WARNING for Dark Tint Outlaws

It seems now the gov. getting cut backs on theare allotted spending theare giveing out allot of tickets for illegall tint. I received one today for front doors and windsheild, $74 each and on top of all that i have to appear in front of the judge cause i had my buisness signs on my truck and the officer then new i do it as a buisness. so i have to see if i get the big fat fine for installing illegall tint I think it's $10,000 here in FL. p.s. yall prey i dont get the book thrown at me it could wipe me out, and i help two other family's besides my own. Im worry about them if i lose every thing.

rrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. and it's prAy.

I feel stupid today! I look stupid today! so it must be STUPID!

Sounds like you are screwed.

hurry up and get a doctors note to take to court with ya

best of luck to ya

I hope nothing but the best for you.

But with 30 years experience you'd figure you'd learn your lesson not to install dark tint and then put your company name on it

hopefully they don't try and do you in for the !llegal tint, I know I got em on my company car too and don't want any problems from the law.

I hate to say it but, if you have been on here any length of time you have been warned!

ill pray for you. i dont like seeing people in bummer situations. best of luck

the laws aren't followed much in my county, or state for that matter. see people on the road all day ridin dark. sunstrips on top and bottom of windshield have become super popular here. especially on dodge trucks for some reason. i know that's !llegal, however, i pass one or two everyday. must depend on the region. anyone else have it easy???

yeah or fill out and sign your own waiver

i guess you should have thought of them and what might happen before you tinted your work vehicle !llegal.

its hard to feel sorry for someone that comes on here and cries about getting a ticket when they know the law and they did it anyways..and also jeopardizes their livelihood and their family.

We have a pretty simple system when it comes to tinting cars. The state gives us a number.........the boxes of film have numbers on them...........if we just match those numbers, then there is never a worry about being too dark.

exactly

where did you find this figure? i've been tinting (legally) in FL for 11 years and have never seen anywhere of a installer getting fined or a law on the books outlining fines for installers.

i have heard rumors but never any hard proof

some tinters are addicted to tinting !llegally. they want to follow the rules, but, they just can't. the rush of breaking the law, the cash money, the prestige... i will be starting the first chapter of the ITA (!llegal Tinters Anonymous) and will be taking membership requests starting immediately. meetings will be here on wednesdays at 7:00 PM ET. the first step is admitting you have a problem.

And, as this post shows, there are still wise asses in the group...........I can't wait for the laws to change in the states where 20% is legal down to 50 or 70%. Then lets see how many of you stay 'legal'. This shows,again, that the realization is not countrywide. Yes, tinters in many states apply !llegal film. Since the laws changed during their course of business, they may continue the practice. But, until you are in their shoes, I would not throw stones. When your laws change, and there are pushes in many of the states some of you are from to raise the vlt minimums, are you going to find another industry, or continue as you have always done?? You cant answer that until it happens!!!! The original poster is in a very precarious situation. His main mistake was to ilegally tint his work vehicle.

When the laws change in your states, lets see how many of you fold to the powers that be and tint legally......bet most of you will be out of business pretty quickly.

Just have people sign some bogus azz waivers

Sorry to hear of your problem. Yes I will pray for you that they don’t make an example out of you. Good lesson that you have learned about tinting dark papas and having your name on it. We just don’t know why things happen but there is a reason for sure. Let this make you a better person.
Stan

the dude's in florida...where the laws are very decent. he's not in some stupid state with a 70% vlt limit. so your post means nothing. he still chose to tint his doors illegally and tint his entire windshield. until we're in his shoes don't throw stones???? i wouldn't be in his shoes. yes his main mistake was to illegally tint his work vehicle. not only does it set a bad example for customers but it also runs the risk for an !llegal tint ticket and !llegal installation. play with fire long enough and you're going to get burned. looks like he played with it alittle too long.

as for you being so excited for states with 20% legal to have to go to 50 or 70.....that's the exact reason this dude should have been tinting legally. he's in a state with good laws, why challenge them further. obey the great law you have and maybe it'll stay that way. continue to tint illegally and soon enough it's gonna bite you in the ass.

couldnt have said it better myself..

Educate thyself
florida code sections pertaining to window film OR as they say in Florida "sunscreening" Looks like a second class misdemeanor $500 bucks and 60 days , Watch your six !!!
Good luck

316.2951 Motor vehicle windows; definitions.

316.2952 Windshields; requirements; restrictions.

316.2953 Side windows; restrictions on sunscreening material.

316.2954 Windows behind the driver; restrictions on sunscreening material.

316.29545 Window sunscreening exclusions; medical exemption; certain law enforcement vehicles exempt.

316.2955 Window sunscreening material; compliance labeling; tolerances.

316.2956 Violation of provisions relating to windshields, windows, and sunscreening material; penalties.

316.2957 Exemption for motor vehicle manufacturers.

Live and learn and remember this is just the internet. I hope you hang out here more and get to understand better the long term ramifications to all these guys if film were outlawed. Like I said in an earlier post, learn from you mistake and become better but don’t beat yourself up or let some of the remarks here bring you down. You can’t be to stupid if you have made it this long in such a cutthroat business. A mistake that’s it……..
Stan

Good post, Phantom. I do agree. I find it hard to believe all who post here have NEVER put a piece of film on that was !llegal. Especially the posters from tough law states. Anyone fron a 70% state who tints autos for a living would be out of business in a day if they did all legal!!!

