Arizona window tint laws are governed by Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01, which sets a minimum of 33% VLT on front side windows. Reflectivity on front and back side windows cannot exceed 35%. Back side and rear windows have no darkness limit under the statute. This guide covers reflectivity rules, color restrictions, medical exemptions, and civil penalties. The Arizona State Legislature and the Arizona Department of Transportation are the official sources for these rules.
What Arizona Window Tint Laws Cover
Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 regulates materials placed on vehicle windows and windshields statewide. The statute prohibits any material that obstructs a driver’s clear view or that alters color or reduces light transmittance beyond set limits. It applies to windshields, front side windows, back side windows, and rear windows. The rules apply the same way across the entire state, with no separate city or county tint ordinances identified in official sources.
Visible Light Transmission Explained
Visible Light Transmission, known as VLT, measures the percentage of light that passes through the combined glass and tint film. A higher VLT number means more light gets through, so the tint looks lighter. A lower VLT number means less light passes through, making the tint appear darker. Arizona uses this percentage to set how much film darkness is legally allowed on specific vehicle windows.
The AS-1 Line Explained
The AS-1 line is a mark placed by the vehicle manufacturer near the top of the windshield, typically five to six inches below the top edge of the glass. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 allows transparent material on the windshield only above this line, and that material cannot be red or amber in color. The line exists to preserve a driver’s clear forward view through the main body of the windshield.
Luminous Reflectance Explained
Luminous reflectance measures how much light a tint bounces back outward rather than letting it pass through. This is a separate measurement from VLT, and a tint film can meet darkness limits while still failing a reflectivity limit if it has a mirrored or metallic finish. Arizona law caps reflectance to reduce glare that mirrored tint can direct at other drivers and at oncoming traffic.
Windshield Tint Rules
Under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01, transparent material is allowed on the windshield only above the AS-1 line, and it must not be red or amber. The statute measures the placement from the driver’s seat position in its rearmost and lowermost setting, with the bottom edge of the material at least twenty nine inches above the undepressed seat. This placement requirement keeps the main windshield area clear for driver visibility.
Front Side Window Rules
Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 addresses front side windows through an exceptions clause that permits material with a light transmission of 33% plus or minus 3% and a luminous reflectance of 35% plus or minus 3%. This means front side window tint generally needs to allow at least 33% of light through, with some tolerance built into the statutory language. The rule is drawn from the statute’s exceptions section rather than stated as a single standalone sentence.
Back Side and Rear Window Rules
Back side windows located to the rear of the driver, and the rear window itself, are treated differently under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01. The statute allows a substance or material with a luminous reflectance of 35% plus or minus 3% or less, without setting a minimum VLT for these windows. This means very dark tint is generally permitted on back side and rear windows, provided reflectivity stays within the statutory limit.
Reflectivity Limits Across All Windows
Reflectivity is capped at 35% under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 for the windows the statute addresses, regardless of how dark or light the tint measures on the VLT scale. A highly mirrored or metallic film can exceed this limit even if its VLT reading would otherwise be permitted. This separate reflectivity standard means drivers need to check both measurements before installing film.
Color Restrictions
Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 specifically prohibits red or amber colored transparent material on the topmost portion of the windshield above the AS-1 line. The statute’s broader prohibition also bars any material that alters window color in a way that obstructs a driver’s clear view through the windshield or side or rear windows. This color restriction exists because red and amber can be confused with brake lights, turn signals, and other vehicle signaling.
Who These Rules Apply To
Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 applies to any person who places, installs, affixes, or applies transparent material on a motor vehicle’s windshield or side or rear windows. The verified statute text does not create separate VLT or reflectance categories for sedans, SUVs, or vans, meaning the same statutory limits apply across these vehicle body types. Readers should not assume that a larger vehicle receives different tint allowances under this specific Arizona statute.
