Sometimes you don't have that luxury. Most of the time the plate is ran before i light them up

 

I understand the safety aspect but in Cali you can have your back windows blacked out. You wouldn't be able to see someone if they really wanted to do you harm. Now as far as seeing other traffic and such that seems more logical at least IMO.

 

With ANPR becoming more mainstream, this is likely the case. You still have have the option of instructing the driver to lower their windows prior to exiting your patrol vehicle, if you feel that your safety is compromised by their window tint. LEO's in a significant number of states have the same issue as tinted drivers and passenger windows are permitted under state statues. In my state, tinted driver and passenger windows are not only legal, they are the norm for the majority of vehicles on the road.

 

I have 20% on my front windows and it is very difficult to see when backing up at night, so I have to roll down my windows to see. Yes 20% is a safety concern. I might go up to 35% just to be more aware of those around me at night.

 

I work in an extremely dangerous city where every week someone in my dept is getting shot at. Last year there were multiple officer involved shootings. Officers have been shot on traffic stops and while following cars. An ak47 shooting at you from a blacked out car is hazardous to your health to say the least. Our traffic stops are mostly higher risk stops, if not a felony stop. We are all about officer safety. At least with CA legal cars, I can see the driver in the rear view mirror. The bottom line is, yes I can ask for them to roll down the windows. If they comply, cool. If the don't and the door is locked, am I breaking the window of a gang member with a murder warrant or a little old lady with light sensitivity? What it comes down to is either person Is violating a law that if they we're in compliance with it, we wouldnt be in the predicament in the first place.

 

I have 20% in the front, it can be seen through in the day enough, but what I don't understand is why in CA can you tint the back any amount you want buy only 70% in the front? Most of the time the police are behind you anyways

 

Anyone tinted the very back window and had any problems with seeing out the rear view mirror?

 

I had 5% put on my last truck (even over the stock tint). My eyes sensitive to sunlight . I even wear my sunglasses unless it's cloudy outside (or at night, obviously). I had the truck with that tint on it for 4 years and got pulled over a month ago for it. He gave me a break and only ticketed me for 1 window, which was $91.

Though I supposedly paid for 5% tint, the cops device showed it as being 7%.

Just sold my truck Saturday and got a new one, so I'll be going to my eye doctor next week to get a prescription for dark tint!

 

I absolutely understand with what you are saying with regards to Officer safety being of paramount importance. I live in a very rural county in North Central Florida (700 sq miles, somewhere between 35 and 40K residents, depending on whose census you believe). Outside of city limits, we have virtually no crime, as in none of my neighbors could even find the key to lock their doors. However, our downtown area in our county seat has its share of drug related shootings, meth labs, drive by shootings, and the like. When our LEO's make a traffic stop after dark, they will not get out of their patrol car until backup arrives. It is fairly common to see 3 to 4 patrol cars at a single after hour stop, and with good reason. Frequently such late night stops involves ordering the occupants of the car involved to exit their vehicle, hands in air, and lay down spread eagle in the road. So again, I can sympathize with the dangers of this type of encounter.

That being said, I should not have my rights to have tinted windows to protect my skin and eyes from the sun, as well as to aid in driving comfort, simply because a small percentage of our population are vermin that should be preemptively euthanized as a service to the majority of us that are decent and generally law abiding citizens. Any more than my 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms should be infringed because these same vermin would prefer to kill each other than to conduct their "business dealings" in a more civilized manner.

I would like to clarify that I do not support those individuals who choose to cloak their windows with 5% tint, as this is IMHO a safety issue in most conditions other than bright sunlight. No one is going to convince me that you can safely make a left turn at night with 5% tint on a drivers window on a dark road. 15 to 20% absolutely, assuming one has good night vision, excellent all round eye sight, and proper HID / LED head and turning lights, but no way with 5% unless you are under stadium lights at night.

 

Go lighter then the rear enough you can see a person inside and tint the top of the windsheild