Mississippi Window Tint: In-Depth Guide To 2023 Laws
Mississippi Tint Law Summary
The rear side windows and the rear window are exempt from the window tint rules in Mississippi. This means that you can have any darkness of tint on those windows. The windshield must have a six inch non-reflective strip along the top of the windshield. If you go past that six inch mark , you are in violation of the law. On the front side windows, you can have a light tint which allows at least 70% of light in. On the back side windows and rear window, it is perfectly legal to tint the windows any darkness.
Tinted Windows Legal Limits
Mississippi window tint laws outline specific legal percentages for all windows on a vehicle. Window tint in Mississippi is regulated by the Mississippi Freedom to Breathe Act.
The legal tint percentages for auto windows in Mississippi range from seven percent VLT to thirty percent VLT on sedans, vans, and SUVs, while all other vehicles have legal tint percentages of forty percent VLT, but only in shades that are metallic, tinted, or dyed.
Permissible amounts of tint in Mississippi depend on the type of film applied to the windows. Here’s a look at how tint percentages break down on different types of vehicles:
- Front Side Windows: Windshields may be tinted with windshield film that has a maximum level of thirty percent tint, while front side windows may be tinted with tinted or dyed film that has a maximum of twenty-four percent tint. Tinted windshield film is subject to restrictions and must not cause any obstruction to the driver’s line of sight.
- Back Side Windows: Mississippi law prohibits drivers and passengers from sitting on or crossing through back side windows that are not tinted with dyed, tinted or textured glass that does not exceed seven percent VLT.
- Rear Window: Rear windows on passenger cars or trucks must be tinted with tinted or dyed film and can be darker than both the front side windows and back side windows.
- Windshield: Tint on a vehicle’s windshield can have a maximum percentage of seventy percent VLT.
New tint laws that went into effect on July 1, 2019, dictate that it is illegal for a driver to cross any portion of his or her body through the rearmost side window (or sit on lower panel of window) unless that person is in a motor vehicle that has tinted or laminated glass tinted so as to make the glass substantially opaque that will not allow the driver to see through to the other side.
Tint can only be applied to windshields on the top four inches of glass. It is illegal to put tint in the lower five inches of the window or windshield.
If a passenger vehicle owner has factory tinted rear windows, it is illegal to add more tint in the back.
The Mississippi Freedom to Breathe Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 63-7-64 (2014)) regulates window tinting in the state of Mississippi. The law distinguishes between tinted vehicle glass and tinted window film. The bill requires the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of the bill — a process that was completed in 2016.
Tinted Windows Penalties
Failing to comply with window tint laws in Mississippi can have consequences. Penalties for non-compliance with window tint laws vary by state and Mississippi is no different.
The penalties for non-compliance are set forth in Miss. Code Ann. § 63-7-17, which specifies that a violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of "not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00)." The statute also imposes a fine of "not less than seventy-five dollars ($75.00)" for a second or subsequent offense. A copy of the statute is set forth below for your convenience. The fine of $75 is actually the amount of fine that each individual who appeals a conviction must pay to keep his or her conviction under seal pursuant to sections 63-9-31 to .33 of the Mississippi Code. The section applies to a second or subsequent offense. While the fine to be assessed on the first conviction is lower, the minimum fine for a second or subsequent is not. To put this penalty schedule into perspective, the fine imposed for violating window tint laws in Mississippi is overshadowed by other statutes found within the same chapter. For example, a violation of the Mississippi Move Over Law is punishable by a fine of not less than $250 and not more than $10,000 for each violation. You can read more about the fines for non-compliance in Section 63-7-123 of the Mississippi Code.
Tint Exemptions
As with the majority of states, Mississippi offers certain exemptions from tint restrictions that are often more lax than those outlined in the state’s window tinting laws. The most common exemptions are those applied to individuals who can show a medical need for additional tint above the legal limit on the windows of their vehicles. A person who wishes to be exempted from window tint law restrictions due to a medical need for extra tint must apply for a certificate, which can be obtained from the DOT. Applications require a doctor’s examination and a letter from the physician certifying the medical necessity for more restrictive tint guidelines.
