Jeep pulled over for windshield tint.. "little" story

**BOYCHIKS** · #1 01-15-2013, 11:32 AM

So I've had the 40% on the windshield and 5% all around for about 2 years now. Anyways, I was visiting some older friends the other day and one had to go a 1/4mile up the street to follow someone and bring him back. (He is about 60 and used to work at a Jeep dealership) So I let him take my Jeep. On the way back, he is turning back in the dealership I am at and a State Police is behind him with the lights on.
He jumps out of the car, as I also come outside to see what happen, the office wasn't too friendly and saying the guy driving would be getting the tickets (which I know is right but I was trying to let him write me them).

To get to my point, the officer said this and that and on and on was illegal with the VA laws on my Jeep, but was most concerned about my tinted windshield and somewhat the other windows. He told me to go and get a scraper and get to work on the windows; if I wouldn't take the tint off, he would take my license plates and have the Jeep impounded... I don't know much about the laws to that extent, but it sounded fishy to me. I cooperated and pulled the windshield tint off properly with a heat gun, soap, etc.... came right off.

While I was doing that, the officer and my friend who was driver were in the officers car, (I guess writing him tickets) until the officer got a phone call of a bad wreck up the street. He told my friend that if this Jeeps leaves the parking lot and nothing is fixed that he asked, he would have cops waiting for me. Anyways, an hour later, I drove another car up the street to get lunch and what do you know, 3 cops to the right sitting, 2 sitting on the 95 on ramp and 2 more up the street on the 295 on ramp.... I said to myself, DAMN! But in all, I just removed my windshield tint and no one got a ticket.

What I was really getting out of this is what is right in the situation and what should I have done or not done? I, of course, felt bad that the guy driving who hasn't got a ticket in 30years was about to get 5+ tickets... Knowing most things on my Jeep aren't legal in this state, I always cooperate but he was a jerk.

**DCsnow1000** · #2 01-15-2013, 11:45 AM

Im not to familiar with VA laws but just sounds like the Cop was on a bad day or just a douche. Just having to pull the tint is no biggums!

**Marylandm3** · #3 01-15-2013, 11:49 AM

Damn. Sounds like the cops wife stopped ****ing him. Lol

Sucks Johnny. Luckily no big deal, easy to pull off.

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Tyson33 · #4 01-15-2013, 12:01 PM

Wow, that's harsh! That would've been pretty hard for me to keep my cool I think. I know the law here in Illinois is 35% on front side windows, however I've always had 5% on every vehicle I've owned. It's a simple $65 ticket if you get pulled over so I usually always keep it in my glove compartment, give it and drive away without having to sit thru all the bullshit talking and such. I haven't got pulled over in my jeep yet but it's only a matter of time as these things stick out as you all know.

**J&D's SRT's** · #5 01-15-2013, 01:03 PM

That's some BS Johnny, not sure about the law there at all. I think he was probably just being a d!ck & having a bad day. I thought I remember reading you had a RX for the tint though. I guess all in all just pulling it off & the other guy not getting any tickets isn't to bad in the end. Can't believe there were some waiting down the street though, that is kind of weird IMO. So when is it going back on?

SemperP-SRT8 · #6 01-15-2013, 01:22 PM

Take your license plates and have your Jeep impounded?!?!?!?! Holy cow Johnny what a di*khead. Before I got into the uscg I use to do ride-a-longs twice a week every week for a while bc I was wanting to go into law enforcement and 90% of the guys were cool as hell. But there were definitely a couple who lived up to that A-typical stereotype that would do things like this. Most of them though wouldn't even waste their time with something like that. Either that or like DJ said he was just having a real bad day. I'm suprised the officer took it there right off the bat. That's the kinda of reaction I would have expected from the driver poppin off and gettin verbal. I think you did the only thing you could have done in that situation not knowing about the laws. Good for you for keeping a cool head.

kmitch80 · #7 01-15-2013, 01:23 PM

I dunno bout VA, but NORMALLY that is supposed to be a fix-it ticket and you have 30 days to do so. Having you do it there on the spot is complete BS. kinda like a broken headlamp etc. They CANNOT keep your jeep there. I'd look more into the VA laws. I got pulled over for window tint here in NM, (once in 10 years). Guy was a d!ck. But he wrote a warning and i went about my way. Never fixed it.

Chaoul1 · #8 01-15-2013, 01:27 PM

They can't take away your plates. Period. He was lying and trying to scare you. Did you happen to get the Badge number or his name?

kmitch80 · #9 01-15-2013, 01:28 PM

FYI

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp....2-1052+703871

**jps043** · #10 01-15-2013, 01:36 PM

I have a similar experience in VA with my previous jeep that had a tinted windshield. Cop wrote me up for 4 tickets just because he was a d1ck. Hate to hear it Johnny but you handled it the right way. The law always wins.