whats the darkest legal tint you can have in houston? i've been meaning to ask... my supra has 30% <-- then again i wasn't the one who tinted it.. nobody seems to know..

Actually it's not a local law it is a state law...

Visor.........5"

Front doors..........25%

Rear doors.........25%

Back window...Any


S.B. No. 345 AN ACT relating to offenses involving motor vehicle windshield and window sunscreening devices. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subsections (b) and (c), Section 547.613, Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: (b) This section does not apply to: (1) a windshield that has a sunscreening device that: (A) in combination with the windshield has a light transmission of 25 [33] percent or more; (B) in combination with the windshield has a luminous reflectance of 25 [35] percent or less; (C) is not red, blue, or amber; and (D) does not extend downward beyond the AS-1 line or more than five inches from the top of the windshield, whichever is closer to the top of the windshield; (2) a [front side] wing vent or a window other than a windshield if the vent or window[, a side window to the rear of the vehicle operator, or a rear window that] has a sunscreening device that in combination with the vent or window has: (A) a light transmission of 25 [35] percent or more; and (B) a luminous reflectance of 25 [35] percent or less; (3) a rear window, if the motor vehicle is equipped with an outside mirror on each side of the vehicle that reflects to the vehicle operator a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet from the rear; (4) a rearview mirror; (5) an adjustable nontransparent sun visor that is mounted in front of a side window and not attached to the glass; (6) a direction, destination, or termination sign on a passenger common carrier motor vehicle, if the sign does not interfere with the vehicle operator's view of approaching traffic; (7) a rear window wiper motor; (8) a rear trunk lid handle or hinge; (9) a luggage rack attached to the rear trunk; (10) a side window that is to the rear of the vehicle operator on a multipurpose vehicle; (11) a window that has a United States, state, or local certificate placed on or attached to it as required by law; (12) a motor vehicle that is not registered in this state; (13) a window that complies with federal standards for window materials, including a factory-tinted or a pretinted window installed by the vehicle manufacturer, or a replacement window meeting the specifications required by the vehicle manufacturer [a motor vehicle with a manufacturer's model year before 1988]; (14) a vehicle that is: (A) used regularly to transport passengers for a fee; and (B) authorized to operate under license or permit by a local authority; or (15) a vehicle that is maintained by a law enforcement agency and used for law enforcement purposes. (c) A manufacturer shall certify to the department that the sunscreening device made or assembled by the manufacturer complies with the light transmission and luminous reflectance specifications established by Subsection (b) for sunscreening devices in combination with a window. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 345 passed the Senate on April 10, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Good Thread, maybe a moderator should rename it :D Something like "Texas Windows Tint Laws"

woo mighty mighty helpful thank ya sir, always so helpful and informative, i give you a high five =D

:d danke'

Thought the sides you could go as dark as you wanted along with the rear.

well what i heard from my dad was that, the cops have to be able to see you moving in the car at night.. i dunno!

Anyone want to recommend a good tint shop? I don't want to sit through another summer without tint.

yeah me too. Should i just get it done at the dealership??

dealerships are expensive... there are several shops around town that do a great job. what area are yall in, I might be able to point you in the right direction.

im in the s/w area sugarland

It may be far for some of you but my friend Gary does all of the dealership tint work for BMW north, and BMW/Mini of the Woodlands as well as his usual amount of walk-in and referral traffic. He gets lots of referral traffic. His prices are fair. He's the best out there. Anyone that can single handedly make a 6 figure a year income from tinting windows had better be.

GMS Window Tinting 713-705-3651

Just some info,

Unlike years past, in Texas the "25%" is now for the combined tinting of the window and the film.

The RX-8 windows already have a slight tint to them which is about 70%. So the combined effect:

.70 X .35 = .25

So legally the darkest is 35%. In actuality anything other than limo tint on the front side windows will probably keep you away from a ticket. They very rarely enforce the window tint law for the rear side windows and of coarse anything goes on the rear window itself.

Also, the cops in Houston usually only care that you have sticker saying that a tint shop did the work in the window film. I got a ticket for a window film job my buddy did for me a few years ago using 20% film. It wasn't because the cop thought the tint was too dark just that there wasn't any sticker saying it had been done at a tint shop.

-Mr. Wigggles

Originally posted by rotarygod
It may be far for some of you but my friend Gary does all of the dealership tint work for BMW north, and BMW/Mini of the Woodlands as well as his usual amount of walk-in and referral traffic. He gets lots of referral traffic. His prices are fair. He's the best out there. Anyone that can single handedly make a 6 figure a year income from tinting windows had better be.

GMS Window Tinting 713-705-3651

What part of town is Gary in? I really need to get tinted. Er, my 8 that is.

Kuykendahl between Cypresswood and 1960. Not that bad from where you are. Go down Spring-Cypress or Louetta to Kuykendahl and turn right. Couple of miles down on the left. The sign outside says Tino's but that's only because Gary rents the front half of the shop from him.

