Are tinted car windows illegal in SC? Here’s what the law says

South Carolina passed a law in 1992 regulating how much tint can be put on vehicle windows, one of the first states in the country to do so.

The law is a bit confusing. Lots of jargon. Do you know what Visible Light Transmission (VLT) is or how much 27% VLT actually is? And what in the world is the AS-1 line?

Do you know you could land in actual jail if your tint is too dark?

Here’s a primer.

VLT is how much light the tint allows into your car. In South Carolina, it’s 27% on the front and side windows. OK lawmakers, fine and dandy, but how much is that?

Here’s how rvinyl.com explains it.

• 50% tint — little to no darkness, blocks only half the light in. California law allows 50%.
  
  
• 35% tint darker appearance but still allows you to see easily.
  
  
• 20% tint — it’s hard to see inside from outside.
  
  
• 5% tint — nobody’s seeing anything. Illegal.
  
  

No tint is allowed on the windshield below the AS-1 line, which is Automotive Safety Standard 1 Line, a dark dotted line car manufacturers put at the top of the windshield to show the area windshield wipers need to clear, according to windowtint.com.

SUVs and vans have similar limits on front windows and windshields, but the back side windows and rear window can be any darkness.

The tint must be non reflective and red, yellow, or amber colors are prohibited..

Windowtint.us offers this sales pitch. Tint adds privacy, lowers heat inside the car (less air conditioning) and protects seat upholstery and hard surfaces. Better resale value, they say.

So what happens if you get too enthusiastic with the darkness?

South Carolina law enforcement can issue a ticket and do, Capt. Sonny Collins of the South Carolina Highway Patrol said.

First time it’s a misdemeanor: $200 fine. Repeat offenders: higher fines and possible jail. That’s a heftier fine than most states.

You should know, state law says officers should have tint cards so they can easily know just how dark your windows are.