CSC5

Anyone know of a decent tint shop near Reston? Cost is a factor, but quality and experience are top priorities.

Thanks! :cheers:

*89x2*

wish I had someone to recomend :(

Beer:30

I am looking too.
But I think VA %35 rule sucks.
I think I saw a few cars yesterday that are %35.
Looks more brown than black :( :cry

Bravery

I do know of a place, who will tint 5% but you do not get a receipt, quality is the best I have seen (been tinted by everyone in NOVA) and the price is reasonable. If you are interested, send me an email (prpl95c4@comcast.net)and I can provide you the information but for legal reasons (dont want to get the shop in trouble), I wont disclose the information here.

Mike

Cost for my cars:

camaro - 160
cavalier - 160
corvette - 210 (lifetime warranty on tint and the back window on a C4 is a B**CH!

CSC5

What about LA Tint? Anyone ever get work done by them? They're plastered all over the net when I do a search.

Bravery - You've got mail.

Bravery

Got your email and replied with all the info! :hurray:

About LA Tint, they did my moms car and my dads truck, not very good work. They had bubbles in the tint, there was a good 1/2 inch margin on the rollup windows and they only went halfway up my moms back window because it has those black dots, and they said they dont tint those. :confused:

Whereas, the place I emailed you about, there are no bubbles, their margin is 1/16 of an inch and they tint any piece of glass you have!

--except for the targa tops, due to them being acrylic--

Mike

*89x2*

1/2" margin :lolg: :lolg: Garbage!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the dots though are a PITA!!! So is the very top on a C5's back glass...
Let us know how it works out :cheers:

Bravery

I am getting mine done tomorrow at 10am, I will post pics of their work shortly after I get home.

I thought I had pics of the vettes windows, but I cant seem to find them.

Mike

CSC5

Thanks for the info, Mike. I'll definitely have to give those guys a call. :cool:

Bravery

The car looks awesome! No bubbles, 1/16" margin on the rolldowns, and it is VERY dark inside now, just the way I like it!

I should have the pics uploaded later tonight, I havent been home yet.

They spent 2.5 hours on my car, longer than normal, but in return I received top notch work!

Mike

SRitger

You've got mail... :seeya

Bravery

OK, pics are now up on my site and again, the car looks AMAZING!
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/prpl95...Cavalier/tint/

Sritger: You have return email. :-)

Mike


[Modified by Bravery, 12:40 AM 6/2/2003]

Bluewasp

Nice.. :thumbs:

in the last pic mikey.jpg, hit the sunroof close button next time! :jester


[Modified by Bluewasp, 6:15 PM 6/2/2003]

TimC

I wouldn't mind getting tinting, but is 35% even worth it? What's the percentage from the factory? Virginia sucks sometimes. :banghead:

Bravery

From the factory, its safe to say you have 70% tint on newer vehicles. On some of the older ones it was more like 95%.

35% is good if you still want to have a clear view at night, 20% will block even more sunlight but it gets harder to see out the back window, 10% and its very cool inside, difficult to see out at night, and with 5%.......well, nobody will see you inside the car and if you have never had it before, you will hit things backing up or turning tight corners at night. :-)

TimC

Ahhh, didn't realize it was 70% :eek:...35% might be worth it then.

*89x2*

VA Law states that the rear windows (all glass behind the drivers door) can be tinted 35% - That's blocking all but 35% of the light through... If you have 2 side mirrors, you can then tint the side "roll downs" 50% - if you do not have a passenger side mirror, then no tint can be placed on the roll down.

Now... That's the way the law is written - most laws are subject to iinterpretation and you will find that as long as 2 side mirrors exist, then people do whatever darkness they want behind the front doors...

If you have a waiver (from a doctor) you can tint your front roll downs 35% (darker than the 50% allowed on roll downs w/ out waiver)
You can also run a strip of tint down to the AS1 line on your windshield that can be 35% as well. I have also seen something about tinting the whole windshiled but is is some rediculous low ball %% that it isn't worthwhile - for oncoming glare mostly.

If you have a waiver, it will be done through the DMV & printed as such on your cars registration.

In ALL Northern VA counties - police carry light meters to "slide" over your glass and check the %% of your tint - your tinting pro has this too and will take a reading to ensure the glass complies - the "factory tint" is included into the total %% measured.

Vehicles built on a truck chassis are subject to different reg's :thumbs:

Bravery

Hate to do this but here is the EXACT quote from the Virginia Law Code Book we have in our office.

*******************
§ 46.2-1052. Tinting films, signs, decals, and stickers on windshields, etc.; penalties.

A. Except as otherwise provided in this article or permitted by federal law, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle on a highway with any sign, poster, colored or tinted film, sun-shading material, or other colored material on the windshield, front or rear side windows, or rear windows of such motor vehicle. This provision, however, shall not apply to any certificate or other paper required by law or permitted by the Superintendent to be placed on a motor vehicle's windshield or window.

The size of stickers or decals used by counties, cities, and towns in lieu of license plates shall be in compliance with regulations promulgated by the Superintendent. Such stickers shall be affixed on the windshield at a location designated by the Superintendent.

B. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, whenever a motor vehicle is equipped with a mirror on each side of such vehicle, so located as to reflect to the driver of such vehicle a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle, any or all of the following shall be lawful:

1. To drive a motor vehicle equipped with one optically grooved clear plastic right-angle rear view lens attached to one rear window of such motor vehicle, not exceeding eighteen inches in diameter in the case of a circular lens or not exceeding eleven inches by fourteen inches in the case of a rectangular lens, which enables the driver of the motor vehicle to view below the line of sight as viewed through the rear window;

2. To have affixed to the rear side windows, rear window or windows of a motor vehicle any sticker or stickers, regardless of size; or

3. To drive a motor vehicle when the driver's clear view of the highway through the rear window or windows is otherwise obstructed.

C. Except as provided in § 46.2-1053, but notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, no sun-shading or tinting film may be applied or affixed to any window of a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a mirror on each side of such motor vehicle, so located as to reflect to the driver of the vehicle a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle, and the sun-shading or tinting film is applied or affixed in accordance with the following:

1. No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the rear side windows or rear window or windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highways of this Commonwealth that reduce the total light transmittance of such window to less than thirty-five percent;

2. No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the front side windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highways of this Commonwealth that reduce total light transmittance of such window to less than fifty percent;

3. No sun-shading or tinting films shall be applied or affixed to any window of a motor vehicle that (i) have a reflectance of light exceeding twenty percent or (ii) produce a holographic or prism effect.

Any person who operates a motor vehicle on the highways of this Commonwealth with sun-shading or tinting films that (i) have a total light transmittance less than that required by subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection, (ii) have a reflectance of light exceeding twenty percent, or (iii) produce holographic or prism effects shall be guilty of a traffic infraction but shall not be awarded any demerit points by the Commissioner for the violation.

Any person or firm who applies or affixes to the windows of any motor vehicle in Virginia sun-shading or tinting films that (i) reduce the light transmittance to levels less than that allowed in subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection, (ii) have a reflectance of light exceeding twenty percent, or (iii) produce holographic or prism effects shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor for the first offense and of a Class 2 misdemeanor for any subsequent offense.

D. The Division of Purchases and Supply, pursuant to § 2.2-1112, shall determine the proper standards for equipment or devices used to measure light transmittance through windows of motor vehicles. Law-enforcement officers shall use only such equipment or devices to measure light transmittance through windows that meet the standards established by the Division. Such measurements made by law-enforcement officers shall be given a tolerance of minus seven percentage points.

E. No film or darkening material may be applied on the windshield except to replace the sunshield in the uppermost area as installed by the manufacturer of the vehicle.

F. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the affixing to the rear window of a motor vehicle of a single sticker no larger than twenty square inches if such sticker is totally contained within the lower five inches of the glass of the rear window, nor shall subsection B of this section apply to a motor vehicle to which but one such sticker is so affixed.

G. Nothing in this section shall prohibit applying to the rear side windows or rear window of any multi-purpose passenger vehicle or pickup truck sun-shading or tinting films that reduce the total light transmittance of such window or windows below thirty-five percent.

H. As used in this article:

"Front side windows" means those windows located adjacent to and forward of the driver's seat;

"Holographic effect" means a picture or image that may remain constant or change as the viewing angle is changed;

"Multipurpose passenger vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is (i) designed to carry no more than ten persons and (ii) constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road use;

"Prism effect" means a visual, iridescent, or rainbow-like effect that separates light into various colored components that may change depending on viewing angle.

"Rear side windows" means those windows located to the rear of the driver's seat;

"Rear window" or "rear windows" means those windows which are located to the rear of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and which are approximately parallel to the windshield;

I. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, sun-shading material which was applied or installed prior to July 1, 1987, in a manner and on which windows not then in violation of Virginia law, shall continue to be lawful, provided that it can be shown by appropriate receipts that such material was installed prior to July 1, 1987.

J. Where a person is convicted within one year of a second or subsequent violation of this section involving the operation of the same vehicle having a tinted or smoked windshield, the court, in addition to any other penalty, may order the person so convicted to remove such tinted or smoked windshield from the vehicle.

K. The provisions of this section shall not apply to law-enforcement vehicles.

L. The provisions of subdivision C 1 of this section shall not apply to sight-seeing carriers as defined in § 46.2-2000 and limousine and executive sedan carriers as defined in § 46.2-2000.

*89x2*

Hate to do what :confused: Thanks for posting the state code however, it neglects to mention the section on waivers - I have had one for almost 2 decades and VERY familiar with what is in bounds :)

If you are looking for what's on the books for that section, you posted it - if you are looking for a laymans interpretation (and a roadside one as well ) read my earlier post :cheers:


[Modified by *89x2*, 10:54 PM 6/6/2003]

Bravery

I was hesitant to post up so much information on the subject, but felt it would be appropriate for others to read how the law is in Virginia. There have been numerous amendments to the law, some of which include the waivers. Others mention sport utilities, semi trucks, vans, etc.

Hope the information is helpful.

Mike