OF THIS FACT SHEET IS TO INFORM AND EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE LAWS PERTAINING TO SUNSCREENING WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 28TH, 1996, THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ADOPTED NEW REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THE USE OF SUN SCREENING (WINDOW TINTING) OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WITH ILLEGAL SUN SCREENING IS A SUMMARY TRAFFIC OFFENSE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
FACTS:
- WINDOW TINTING IS NOT A PART OF ANNUAL VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION CRITERIA. IF YOUR VEHICLE PASSES AN ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION, THIS DOES NOT INDICATE THAT YOUR TINTING IS LEGAL FOR USE UPON THE HIGHWAYS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
- LAWS PERTAINING TO WINDOW TINTING CAN VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. IF YOUR VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED IN A STATE WITH LAWS DIFFERING FROM THE LAWS IN PENNSYLVANIA, YOU MUST BRING YOUR VEHICLE INTO COMPLAINACE WITH PENNSYLVANIA LAW WHEN YOU REGISTER THE VEHICLE IN PENNSYLVANIA.
- THERE IS NO EXEMPTION FOR COLORED SUN SCREENING FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES. THERE ARE EXEMPTION CERTIFICATES FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES, HOWEVER THESE EXEMPTIONS ONLY ALLOW FOR COLORLESS (CLEAR) SUN SCREENING.
- EXEMPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AFTER APPLICATION AND APPROVAL BY PENN-DOT, FOR VEHICLES WHICH WERE ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH COLORED SUN SCREENING AND WERE PENNSYLVANIA REGISTERED PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 8TH, 1984.
- MOST VEHICLE WINDOWS HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF TINTING ALREADY IN THE GLASS. FACTORY GLASS TYPICALLY HAD LIGHT TRNASMITTANCE LEVELS BETWEEN 70% AND 85%. FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS AUTO MANFACTURES FROM MAKING PASSENGER CARS WITH LIGHT TRANSMITTANCE LEVELS LOWER THAN 70%. SOME AUTO DEALERSHIPS EQUIP NEW CARS WITH TINTING PRIOR TO SELLING THE NEW VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT FACTORY TINTING, AND IS STILL REQUIRED TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS.
- THE BELOW TABLE IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST IN DETERMINING THE LAW AS IT PERTAINS TO DIFFERENT VEHICLES. THE TRANSMITTANCE LEVEL MEANS THAT OF THE 100% OF THE LIGHT HITTING THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW, AT LEAST 70% OF THAT LIGHT MUST PASS THROUGH THE WINDOW TO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. EFFECTIVELY, THE 70% LIGHT TRANSMITTANCE REQUIREMENT MEANS THAT YOU CAN NOT PUT ANY TINTING ON THE WINDOW, AS EVEN THE LIGHTEST TINTING THAT YOU CAN BUY WILL CAUSE THE TRANSMITTANCE LEVEL TO BE BELOW 70%.
| Vehicle | Windshield | Front, Side, and Wing Windows | Rear, Side, and Wing Windows | Rear Window |
| 1998 and newer passenger cars | 70% | 70% | 70% | 70% |
| 1997 and older passenger cars | 70% | 70% | 70% |
Vesc-20 Required(1) |
| Trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles (2) | 70% | 70% | No requirement |
No requirement |
| Medium/Heavy trucks and buses | 70% | 70% |
No requirement |
No requirement |
| All other vehicles | 70% | 70% |
No requirement |
No requirement |
- A LABEL PERMANTLY INSTALLED BETWEEN THE SUN SCREENING MATERIAL AND THE WINDOW TO WHICH IS APPLIED. THE LABEL SHALL CONTAIN THE NAME OF THE MATERIAL MANUFACTURER, OR A REGISTRATION NUMBER, AND SHALL CONTAIN THE STATEMENT “COMPLIES WITH VESC-20”. THE VESC-20 STANDARD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMITTANCE LEVEL OF THE SUN SCREENING. THE VESC-20 STICKER MUST BE AFFIXED IN ORDER FOR SUN SCREENING TO BE LEGAL ON THIS WINDOW.
- FOR PURPOSE OF THIS FACT SHEET, MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE DEFINED AS THOSE BUILT ON A TRUCK CHASSIS OR THOSE WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR OCCASIONAL OFF-ROAD USE. MINI-VANS ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS CATEGORY.
