Maryland Tint Laws Summary
Maryland tint laws refer to rules regarding the amount of visible light that is allowed to come through the windows in vehicles. These apply to the front windows, back windows, side windows and rear windshield. The amount of light coming through is called the Visible Light Transmission (VLT), which is measured as a percentage. A window film can be placed on each window to block more light from coming through.
The legal window tint for each type of window in Maryland are as follows:
Front Windows
For the front windshield, the manufacturer must place a non-reflective band along the top of the film that measures four inches or less. The VLT for the front windows must be 35% or higher .
Back Windows
There is no restriction in Maryland on the tint used on the back windows.
VLT/Reflective Tint
Vehicle window tint must be less than 20% reflective on the windshield, front and back side windows, and rear window.
Medical Exceptions
Some people can receive an exemption from the window tinting limit in Maryland if they have a medical condition which may be aggravated by the sunlight. People with albinism, lupus and other conditions may be able to prove that the tinting would help to protect their health.
State-Specific Requirements
All windshield tint must be made from material that is considered "ANSI certified" and "LTA" and "DOT" approved. These initials mean that the tint met the requirements for All-Noise Insulation in the past.
Legal Percentage Darkness for Windshields
The laws in Maryland pertaining to the tinting of front windshields are quite straightforward and precise. Any type of tint film or tinting spray is prohibited, except in the case of vehicles with manufacturer tinted glass. Maryland laws state that non-reflective tint is permitted on the windshield above the AS-1 line, or the top five inches of the windshield.
Because the majority of vehicles on the road will have a factory tint on the windshield, this leaves very little room for adding tint film or spray without violating the law. In fact, Maryland tint laws also mandate that no tint may be applied to the windshield unless it consists of a medical exemption issued by a licensed physician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist. In all other cases, any type of tint on the front windshield is against the law.
Exemptions to the Tinting Laws
Safe legal exemptions for off road vehicles, commercial vehicles, contractors vehicles and law enforcement vehicles are included in the tint law exemption list. Medical exemptions are also listed for persons with certain eye ailments. Additionally, a passenger van can be exempted as long as the window tint meets legal state standards. If a van offers 7, 8, 9 or 10 passenger seating, as defined in ยง13-616 of the Transportation Article, at least one of the manufacturer’s specified passenger seating arrangements is authorized to have window tint that is darker than otherwise permitted.
One additional exception to the MD tint laws is the ceremonial exception observed for members of the international community who are posted to various embassies or other foreign domiciles. Owners of vehicles who are covered under this provision shall keep the vehicle registration receipt, papers, window tinting receipt and proof of international status, in the vehicle while parked or being driven on the public roadways in Maryland. The officer or enforcement personnel may request to see these documents and must be able to see them within the 25 minute period of time.
Penalties for Illegal Window Tint in Maryland
In Maryland, the penalties for failing to adhere to window tint laws are relatively straightforward. A violation of the law prohibiting dark or reflective window tint on the front windshield can result in a fine of up to $70. As well, there is an additional penalty of up to $20 for each quarter of a year that the vehicle is found in violation of the law. The law itself is also relatively straightforward in that it requires law enforcement to obtain training so that they know how to use tint meters to detect whether window tint is beyond legal limits.
As we noted above, the maximum fine per violation is $70. However, that fine does not just apply to instances where the only tint present on the vehicle goes beyond legal limits. Rather, it could apply to vehicles that have window tint that goes beyond legal limits but are otherwise in compliance. For example, suppose you own a black car. You have white windows that are tinted as tinted as the law would allow. You have stickers on your windows that are blocking the tint entirely. The tint meter will be unable to penetrate the stickers and will find that your tint is in violation of the law . It doesn’t matter that the car is otherwise in compliance with the law as long the stickers make the tint in violations, you could be fined up to $70 plus up to $20 for each quarter that you are in violation of the law.