Thats what I"m thinking

Not sure how it works in florida, but in the state of hawaii you need to be caught in the act of installing for them to fine you. Whats to say you didnt buy the truck already tinted. that is a possibility. As for the exsisting fine I would just remove all the tint for now take photos and cross your fingers.

Do what I did. I removed the tint prior to going to court and then apologize to the judge, and tell him you had no intention of breaking the law. Then he will sent the bailiff to look at your car and the case was dropped. Good luck though!

Yea i feel real stupid.Ijust posted aweek or so about tint wavers and care. and said the tinters rule #1 is no paper trail leeding the law back to you. I THINK ITS TIME to practice what i post! dum! dum!

ive seen this more often as well but still dont understand why someone would throw an 8" strip ath the bottom of the windsheild.. does anyone here have a valid purpose for doing this??

I dont see a reason either, but maybe cheaper than tinting the whole windsheild. the 15% strip at the bottom is more dangerous than tinting the whole thing in 35%or45% cause you cant see your fenders when driving at night.

wide vision looks like crap.

FYI, You are not the only Tint shop in Florida doing !llegal Tint, From all the shops I have been to, I would say 60% of them install nothing but 15% or darker on entire car. Florida has the best law in the country when it comes to tint 28/15/15 on cars. Here in Tn it is 35% complete on cars. We would love to have the tint law as Florida. Remember about 10 ish years ago when Mannys came out with the 28/30/15% they did this for Florida dealers. I have heard in the Panhandle there we several counties that law enforcement was enforcing tinting laws. If you are in this area you are the example for the rest of the state. All of the other areas of Florida better look out, your next!!
I feel for you man, hope things work out for you.

can i join!!?? jk

Living in Pensacola I can garuntee there is little enforcement of tint laws. Every shop here does !llegal work (most wouldn't admit it in a public setting, who would?) The problem is the consumer base also knows this and if a shop says "NO" the customer goes down the street where they say "SURE". I'm sure they say they are "enforcing" laws, but I know by experience that a lot of the cops have !llegal tint on there personal cars. There was a time not too long ago you could go to the "Flea Market" and get a 5% job for a $100.

BTW not saying it's right, just saying how it is.

Exactly.

Obviously ur in a bad position here, but there is no way you can get convicted for applying that tint to your vehicle when they cannot prove that. And they can't. You could have purchased it that way. Now, they may say that you should have known better about the dark tint since ur in the tinting industry, and they are right. But thats why you got the initial ticket, cause you were operating a vehicle with !llegal tint.

I wouldnt worry about any fines beyond that. They cant prove anything further.

"ITS NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, ITS WHAT YOU CAN PROVE"

Good luck man.

keep ur head up bro its part of the business ,im waiting 2 get busted. neways hope everything goes good!

That pretty much sums it up nicely.




YBD, it's probably closer to 80% (or more) Tint laws are selectively enforced in Fla. It's mostly how the cops meet quotas.

As to the guys who have never heard of the 10,000 fine, that would be because it aint true. Thats not to say it isnt HEAVY. When you read the tint laws, they tell you what is !llegal, and then cite a statute that applies to the penalties. For instance, Fl SS316.2965:

Any person who sells or installs sunscreening material in violation of any provision of SS316.2951-2954 after June 20, 1984, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in SS775.082 and/or 775.083

SS775.082: Punishment

(4)(B) For a misdemeanor of the second degree by a definite term of imprisonment not exceeding 60 days

But here is the kicker, definately NOT to be ignored:

775.082(7) This section DOES NOT deprive the court of any authority conferred by law to decree A FORFEITURE of PROPERTY, suspend or cancel a license, remove a person from office, or impose ANY other civil penalty. Such a judgement or order may be included in the sentence.

Thats ALOT of discretion for the courts. This spells out that you can lose your business.

Then we go to 775.083 Fines:



775.083 Fines.--

(1) A person who has been convicted of an offense other than a capital felony may be sentenced to pay a fine in addition to any punishment described in s. 775.082; when specifically authorized by statute, he or she may be sentenced to pay a fine in lieu of any punishment described in s. 775.082. A person who has been convicted of a noncriminal violation may be sentenced to pay a fine. Fines for designated crimes and for noncriminal violations shall not exceed:

(e) $500, when the conviction is of a misdemeanor of the second degree or a noncriminal violation.

(f) Any higher amount equal to double the pecuniary gain derived from the offense by the offender or double the pecuniary loss suffered by the victim.