Any medical exemptions granted by the DOT do not extend to tint on a vehicle’s windshield. Therefore, individuals seeking tint exemptions on their windshields may have difficulty obtaining a permit and should seek guidance from the department early in the tinting process. While a vehicle is subject to the same window tint laws as other vehicles on the road, physicians can ask for an exception to be made for patients requiring extra protection from intense sun exposure . This is especially true for patients who have shown severe sensitivity to sunlight and experience significant sunburns or other adverse effects when unprotected. Generally speaking, exemption certificates are often granted to drivers over age 60. However, because exemptions are discretionary in nature, people who feel they meet the requirements for a window tint exemption should petition the DOT. Individuals who wish to exempt a vehicle from window tint restriction regulations should seek an application form from their local department of transportation office or the department’s website. Vehicle owners will need to include a current home address, phone number, e-mail, vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model and year of the vehicle and information that supports their case for exemption. Additionally, applicants should include the name of their physician and any current diagnosis or medical conditions, as well as the doctor’s contact information.
How To Check Tint
If you are unsure of your window tint you can check to see if your window tint is compliant with the law. Law enforcement officers in Mississippi carry Tint Meters. The tint meter is not used very often. You should be aware of your window tint and tint percentages.
There are two primary methods to ensure that your window tint complies with the requirements of the law: using a tint meter or relying on the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications for window tint. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Tint Meter
Tint meters are available for purchase online, at auto stores, or specialty retailers. These devices measure and display the amount of light that passes through the window, giving the car owner or repair shop an instant reading of the tint level. In the hands of the right mechanic, garage, glass company, or tint shop, a tint meter is a practical tool for checking tint compliance in various types of vehicles.
Automobile Window Tinting Accessible to the Manufacturer’s Window Tint Information
Manufacturers of automobiles typically provide details on the window tint levels of their vehicles. If you’re concerned about compliance with Mississippi tint laws, you may be able to find the specification information in your car’s owner manual or by contacting the manufacturer. Your automobile owner’s manual will likely list the manufacturer’s tint specifications for each type of window in your vehicle.
Tint Changes and Future Regulations
As with most laws across the country, window tint laws have seen their share of changes in Mississippi. A few notable updates over the last decade include the introduction of windshield tint requirements and the specification of exactly how the percentage of tint is determined.
Windshield tint was first permitted in Mississippi in 2010. The law allowed for the uppermost five inches of the windshield to be tinted provided that the tint did not have a luminous reflectance greater than twenty percent.
In 2014, the rules on determining tint percentages were clarified to no longer require the combination of the window tint shade and the window film shade to determine the darkness of window Tint. Now, only the window film shade is taken into account when determining tint percentage. As a result, many dealers began advertising the tint available for sale as the VLT percentage with the actual shade of the film listed afterward.
These updates to the tint laws were generally a positive change as more people were able to legally tint their vehicles. However, as with most trends, several users with expendable income began to tint the windows of their vehicles to the point where it does not provide sufficient visibility while driving. Instances of police stop situations and accidents due to low visibility while lane changing or reversing have occurred, with several friends of mine being pulled over for having what has been deemed illegal window tint on their vehicles.
As a result of these reports and an increased concern over the safety of these vehicle modifications , the window tint laws may become even stricter in the near future. Upgrades that are seen to increase the safety of users of the road are often well received by the public, however, safety of vehicle operator may be sacrificed in order to meet aesthetic desires. These factors are typically taken into account when future updates to tint laws are considered.
This increased focus on the unintended safety consequences of extreme window tint may result in stricter tint laws in Mississippi. In the near future, an aspect of the tint law that is noted and often overlooked is the luminous reflectance requirement. As mentioned previously, the windows may not have a luminous reflectance greater than twenty percent. The reflectance percentage is taken into account when determining whether or not police have probable cause to pull over a vehicle. The state is also concerned about the transparent windows of many SUVs. The tint is typically only applied to rear side windows and rear window, which causes the reflectance for the front windows to be substantially lower than the reflectance that is required for the rear tint. Increased police stops due to vehicles with obscured visibility caused by luminous reflectance issues may cause future updates to the tint laws to address this issue.
These potential updates and any future updates will be welcome news for those who believe that extreme window tint decreases the safety of the public.