Cool, I'll give him a call of just go for a drive Monday.

Thankx

Anyone know the tinting laws for CA????

CALIFORNIA CODES


California

Visor..................4"

Front doors.....70%(clear)

Rear doors...........Any

Back window..............Any


VEHICLE CODE

26708. (a) (1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any
object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied
upon the windshield or side or rear windows.

(2) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or
material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or
upon the vehicle which obstructs or reduces the driver's clear
view through the windshield or side windows.

(3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle
with the driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or
rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.
(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) Rearview mirrors.

(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors which are mounted forward
of the side windows and are not attached to the glass.

(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a
7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed
from the driver, signs, stickers, or other materials which are
displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the rear window
farthest removed from the driver, or signs, stickers, or other materials
which are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the
windshield nearest the driver.

(4) Side windows which are to the rear of the driver.

(5) Direction, destination, or termini signs upon a passenger common
carrier motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do not interfere
with the driver's clear view of approaching traffic.

(6) Rear window wiper motor.

(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.

(8) The rear window or windows, when the motor vehicle is equipped
with outside mirrors on both the left- and right-hand sides of the
vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the
highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the
rear of the vehicle.

(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite the
driver on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and which occupies
an area not exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest corner toward the
rear of that window and which provides the driver with a wide-angle view
through the lens.

(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section 26708.2
installed on the side windows on either side of the vehicle's front seat,
if the driver or a passenger in the front seat has in his or her
possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed physician and
surgeon certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a
medical condition, or has in his or her possession a letter or other
document signed by a licensed optometrist certifying that the person must
be shaded from the sun due to a visual condition. The devices authorized
by this paragraph shall not be used during darkness.

(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost
portion of the interior of a windshield within an area that is not greater
than 5 inches square, if the device provides either of the following:

(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the
California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle equipped with
the device.

(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public
or private roads or facilities.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), transparent material may be installed,
affixed, or applied to the topmost portion of the windshield if the following
conditions apply:

(1) The bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the
undepressed driver's seat when measured from a point 5 inches in front
of the bottom of the backrest with the driver's seat in its rearmost
and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface.

(2) The material is not red or amber in color.

(3) There is no opaque lettering on the material and any other lettering
does not affect primary colors or distort vision through the windshield.

(4) The material does not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the
eyes of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles to any greater extent
than the windshield without the material.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent
material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows,
located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following
conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements
of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205),
including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and
the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal
standard.

(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability
of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.

(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle,
a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the
windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this
subdivision and identifies the installing company and the material's
manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was
installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material's
manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed
according to manufacturer's instructions meets the requirements of this
subdivision and identifies the material's manufacturer by full name
and street address.

(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles,
or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed
or replaced.

Amended Sec. 77, Ch. 1154, Stats. 1996. Effective September 30, 1996.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 476, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.


26708.2. Sun screening devices permitted by paragraph (10) of
subdivision (b) of Section 26708 shall meet the following
requirements:
(a) The devices shall be held in place by means allowing ready
removal from the window area, such as a frame, a rigid material with
temporary fasteners, or a flexible roller shade.
(b) Devices utilizing transparent material shall be green, gray,
or a neutral smoke in color and shall have a luminous transmittance
of not less than 35 percent.
(c) Devices utilizing nontransparent louvers or other alternating
patterns of opaque and open sections shall have an essentially
uniform pattern over the entire surface, except for framing and
supports. At least 35 percent of the device area shall be open and
no individual louver or opaque section shall have a projected
vertical dimension exceeding 3/16 inch.
(d) The devices shall not have a reflective quality exceeding 35
percent on either the inner or outer surface.



26708.5. (a) No person shall place, install, affix, or apply any
transparent material upon the windshield, or side or rear windows, of
any motor vehicle if the material alters the color or reduces the
light transmittance of the windshield or side or rear windows, except
as provided in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 26708.
(b) Tinted safety glass may be installed in a vehicle if (1) the
glass complies with motor vehicle safety standards of the United
States Department of Transportation for safety glazing materials, and
(2) the glass is installed in a location permitted by those
standards for the particular type of glass used.

Ultimate Protection is pretty reasonible, on Westpark before Gessner (as you are heading away from 610). They charged me $125 for the max legal tint which is actually 35% now Lumar--which is the slight Mirror/haze tint. It matches my Nordic Green Very Well.

hmmm i might just drop by there today

I finally got a chance to call Gary and he said he would try to slip me in tomorrow. He gave me a referal discount and said he would do the job for $125 and that is with the premium metalized film (should match the TI Gray) and he does the rear in one piece.

I'll have to take some after pics and attach a before pic here.