The law allows for a 5% error margin due to natural variations emitting from the manufacture of the tint. But, on the other hand, it also prohibits window tint that has a reflectivity of more than 35% on certain areas. If you show up at a police station to pay the fine for the illegal tint and are unable to produce a medical waiver for the tint, you could be ticketed again.
Enforcement of the law is typically done during traffic stops. Police, however, are not allowed to stop your vehicle only because they think that you have a tinted window. While it may not be possible to stop someone for tinted windows in Maryland, if you are stopped for another traffic violation, the police officer may notice that your windows are tinted.
If you are issued a citation and fined for window tinting that exceeds legal limits, the penalty is the greatest of $70 per citation or $20 per quarter year for the life of the tint. A second offense under the law makes you eligible for a $100 fine. If you are ticketed three times for illegal tint, you will be eligible for a $250 fine.
How to Keep Your Window Tint Legal
To ensure that the tint on your vehicle’s front windshield complies with Maryland’s laws, you should purchase a window film that has an AS-1 line or above on the vehicle’s windshield. The AS-1 line is a manufacturer’s line printed in the uppermost part of the windshield. If your vehicle does not have an AS-1 line, you should either consider purchasing a new vehicle or tinting the windshield above the AS-1 line. The reason for this is that it is illegal to install any tint or film below the AS-1 line.
If you tint below the AS-1 line, your tint will be visible in the driver’s field of vision next to the tinted film on the windshield and this will likely lead to a police citation that requires you to remove the tint and pay a fine.
If you simply need a lower percentage tint for medical reasons, your doctor must provide you with a medical certificate from a licensed physician in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia or the District of Columbia stating the patient has been diagnosed with a medical condition that greatly reduces or causes loss in light transmission and that the use of tinted film applied to the windshield will alleviate or prevent the condition. This certificate must be displayed upon request. This certificate, however, does not authorize you to tint below the AS-1 line.
Remember, the front windshield tint laws in Maryland are meant to keep you safe while you are driving. Make sure to inform yourself about the rules of the road before hitting the highway!
The Effects of Window Tint on Driving and Visibility
The effect of tinting on driving and visibility is of particular concern because of the obvious safety implications if these laws were not in place. Too much tint on any window, especially on the front window, can drastically reduce visibility, even at night time, especially if the angle of the tint is not optimal. In addition, those who tend to drive longer distances than others may be more at risk of encountering other drivers who do not understand or care about such tinting laws in Maryland and thus, may drive with significantly darker or even thicker windows.
The amount of tint on the front windshield and whether or not this tint actually drives the vehicle owner to be safer on the road is clearly the crux of the matter. Simply adhering to the tint levels put in place by Maryland law is clearly a good start. However, the tinted film should be placed properly and at the right angles as well to avoid impairing the visibility of the driver or giving the driver an excuse to blame dingy film for the accident.
One important safety feature of any vehicle are the front headlights; they illuminate the road ahead while also providing visibility to oncoming traffic. However, tinted windows can and do significantly reduce the amount of light emitted into the environment . This means having a tint level that is too dark can significantly reduce the visibility for the driver, thus increasing the risk of the driver getting into an accident.
In addition, if the tint levels are too dark, it can also impair the ability of police officers to see into the vehicle; in fact it may cause officers to actually fear what could be inside the tinted vehicle and thus, may cause them to overreact.
The key to safe tinting is to keep the film at a legally permitted rating. The stretch for modern auto-luxury is to tint one’s windows in an attempt to boost vehicle value and provide more privacy while reducing heat levels inside the vehicle, keeping the air conditioning system working at a lessened rate. However, putting the legal ramifications aside, keeping a tint that is too dark provides a good reason for law enforcement to pull the vehicle over and can cost the driver heavily in terms of insurance increases. If an accident occurs, be it collision or mechanical in nature, insurance rates for all parties may jump.
It is always important to make sure that you are following all local tint rules whenever you visit a new area or you’re drawn to away from home. Everything seems perfect until that fateful day you get pulled over, tickets handed out and your spouse is shouting at you.