Do the police keep a record of...

[Ox-y-GenIII]

Do the police keep a record of ALL tickets ever written to you?

In my last vehicle I had gotten 3 tint tickets for the tint being too dark. I ended up taking it off and getting one dropped, one split in half ($67.50), and paid one full ticket ($135).

Sold that vehicle.

Bought my new Focus in September of 2011, after 2 weeks I got tint installed. It's not legal but a lighter shade that my previous vehicle. And so today I got pulled over for the first time since owning my new Focus and the tint measured 29%. the limit here is 50%.

When the officer took my license and insurance card he came back, asked a few questions, went back to his car, came back and said Have a good night...

If be seen that I had previous violations for tint in my old car wouldn't he just have given me a ticket like all the cops did previously? Or is it not in the system for something so "minor"? Or is it only linked to each car and not by my name?

Anyways one question was "Did you buy this car new?" (Yes). "Did you buy it with the tint on it?" (I said yes, but really didn't). "Did you sign a waiver?" (I said No, never signed anything about a waiver for tint). If these questions and answers make any sense as to why I got off the hook without a ticket.

I don't get the tint law here. My tint which is supposed to be 32% is not that dark, I already wrote a 5 page paper to the Governor here and got a response from his secretary... Details on that were funny.

[Malibooya]

So you lied to the cop? Good job.

[Quanz56]

If you wear glasses or contacts you could try to get a "doctors note" that lets you legally have tint darker than the legal limit. At least you can do that hear in MN, don't know about other states.

Also, probably wasn't a good idea to tell the cop that the tint was on it when you bought it new. Maybe he was having an off day or just didn't care but that would have raised a red flag pretty quickly for most officers. Sounds like you might have just got lucky.

Edit: Just saw your in MN too!

[Ox-y-GenIII]

Well my thoughts on that is the cop reall can't tell whether it came like that or not. I said I asked the dealership to put it on before I bought the car. Possibly they didn't want the hassle of checking with the dealership.

But could anyone answer my questions? Do the cops know I had tint tickets in my old car or should I say, what shows up when they run your plates or ID?

[TheGlassMaker]

Tickets stay on record at DMV for 7 years.

[Quanz56]

I feel like I've heard or read somewhere that vehicle equipment violations stick with the car and moving violations stick with the person.

Quick google search gave me this from www.mncourts.gov:
"Equipment violation: A violation which means there is something wrong with your vehicle such as a cracked windshield, faulty brakes, faulty muffler, etc. A license plate violation is also an equipment violation. Some equipment violations, such as driving without headlights, are certified to your driving record."

[TheGlassMaker]

Yea let me rephrase my previous post. "Moving violations" stay on your record with the DMV for 7 years.

[xxMichaelAnthony]

Vehicle code infractions are kept by the vehicle registration. You sell the car, the record goes away. They could probably dig and find them if they really wanted to.

And lying to a police officer isn't illegal.

[TheGlassMaker]

Not saying anything isn't either. I've always wanted to do that, just have the papers ready when he gets to the door and just sit there and look forward. If he goes along with it and runs everything writes you a ticket and hands everything back and says your free to go just start the car and drive off. lol

[TheGlassMaker]

or do this....

YouTube Video