Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches Northeast A few Q's about PA auto law...

PA law require that 70 % LIGHT be able to pass through the windows. This means that your tinting MUST be at 30% or under.

If you were just passing through PA or visiting the P.D.'s wouldn't bother you about the tint. Since the tint is legal in your own state then there really isn't anything they can do to you, ie..ticket you.

Tthe inspection stations don't care about the tint while inspecting the car. It's the P.D.'s that take care of that.

Hope that helps ya. Took a class on tinting and the law so it comes to first hand.

Your wife can get a PA license WITHOUT registering the car, or getting it inspected. She should have something in writing (to make her life easier should she be stopped) stating that it's your car and that you are in the service overseas, maybe a letter (on Military letterhead) signed by a C.O., or a notorized letter from you. Then she should have no problems at all. Once you return (if you plan on staying in PA) you have 30 days to register, inspect, etc the car in PA.
Christine
Misread your post so this was edited to reflect the fact that it's your car not your wife's. My bad!

If the car is registered in a name other than hers, I'd tell the cop that is borrowing the car. Cops usually won't bust on out of state cars for tint.

If she does get pulled over for anything, have her drop ALL windows before the cop walks up. I have limo tint on my Camaro and I've been pulled over 5+ times for speeding (lead foot+ size 12 shoe) and the cop has never mentioned the tint.

And turn on the interior light if it's after dark.

CM.

Whoops, I forgot to add that. *VERY IMPORTANT*

Thanks alot guys and gals for all the responses!! very helpful, the quote about podunk Police getting all bent out of shape is so dead-on for her area it is scary :rolleyes: ; On a completely different, but related note I got pulled over yesterday here in Texas for my headlight covers, by a Texas state Trooper, he didn't give a fook about my out of state Tag :rolleyes:

This should help, my dad is a Pennsylvania State Trooper, the cool kind haha:) so i will have him explain it
Pennsylvania law states that if it is your intention to reside in the commonwealth you MUST register your vehicle with the commonwealth. As far as tint goes you MUST have at least 70% visibility, and no tint other than factory. I myself will not pull somebody over for just tint, however if i pull them over for speeding or something else, I will fine them for tint. Most areas in PA will not allow a seriously modded exhaust due to noise ordinances and emission laws. Hope this helps. TPR. A.M.

Hope that helped guys, word of advice, even for you annual inspection roll your windows down, and cover up those aftermarket tachs on the dash....they are illegal too.....it SUCKS!

But the car isn't registered in the driver's name, which confuses everyone even more.

"Pennsylvania law states that if it is your intention to reside in the commonwealth you MUST register your vehicle with the commonwealth."

The wife will be residing in PA so she must get a PA drivers license if she plans on residing in PA more than 60 days (she is considered a resident after 60 days). That is the law. As far as the car, she does NOT have to register, inspect, etc. as she does NOT own the car. That's why I suggested a notorized note from you (the DH)or the commanding officer stating that it's your car and that you are going overseas for XX amount of time. So if she is pulled over she can show the officer the letter and her valid PA license. She CAN prove that her DH is in the military and overseas and that's the important thing. So if she's ticketed she can have a hearing. Any Magistrate will let her off.
Correct, 70 % visibility, meaning that 70% of the light MUST pass through it. Meaning that the tint can't be anymore than 30%. I think that's what I said.
Just have her get a PA license if she'll be here more than 60 days.

Christine
PS. headlight covers are illegal in PA. also.

Re-read the first post: She has a PA license. It's the car he's asking about.

I have 30% tint on my car and the local pigs pulled me over last week.. The cop asked me to roll down the window 1/2 way and then placed a special light meeter over teh edge of the glass. Needless to say I was going to get a ticket until the cop noticed the local police dept plack in my back window (best $50 i ever spent). He left it to me if I should remove the tint or not. A friend of mine got busted the same way (same cop) and had to remove the tint and a $150 fine with a manditory court date. PA 3L SVT you live the the area? pymouth meeting / blue bell / norristown it covers all the pig in the area.