(Meaning that if your custy had to go to court for a ticket, you will be not only responsible for refunding double the price of the tint, you could be liable to pay double his fines, and court costs)

(g) Any higher amount specifically authorized by statute.

(Here again, ALOT of latitude for the court to impose any judgement they see fit.)

Fines imposed in this subsection shall be deposited by the clerk of the court in the fine and forfeiture fund established pursuant to s. 142.01. If a defendant is unable to pay a fine, the court may defer payment of the fine to a date certain.

(2) In addition to the fines set forth in subsection (1), court costs shall be assessed and collected in each instance a defendant pleads nolo contendere to, or is convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent for, a felony, a misdemeanor, or a criminal traffic offense under state law, or a violation of any municipal or county ordinance if the violation constitutes a misdemeanor under state law. The court costs imposed by this section shall be $50 for a felony and $20 for any other offense and shall be deposited by the clerk of the court into an appropriate county account for disbursement for the purposes provided in this subsection. A county shall account for the funds separately from other county funds as crime prevention funds. The county, in consultation with the sheriff, must expend such funds for crime prevention programs in the county, including safe neighborhood programs under ss. 163.501-163.523. (3) The purpose of this section is to provide uniform penalty authorization for criminal offenses and, to this end, a reference to this section constitutes a general reference under the doctrine of incorporation by reference.


So the Tint Phantom faces up to 60 days in the pokey (I just hope he dont get "pokeyed"), a $500 fine, and double the amount of the customers losses. He COULD face loss of business license, forfeiture of personal property (If he's not incorporated) which COULD include ANYTHING purchased or subsidized with !llegal monies.

In closing, even tho Fl laws are not THAT harsh, is it worth it?


NOPE!!!

Did the cop who gave you a ticket have a tint meter to show what the tint was? If so, was He certifed to use it? Was it calibrated correctly? Was it set for your glass? Or did he just eye ball it and say ?Too dark?

Well those statutes are all good and fine but in a world where people prefer antedotal evidence to logic and critical thinking, I think most people will just go on signing "waivers" and go on their way like "Bluto a.k.a. John Belushi in Animal House " that is to say fat drunk and stupid.

Ah, that was flounder who was told by dean wermer "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go throught life son" when he was expelling them!!

The lambasting of this and other tinters by continually dragging up statutes to make a point, when it has been made hundreds of time before does nothing but continue a devisive tone. If anyone has helpful information as to using resourses to try and change laws, that would be best. To continue to deparage only sets a negative feel. My advice is to retint your windows legal, go to court, and show them you redid it in accordance with the law. Then, run your business how you see fit, and push your legislature to change the laws should you feel that is what is necesary.

Good Luck in your fight!!

And for someone to continually take pot shots at one or 2 members in everyother post is GETTING VERY OLD AS WELL I said it in a PM, I'll say it out in the open, YOU NEED TO SHUT THE HELL UP you were not involved in anything that transpired, so f***ing drop it already, I'm sick and f***ing tired of reading your petty bullshit pot shots you continue to take at a couple of people on this board, it's kinda funny how all of a sudden after a coupla people got banned, you all of a sudden started posting ALOT after 4 or so years of membership with less than a coupla hundred posts

It was said by Blade above, if the states that have decent laws start cracking down because people can't tint within those laws, then the people in the states with chitty laws have NO HOPE of ever getting the laws changed, what you ( directed @ the !llegal tinters) do effects EVERYONE in this industry, but most of you don't care, because it put a few bucks in your pocket that day

I totally agree with you 237, Customtinting needs to drop it like the other guys have.

Point taken. Since it seems that anything I post that has an opposing view to Key will be taken as a pot shot, I will no longer respond to any post he puts here. My only statement there was not a pot shot, but a statement to the fact that everytime this issue comes up, the same posts lambasting the original thread maker come up. All I asked that if anyone had any information or resources to help to post. This is pretty much the same as in any other thread, where many have posted the"this issue has ben done repeatedly before " and posted the old thread. If my opinion or view is against board policy, then let me know, if not, allow me the same courtesy you allow everyone else in voicing my opinion. I don't give a damn about Steve or his issues with others. I only posted what I did to state that this same response has been posted over and over, not only by him, but others, and has been beaten into the ground. As I have viewed more than once recently in multiple posts, many will post responses stating that an issue had been overdone and if nothing new could be added, to let it go. This is the same view I was trying to get across. (if I am still allowed this)

In regard to California, I would welcome someone "dragging up statutes to make a point".
I know that a certain 3M dealer in Santa Maria was fined serious money back in the nineties.
Also the Tintgirl of Bakersfield reported that shops were fined there.
And yet, even in my attorney's office, we were unable to locate the relevant statutes using electronic searches of (subscription based) law and case databases.
My thought is that some catch-all Business and Professions Code statute was used.

P.S. I'm just seeking the correct information regarding tinter's being criminally liable to the courts.
I wish the OP no financial harm.

and my appologies to Bluto for mistaking him with one of his frat brothers.