How dark is too dark? Car owners have to answer this question when choosing the tint for their windows. Too light and the tint won’t provide the benefits it’s meant to offer. Too dark and the vehicle’s driver might be caught in the crosshairs of the Hawaii Window Tint Law.
That is not the only thing that the state’s tint law regulates. It also has specific instructions on tint darkness for the windshield, front side windows, back side windows, and the rear window. The Tint Law also defines how reflective the tint can be. And it doesn’t stop there.
Questions like how much percentage of light the vehicle should let in and what mirrors the car must have if its back window is tinted are also addressed in the Hawaii Window Tint Law. The people who devised this act have left nothing to chance. Read on to know more about it.
Type of Hawaii Window Tint Laws
The Hawaii window tint laws are divided into two broad types. The first type covers how dark the car’s window can be. The second determines how much light the windows must reflect after tinting. Here’s how the state’s tint law defines both these types.
Window Tint Darkness
Law enforcement officials in Hawaii have gadgets to measure window tint darkness. These equipment measure window tint darkness through a term known as visible light transmission.
VLT determines the percentage of visible light that can penetrate the window’s tint. The allowed percentage of VLT is different for sedans, vans, and SUVs.
Window Tint Reflection
How much light does the window reflect? According to WCMA Window & Door, The answer to this question has significant ramifications. It determines how much heat and glare the tint will be able to keep at bay.
The Hawaii window tint law states that all tints can reflect light up to a specific limit. Breaching that limit by applying shade that reflects more light can land you a visit of a car safety inspector.
Hawaii Tint Laws
Having described the type of tint laws that are applicable in Hawaii, it’s time we turn our attention to the specific laws that are currently in force in the state.
Tint Darkness Laws In Hawaii
Here are the tint darkness laws in the state of Hawaii:
Windshield
Whether you own a sedan, SUV, or van in Hawaii, you’re free to use a non-reflective tint on the upper 4 inches of your vehicle’s windshield under the terms of the Hawaii window tint law.
Front and Back Side Windows
The Hawaii window tint law dictates that drivers of sedans who want to apply tint on their front- and back-side windows must make sure that the tint allows more than 35% of the light inside the vehicle.
As for the drivers of SUVs and sedans, they have to follow the 35% limit in the case of front side windows. But they can use any darkness for the back side windows.
Rear Window
Sedan drivers in Hawaii can apply a darkening tint on the rear window. Though they have to make sure that it lets in 35% of the light that falls on the window.
The drivers of SUVs and vans in the state are exempt from any such rule. That is to say that they are free to use a tint of any darkness on the rear window of their vehicle.
Pro Tip: Make sure you get a certificate of compliance from your window tint installer. The law dictates that you must have that certificate in your vehicle at all times.
Tint Reflection Laws In Hawaii
Here are the tint reflection laws in the state of Hawaii:
Front side windows
The state of Hawaii allows drivers of sedans, SUVs, and vans to use a tint with any window reflection rating. But it qualifies this freedom by noting that the tint mustn’t have a mirrored or metallic appearance.
Back side windows
Your brain cells might be pleased to note that the same tint reflection law that applies on front side windows is applicable on rear side windows as well. Ensure that the tint’s appearance isn’t mirrored or metallic.
FAQs and Answers
Q: When was the Hawaii window tint law enacted?
A: Hawaii enacted its window tint law in the year 1989, making The Aloha State 9th state in the United States to have its specific window tinting laws.
Q: What are the penalties for violating Hawaii window tint law?
A: Vehicle owners can be slapped with a fine between $250 and $500. Those cars that are registered in the name of the business can incur the corporation a maximum penalty of $1000.
Q: Does the Hawaii window tint law give medical exemptions?
A: There are no clauses in the law that would give medical exemptions to people and allow them to use special tint.
Q: Does Hawaii tint law bans any color of tint?
A: Unlike in some other parts of the world where they ban bright tint colors, Hawaii tint law doesn’t explicitly ban any specific color of the tint.
Q: What is the permissible tint variance in the state?
A: Under the tint law that is applicable in the state, the maximum permissible tint variance in the state is 6%.
Conclusion
The Hawaii Window Tint Law is an exhaustive piece of document that contains everything necessary to regulate the tinting of windows in the state. It tells you how much light the window should let it, what percentage it can reflect, and the maximum variance allowed.
Aside from that, the law also places harsh penalties on people who ignore or break it. That is because illegal window tint might lead to safety problems, especially to law enforcement officials during routine traffic stops.
That is why you must be aware of these laws and the penalties that they might impose on you in the case of non-compliance if you own or intend to own a vehicle in Hawaii.