Thanks

Originally posted by rotarygod
It may be far for some of you but my friend Gary does all of the dealership tint work for BMW north, and BMW/Mini of the Woodlands as well as his usual amount of walk-in and referral traffic. He gets lots of referral traffic. His prices are fair. He's the best out there. Anyone that can single handedly make a 6 figure a year income from tinting windows had better be.

GMS Window Tinting 713-705-3651

Before Tint - Excuse the dirty wheels, but I drive it every day.

Anyone know of any ceramic tint installers in H-town? I know 2 good guys for metallized stuff, but emperical testing indicated that it would jack with my nav reception, so off to the expensive tint shop I go. Now I just need an installer.

Dang. Anyone know about the availability of windshield glass for an 8?

I got a rock chip in the windshield today. It was a heavy rock or possibly a lug nut from a truck. I say this because the circular rings around the 1.25 inch impact point are almost 3 inches across. The inside layer of the glass has a star break in the center of the impact. Ain't no fixing this one.

I'll post pics in the morning if anyone is interested.

Originally posted by Boozehound
Anyone know of any ceramic tint installers in H-town? I know 2 good guys for metallized stuff, but emperical testing indicated that it would jack with my nav reception, so off to the expensive tint shop I go. Now I just need an installer.

I just got Huper Optik installed in my car. Officially the only installer in Houston is Executive Automotive on the west side. Be prepared to pay $400 for the stuff but it is very nice.

Their cost for the tint itself is almost $200 to cover an RX-8 which ain't much window area. Very expensive stuff.

You can see pictures of my car in the Kazera thread in the wheels section.

-Mr. Wigggles

I just had my car tinted at GMS (Gary) yesterday. I'll vouch for him as well--looks good. He stated that he's tined several RX-8's lately and he had another right after mine.

So that was YOUR car I was looking at the Borla exhaust on! The one after you was RX4+30... (your name is too long so we'll just call you Robert from now on!). Where do you live? I'd like a ride in a car equipped with the Borla. I heard it when Gary moved it but I want to hear it on the street.

Originally posted by The_Bean
I just had my car tinted at GMS (Gary) yesterday. I'll vouch for him as well--looks good. He stated that he's tined several RX-8's lately and he had another right after mine.

That was mine and I highly recommend him. I have seen others tint windows before and I do not believe you can get a better tint job. Be prepared to make an appointment since he is very busy. I made the decision to get it done last Saturday and yesterday was the first day he could fit me in.

I had him do the back glass with the 20% and the sides 35% like yours. It made all the windows appear to be darker, but I have the all black interior which is probably where the difference really is.

Allthough it is dirty and I still haven't gotten the windshield replaced (they had to order a gasket), it is sitting out in the sun right now to cure. I'll post the after pic for everyone in a few.

Roterygod was telling me that Gary can also do flames in the tint using two layers. He really is fantastic. Very personable and knows his stuff. I watched as he did your car and mine and the attention to detail was unreal. Gary is a craftsman.

I will be back over there tomorrow afternoon for Gary to stick the dots on the back glass down and roll the windows down the first time. Seems the dots don't stick down as much as he would like until most of the moisture is out. Just more of that attention to detail.

Roterygod and I were also looking at the Borla catback, high flow cat and midpipe your put on. When Gary pulled it outside it sounded a lot like the audio clip I heard, but was more raspy above idle. Is that because of the high flow cat or the midpipe? The 8 in the audio clip only had the catback.

Ok here it is after Gary's tinting. Car is dirty and still has rick chip. I'll wash it tomorrow and get the new windshield Monday. This is about the tint. Please refer to the before pic for comparison.

Side

back

Here is a close up of the rock chip. It is hard to tell in this pic, but it is almost 3 inches across.

Originally posted by RX4+30Years=RX8
Side


Drool, drool, drool

What tint is that again?

I'm quoted $400 for Huper Optik Ceramic here in Austin

Originally posted by RX4+30Years=RX8
Here is a close up of the rock chip. It is hard to tell in this pic, but it is almost 3 inches across.

THAT is not a chip, that's an impact CRATER

Ouch!

Originally posted by Atacdad
Drool, drool, drool

What tint is that again?

I'm quoted $400 for Huper Optik Ceramic here in Austin
That is 35% Charcoal Lluminar on the sides and 20% on the back window. Back is one piece.

It would be worth the trip to deal with Gary here in Houston. He gave me a forever warranty, even if I accidently scratch it myself.

Originally posted by Atacdad
THAT is not a chip, that's an impact CRATER

Ouch!

Well, I really think it was a lug nut off a big truck. If you look at it you can see where it hit at the bottom and then laid flat causing the unbroken part where the center of the lug nut would be and even more crushing as the top side hit. The star break on the unbroken part in the middle is actually the inside layer of glass where it broke. Sounded like a shotgun inside the car.

In any case, it is now gone and I have a clean new windshield and with the old one went the tiny abrasions that happen when you hit a speck of sand at 120+.