lawyer

Window tint is measured in terms of visible light transmission, or VLT. VLT represents the percentage of light allowed to pass through the tinted window; the lower the VLT, the darker the window. Window tint, whether offered as a spray-on coating or an adhesive film, is sold with a VLT rating that falls into one of several categories: dark (20 VLT), medium (35 VLT) and light (50 VLT). Some brands of window tint are also available with a "limo" rating (5 VLT), which may be intended only for use on specialty applications and not passenger vehicles.

In regulating VLT under law, most states specify a minimum VLT for the front side windows, another for the rear side windows and another VLT for the vehicle's rear window. Windshields are usually required to be left at factory specifications that may actually include a mild tint or partial shading to reduce glare.

Most states allow a moderate amount of window tinting that is seen to fall within limits that allow for driver safety. These states may allow tinting in the "medium" range (35 VLT) on some or all of a vehicle's windows. States such as West Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Washington allow for 35 VLT on all windows other than the windshield. In Alabama, that amount is reduced to 32 VLT.