Dual Side Mirror Requirement
Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 includes an exception for rear windows treated with reflective or light reducing material, but only if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both the left and right sides. Those mirrors must be positioned so the driver can see the highway for at least two hundred feet behind the vehicle through each mirror. This requirement offsets reduced visibility through a tinted rear window with mirror based visibility instead.
Manufacturer Certification Requirement
Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 requires each manufacturer to certify to the director that the sun screening product or material it manufactures or assembles complies with the statute’s reflectivity and transmittance requirements. This certification duty falls on manufacturers rather than on the individual driver, though drivers remain responsible for ensuring installed tint meets the legal limits described above. A person who sells or installs this material must also disclose that installation on driver or passenger side windows may be illegal in other states.
Civil Traffic Violation Classification
Official Arizona county court fee schedules classify a window tint violation under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 as a civil traffic violation rather than a criminal offense. Some commercial sources describe this as a misdemeanor, but that description conflicts with verified county court fee schedules that list the violation alongside other scheduled civil traffic fines. A civil traffic violation is generally resolved through a scheduled fine process rather than a criminal court proceeding.
Fine Amounts Vary by Court
Verified county court fee schedules show different scheduled fine amounts for the same statutory violation depending on the court. One county fee schedule lists a fine of 164 dollars for a window tint violation under this statute, while a different county court schedule lists a fine of 115 dollars for the same statute. Because these figures vary by court and county, no single dollar amount applies statewide, and a driver should confirm the current fine with the specific court handling the citation.
Medical Exemption Process
Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 authorizes the Arizona Department of Transportation to issue a medical exemption from the standard tint restrictions. The application requires written attestation from a physician licensed under specific chapters of Arizona law confirming the person needs shielding from direct sunlight for medical reasons. The ADOT Application for Window Tint Medical Exemption (Form 40-1511) is the official document used to apply through the Medical Review Program.
Medical Exemption Scope and Limits
The medical exemption issued through Arizona Department of Transportation applies only to the driver side, passenger side, and rear windows of the vehicle. It does not extend to the windshield below the AS-1 line, meaning an approved exemption does not permit tinting the main windshield area. A driver granted this exemption should keep the approval documentation in the vehicle in case an officer requests proof during a stop.
Other Statutory Exceptions
Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 lists several items that fall outside the general tint restrictions, including rearview mirrors, adjustable nontransparent sun visors mounted forward of the side windows, and specific signs or stickers displayed in designated corners of the windshield. The statute also exempts rear window wiper motors, a rear trunk lid handle or hinges, and certain safety monitoring equipment mounted near the rearview mirror location. These exceptions address common vehicle features rather than aftermarket tint film.
Is a Tint Ticket a Misdemeanor
A common misconception is that an Arizona tint violation results in a criminal misdemeanor charge. Verified county court fee schedules instead classify this violation as a civil traffic matter with a scheduled fine, similar to other equipment based citations under Title 28 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. This distinction matters because a civil traffic violation generally does not carry the same criminal record consequences that a misdemeanor charge would carry.
Do SUVs Get Different Rules Than Sedans
Another common misconception is that SUVs, vans, and trucks receive separate or more relaxed tint allowances compared to sedans under Arizona law. The verified text of Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 does not create separate VLT or reflectance categories based on vehicle body style. The same statutory front side window and reflectance standards described in this guide apply regardless of whether the vehicle is a sedan, SUV, or van.
Verifying Current Rules
Laws and enforcement may change. Check official state sources for the latest rules, including the Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-959.01 text and the Arizona State Legislature Title 28 statute index. Because fine amounts and enforcement practices can differ by court and change over time, a driver with questions about a specific citation may want to consult a licensed attorney in your state or review the Disclaimer below for more context on how this information should be used.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Lawwalls publishes informational content only and does not provide legal services or legal advice.
For legal advice about your specific situation contact a licensed attorney in your state. Laws change and vary by jurisdiction. Verify current rules with official government sources or a qualified lawyer.