sucking parking sighting for today

[KellyHabersham]

To whomever had parked next to us at the mall:

I didn't mean to hit your car with my mom's car door when getting out. However, it was impossible NOT to do so because of how crookedly you were parked. Secondly, if your windows are that heavily tinted, I have NO way of seeing that you are inside your car, and even if I could, I don't know that you're intending to back out. Perhaps you need to go back to driving school and practice parking?

[Kogarashi]

I hate it when people park so crooked next to you that it's impossible to open your door (or even move your car) without hitting theirs. The. Worst.

As a teenager, I thought I'd heard somewhere that it was actually illegal to have the front windows of a car so tinted you couldn't see through them (because other drivers were supposed to be able to see through your car to cross-traffic at intersections if necessary), but either that's not the case due to the sheer number of super-tinted front windows I've seen, or it's just not enforced/enforceable.

[KellyHabersham]

Yeah......sucky part was that there would've been no problem if they had pulled into their parking space correctly. As it was, the only reason I discovered their car was NOT empty was them honking their horn, and Mom saying they were trying to back out. (and even she hadn't realized someone was in the car)

[notalwaysright]

Tinted windows... I've heard that many/most of the tints you can get are illegal. Just because you can get it done doesn't mean it's legal. And what, they were inside their car and you couldn't see their backup lights so they honk? Screw that. I've had someone honk at me because they wanted my parking space, even though I was just sitting inside my car NOT in reverse. I suppose I risked their wrath because I turned my car off and sat until they went away. I always thought honking meant "look out, you're about to have an accident!" Not "move, I want that parking space which is slightly closer than other available spaces!"

[Nunavut Pants]

...As a teenager, I thought I'd heard somewhere that it was actually illegal to have the front windows of a car so tinted you couldn't see through them...

Depends on local laws. I know that in California, tinting any glass next to or in front of the driver is illegal. There are specific exceptions for medical reasons and such, but technically apart from that any tint is not legal. That doesn't stop thousands of people from getting "limo tint" all around, though.

[WishfulSpirit]

Back when we had a car Hubby talked about tinted windows. Uh NO. Even if it is legal where we live (and I'm not sure about that), I'm not driving around in a dungeon-mobile. He keeps the house dark enough thanks (his eyes are more sensitive to light than mine, our days are a constant battle of "too dark can't see" and "too bright have a headache").

[Lovecats]

I do know that in some states it's legal and in some it's illegal. I think it just depends. I don't care for them myself.

[EricKei]

It varies -- "More often than not" policy seems to require that the front-row windows have a lighter "darkness value" than the rest/the rear, and that the windshield have even less, save for a strip up at the top to allow for sunlight coming in that the sunshades cannot block.

[RealUnimportant]

It's certainly enforceable but it takes special machinery which isn't practical to be carried in every car. Here in the UK if you get stopped & they suspect the tint is too severe, they'll either tell you to report to a specific station within X days, or hold you at the roadside until someone trained & outfitted with the correct device can reach you, to prevent any doubts or claims of perceptive difference. If you're then found to have an excessive tint (windshield or front compartment windows) then it has to be removed there & then, or towed to a suitable location if it needs professional attention. Source: many ride-along tv shows.

[wolfie]

I've heard about some jurisdictions having different levels of allowable tint for the windows ahead of the "B" pillar depending on the tint level of the windows behind the "B" pillar. For example, tint up to level X is allowed all-around. However, if windows behind the "B" pillar are tinted beyond "X", you are allowed NO tint on windows ahead of the "B" pillar.

[XCashier]

(his eyes are more sensitive to light than mine, our days are a constant battle of "too dark can't see" and "too bright have a headache").

My eyes are really sensitive to light, too. Even on cloudy days, I tend to wear wrap-around sunglasses similar to these. I would think that would be a better solution than over-tinted windows.

[protege]

I would think that would be a better solution than over-tinted windows.

Some people tint out their windows for appearance. Others--like an MG-owning friend of mine (sadly killed in a traffic accident not long ago) had his done because of heat issues. His car, an orange GT like mine, had a black vinyl interior. Even with the windows down, those cars can be like ovens in the summer. It's not so bad on the move, but it sucks when you have to stop. Especially in the back, because of the huge rear window. Anyway, he'd tinted his windows to try and keep the heat down....so his kids wouldn't get roasted

Locally, dark tint is supposedly illegal. I've heard stories of cops sitting across the street from high schools...waiting for the kids to pull out, and then bust them for their window tint.

[BearLeeBadenaugh]

Buddy of mine is a tuner, sent him an IM. Tint levels are a state law, so it varies widely. Told me if I really wanted to look it up, tintlaws.com Guess it's a popular enough topic for a single subject webpage, lol.

I know California was mentioned in reference to front windows, front side windows must have at least 70% transmittance, while rear sides and rear window can be as dark as you wanted. Kind of amusing to me that I can have my front windows tinted darker in WI than in CA(must allow 50% and 70% light transmittance respectively).

Some states also require the tinting to be certified and include a certification sticker that is to be applied between the window and the tinting.

[XCashier]

His car, an orange GT like mine, had a black vinyl interior.

Ouch! My parents' car had that...and we lived in Phoenix! So yeah, I sympathize there.

[protege]

Ouch! My parents' car had that...and we lived in Phoenix!

The GT was originally my uncle's car...when he lived in California. I'm sure that thing was an oven on wheels. Little wonder that most of the upholstery had split when it arrived here in 1980. Had I lived out there, I would have not only had the windows tinted, but an aftermarket A/C system fitted.