New Jersey Prohibits Front Window Tinting With Hefty Fines

New Jersey bans tint on windshields and front windows. Cars, SUVs, and vans must keep these windows clear. Drivers can tint rear windows as dark as they want.

Penalties hit hard in this state — among the toughest anywhere. First-time offenders pay $1,000, according to TintWiz. Get caught again and the price skyrockets to $5,000, with repeat violations costing even more.

According to app.com, officials measure visible light transmission, or VLT, which shows how much light gets through tinted windows. At 5% VLT, windows turn almost black and block most light. At 70% VLT, windows stay much clearer and let drivers see better.

AAA warns that tinted windows reduce what drivers can see after dark. They also make it harder for pedestrians and other drivers to understand what a vehicle will do next. In crashes, emergency workers struggle to break through tinted glass quickly.

Window tint consists of thin film stuck to the inside of car windows, according to AutoZone. Some drivers want privacy or protection from the sun’s rays. Others like cooler cabins or just prefer how it looks.

New Jersey grants exceptions for certain health problems. People with polymorphous eruption, persistent light reactivity, actinic reticuloid, porphyrins, solar urticaria, and lupus erythematosus can request special sunscreening material, as reported by J.D. Power.

Medical exemptions come with rules. Sunscreening on windshields or front windows can’t drop below 8% VLT. The material must go on transparent film.

Drivers can submit applications online or through the mail. A doctor must fill out part of the paperwork and write a prescription.

Kelley Blue Book suggests checking with each state’s Department of Motor Vehicles about VLT rules. Laws differ across state lines.

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