[mellephants]

I got 'harassed' at a gas station this morning... pulled in, hopped out of the car, then got a horn blasted at me from a flashing unmarked. The rather irate officer yelled at me to get back in the car.

My windows were about 2" from completely open at the time, and I rolled them the rest of the way down at this point. Literally 16 minutes later, he finally walked up to me.

PO: "Let me see that window, son."
ME: "Yes, sir." [cranks window about an inch]
PO: "Front window tint is illegal."
ME: "I know, I bought the car in Indiana, do you want to see the title?" [gestures towards Indiana title]
PO: "Why haven't you removed it?"
ME: "Because it's hard to do, and I haven't had time."
PO: "This ticket will serve as your license... etc..." [hands over ticket]
ME: "Well I hope you have a great day."

I probably used a bit too much sarcasm at the end there, but I couldn't help it, he made me late for class.

From what I can tell, the ticket is $75... I'm in IL, does anyone have experience getting these tickets dropped by removing the tint?

Here are a few pics of my car now (waxed CF hood blends nicely, doesn't it), does anyone have pictures of similar models with only rear tint? I'm going to be so sad to see it go, I love the shade and privacy. I'm also thinking about doing the allowed 6" of tint on the windshield, to make up a bit of the shade I'm losing... pics of that?

 

[_spyder]

Well if it was only $75 i'd probably just pay it myself and then keep the tint. I think it looks great...

 

[thenorm]

hate to say it, but window tinted that dark will get you alot of attention from the cops. i vote pay the fine, but keep the tint.

I for one cant live without tinted front window, but i put 50% on the front windows so it doesnt stick out so bad. I have gotten one ticket for it, but that was only because i got pulled over for an illegal right turn. i have never been bothered only because the tint.

i suppose 1 thing u could do is remove the tint, drop the fine, then retint it lighter to avoid the problem later.

 

[Mr.Bergner]

I know, He saw a bad ass focus and wanted to harass you with anything he could get on you.

The tint does look great but if it's illegal then I would remove it. I only say that because you're going to get harassed even more and you don't want those tickets piling up.

I dunno, I just hate being harassed is all. just me

 

[mellephants]

Update... just noticed the officer is from the University of Illinois PD... not the city. Makes more sense I guess, they probably get bored in the mornings.

 

[Rudel]

I have 27% on mine. Havent been noticed when I drive around.

 

[Klondike]

man it looks sweet on the car, but id take it off, then use the 75 u save and have it retinted like 30 percent

 

[illinipo]

let me guess, mobil at lincoln/green

they sit there ALL day long and pick people off for stoopid stuff like this, good otherwise law-abiding citizens getting owned by the man, it makes me sick they could be doing much better things like patrolling for those sex offenders that pop up about once a month around here...

surprised you didnt get a noise violation too []

take it off, no more riffraff. loud car + tint = many tickets to come.

 

[dirtbiker348]

I say get ride of it and put a lighter tint, or keep it completely off, to avoid the 5 O.

 

[Wagamos]

You could remove the front tint and put a much higher percentage on. I decided to just have my back 3 done b/c I get enough attention from cops as it is, i dont wanna give them more of a reason to bother me. I drive with my windows down most of the time neways.

 

[WUGcatsvt]

CRAP I voted Wrong.. I say rip the tint off and get Legal tint... dont tint your windshield.. I Hate when I vote wrong

 

[WUGcatsvt]

How in the World is that Car titled in a different state then where the title is held... Unless your Military?

 

[sp3nt]

i know what your going through i had barely any tint on my windows, and i bought it from the ford dealership. So i was made to take it off (took a few hours) but then i went to the station and showed them it was removed so they dropped the ticket.

I live in canada so don't know how much that relates to USA, but remove the front if u don't want the popo's on your tail all the time. But it is a safety hazard

 

[MattZX3]

i say take ti and have it removed, then have them re=apply a 50% or lighter shade on there

if i had front tint, and then went to no tint it would suck, so rip it off and go lighter

 

[mellephants]

How in the World is that Car titled in a different state then where the title is held... Unless your Military?

its titled to IL, i just keep the old IN title in the glove box, hoping it would help when I get hassled for front plate or tint. I've since stuck the front plate on, now I'm gonna be removing the tint as well, so I suppose I no longer need it.

I don't want different % on different windows, I think it looks good consistent or not at all.

pete- YES

 

[louisgab]

nice foci!

 

[BiZzYBlackSES05]

man i live in miami, fl and the cops down here r horrible. my black focus ses is tinted all the way around 15%, i wasnt driving it at the time, my girl was she had just dropped me off at work (airport). he was all pissed y the front windshield was tinted she told him it was my car and not hers.

Point is, the cop told her "tellyour boyfriend to remove the tint or the DMV will be at his house to suspend his license." i was like WTF? a DMV agent at my house?? never heard of that before. that was over a year and a half ago, the tint is there, my license is fine not suspended, and no ticket.

FYI-My ST also is tinted 15% all the way around, no prob as of yet. Pay the ticket keep the tint is what i would do![popcorn]

 

[warneej]

i can't stand non-matching tints, nor will i remove it for a stupid ticket...

i've never been harassed with my 20%, but the cops here are too busy racial profiling to really care

 

[mellephants]

So... does anyone have pics of a black focus with tint on the rear & quarters only?

 

[TnFocus]

My tint was registered in VA at 12%. I sent a check yesterday for 91 dollars. Keep the tint.