Window tinting is popular for Arizona drivers looking to reduce heat and sun glare inside their vehicles. However, the state places limits on exactly how dark that tint can be. These regulations exist for an important reason. If a car’s tint is excessively dark, it can significantly reduce a driver’s ability to see other vehicles and pedestrians during low-light conditions.
If you were involved in a car accident where illegal window tint may have played a role, getting to know Arizona’s tinting rules could be relevant to your personal injury case. Continue reading to learn more about how it all works in practice.
How Arizona Regulates Tint Darkness by Window Type
Arizona’s window tinting rules can be found in ARS 28-959.01. This statute applies different standards depending on which piece of glass is being tinted.
Here is how those limits are broadly structured:
- Windshield: Only non-reflective tint is allowed, and it may not extend below the manufacturer’s AS-1 line. That line typically sits about five inches from the top of the glass.
- Front side windows: These must permit at least 33% of visible light to pass through. This measurement is called visible light transmission (VLT), and a lower percentage means a darker tint.
- Rear side windows: Arizona imposes no VLT minimum here, so drivers can apply any level of darkness.
- Rear window: There is also no darkness restriction, but the vehicle must be equipped with dual side mirrors if this window is tinted.
Arizona also caps reflectivity at 35% on side windows to prevent mirrored finishes from creating glare for other drivers. The state bans red and amber tint colors entirely as well.
Drivers who have a medical condition requiring extra sun protection can apply for an exemption through the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). This process requires a physician’s certification along with a completed application form.
Can a Tint Violation Factor Into Fault After a Crash?
Absolutely. If a driver’s window tint exceeded Arizona’s legal limits and that darkness reduced their field of vision at the time of the accident, it could serve as evidence of negligence. Consider a situation where a driver with heavily tinted front windows fails to notice a vehicle merging into their lane. That visibility issue could directly support a claim that the driver acted carelessly.
Arizona operates under a pure comparative fault system that could come into play if multiple parties share some of the blame for a collision. The other driver’s choice to install illegal tint could increase the share of fault attributed to them, which directly benefits your claim.
Insurance companies may also consider tint violations during their investigation. If the at-fault driver’s windows were darker than what the statute permits, that finding could reinforce your position that the other party was negligent.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer at Feller & Wendt, LLC If Illegal Tint Played a Role in Your Crash
Arizona’s window tint laws are in place to make sure every driver has adequate visibility behind the wheel. If you were injured in a crash where illegal tint may have been a contributing factor, you have the right to seek compensation from the responsible party for both your economic and non-economic losses.
Learn more about your legal rights and options today. Contact a car accident attorney at Feller & Wendt, LLC to get started with a free initial consultation. Note that you only have a limited amount of time to take action under the state’s statute of limitations.
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