Arkansas Tint Laws: A Comprehensive Driver’s Guide

Tint Laws for Arkansas

Understanding Arkansas Tint Laws: A Complete Guide for Arkansas Drivers
Tint laws are often different from state to state. Some states allow for darker window tints than others, and some specify what kinds of films that you can use and where. Arkansas tint laws are not quite as strict as laws in some other states, but they do still have rules to follow. The tint laws are in place primarily for safety concerns. When the windows are too dark, the drivers cannot see – which is a safety concern at night when it becomes dark. If they would lose control of the vehicle , they could run the risk of injuring not only themselves but other motorists as well.
The level of darkness for the available tints in Arkansas is measured by what is called VLT or Visible Light Transmission. With VLT, you can measure how much light is allowed in through the window in the vehicle.
While there are plenty of people who want darker tints in their vehicles, it’s important to be aware of the regulations before you invest the money into tinted windows. You don’t want to be pulled over by a police officer – only to get a ticket for having too dark of a tint.

Arkansas Legal Tint Limit

Moving on from windshield tint, what you really need to know are the limits of legal tint for sedans, SUVs, and trucks.
Arkansas law only permits cars that have a manufacturer’s tint already installed to be tinted. This means that all other tint added to any of the windows is strictly limited to 25% VLT.
So what does that actually mean? Well, VLT stands for visible light transmission. In terms of window film application it means when you’re looking through your window with the tint applied, X amount of visible light is still permitted as "visible light" while the rest is absorbed. Therefore, 25% VLT means that only 1/4th of the light is getting through. The laws in the majority of the United States differ for windshields and passenger windows. Below are the specifics for Arkansas: Passenger Vehicles: Sedans – 25% VLT SUVs – 10% VLT Trucks – 10% VLT
Now it’s important to note that Arkansas does not currently have any UV filter or reflective tint laws.

Arkansas Window Tint Exemptions

Arkansas tint laws come with exemptions for special purposes. The state allows a tinted window medical exemption for those who require it, provided the medical reason is certified by a doctor. The doctor must prove that the tinted windows are necessary and how they are needed to protect the health of the person applying. With proof in hand, many doctors will complete the Arkansas window tint exemption form. A physician is required to provide their office name and address on this form. The same is true for the person applying for the medical exemption for tinted windows, who provides their residential address on the form. After the form is complete, the medical exemption is valid for up to five years. The person granted this exemption is permitted to use darker window films than are otherwise allowed. However, the exemption does not allow the use of dark tint anywhere on the vehicle, including the windshield. Even so, there are still basic rules that apply. Not just any tint will do. According to Arkansas law, only films that are transparent will be approved. Strict reporting is required by doctors who fill out these forms. If the doctor changes practices, leaves state, or otherwise stops seeing the patient they must notify the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration immediately. These stipulations are in place to prevent abuse to the window tinting exemptions. That said, there are likely unintended consequences for a person who has a unique medical condition but would have to declare it to the state. With an expired exemption sticker, a person will be stopped and you could be charged with a violation. For passengers, however, having an expired sticker is not a crime.

Penalties for Arkansas Tint Infractions

In Arkansas, non-compliance with tint laws can result in relatively minor penalties, but the consequences can be significant when you consider the potential for additional impacts. For instance, if stopped and cited for a violation of a tint law, the driver may be subject to a fine, which can range from $100 to $200 depending on whether it was a first or later offense. Additionally, the driver may be required to remove the tint from the vehicle, which may be costly or time-consuming. Ignoring the citation and waiting to be stopped again could result in additional fines and legal fees. It is also important to note that non-compliance with tint laws could affect your ability to claim for damage to your vehicle. If tinted windows prevented the full extent of the damage to your vehicle from being seen, an insurance claim may not be paid in full . In some cases, tint laws must be followed precisely and any non-compliance may be considered insurance fraud, even if you believe that you were otherwise honest in your dealings with the insurance company. This means that you may have to pay for the repair yourself, and you may even become responsible for the bill due to breach of contract or a malicious purpose finding. If you are pulled over while driving with illegal tint, you may have to pay to have your car inspected properly. If the tint is too dark or has been applied to the front windshield, it may not even be possible for law enforcement or the authorities at a potential accident scene to see through the tint to determine whether or not you were wearing a seatbelt. Additionally, the fines mentioned above will apply. Individuals with commercial drivers’ licenses may also be deemed unfit to drive, and driving may be suspended as a result.

How Do I Keep My Tint Legal With Arkansas Rules

Ensuring your vehicle’s tint is in compliance with Arkansas law can feel like a challenging task. However, with the right approach and knowledge, it can be relatively simple. Here are some practical steps to ensure you’re abiding by the law:
First and foremost, the tint percentage of your windows is crucial. For passenger vehicles, only the front windshield tint must allow more than 35% of light in. All other windows can have any level of tint but must adhere to any other guidelines regarding refractive status and reflectivity levels. We recommend reaching out to professional tint tinting companies to schedule a time to have your tint checked. In Arkansas, you don’t simply measure the tint on your own; there are professionals that tend to shut the vehicle off and then park it inside before taking the initial percentage reading in REAL TIME in order to get the most accurate reading possible.
If for any reason you do not have time to take your car to the tint professionals or are unable to get to an Arkansas certified tint professional, there’s a new system that’s coming out that will allow you to obtain a responsible tint measurement on your own at anytime. The information will be relayed back to a tint professional to confirm the results. When this product is completed and full information is released, we will be posting the information for you here on Arkansas Tint Laws.org so you can see how the product works and what is available.
When you initially visit the tint company, they should give you documentation showing the tint percentage and a receipt for the job done. This paperwork will come in handy should you need to prove you had your tint professionally done.
Maintaining records of your window tint installation can be useful should you be pulled over for having dark tint. If the police officer needs to check whether your tint is legal, you can show them proof that you are completely complying with the letter of the law.
Consulting with a professional is always a good idea when considering auto tint. The guidelines can be complicated, but these professionals have the knowledge and experience to help you choose the correct tint for your vehicle, as well as offer data that demonstrates your tint level is classified as legal in accordance with the law.

Arkansas Tint Laws FAQ

How do you measure the tint of window film?
The darkness of a window film is measured as a percentage of the Visible Light Transmission. The lower the percentage is, the less visible light is allowed through the tint. Arkansas Tint Laws require that a tint is measured using a photometer or tint meter.
Why are certain areas of Arkansas said to be harder on window tint than others?
This is a myth. The Arkansas law is universally enforced. If a window tint law is failed, the ticket can be issued by any officer regardless of their location in the state.
What is the difference in the transitional laws for tint perception and installation described in Act 868 of 2011 and Act 577 of 2013?
Act 577 of 2013 made the installation of window tint film with a Visible Light Transmission of more than thirty percent (30%) illegal after July 23 , 2013. Act 577 of 2013 took effect on October 1, 2013. Until then, any vehicle purchased prior to July 23, 2013 could have tint installed as long as the film had a VLT of less than twenty (20%) on the dark side of the windshield and darker than fifty percent (50%) on the light side of the windshield. The VLT of film is how much light is transmitted through the film. Act 577 of 2013 was worded to extend the transitional law under Act 865 of 2011 until October 1, 2013. Any window tint installation performed prior to that date is still valid. The transitional provision will end when those vehicles which passed inspection at the time of Act 568 of 2011 are sold or if the owner chooses to have all the tint removed from the vehicle.