What the hell Car Manufacturers?

Why do car manufacturers offer factory privacy glass (window tint) on everything but cars? X-overs, pickups, minivans, suvs.... yup. Not on cars. Whats the deal?

Legality differs state to state. They want to be able to produce as few variations as possible. Witness the option "packages" that you have with most, if not all new vehicles today. No more picking and choosing options. They say it is to save me money, I say that it is to force me to pay for options that I could care less about, or would prefer to not have.

But you cant get privacy glass on cars. I've seen SUVs and minivans without the privacy glass but most of the time they have it. I've never seen a car (sans a limo) with privacy glass. (Privacy glass for this conversation is beyond the B-pillar. I realize that there are different laws and different amount of light filtering permitted, but usually only for the front two door windows) I'm not talking about the film tint either.

Because lots of states prohibit cars from having dark tint on windows while trucks and SUV's are only limited on what can be applied to the front windshield and 2 front side windows. So the factory tint only goes as dark as the state with the most restrictive tint laws, since you can't take factory tint off. This way the vehicle is always legal no matter what state its in, and it means the manufacture can order the glass in higher numbers, which makes it cheaper, and easier to sell.

[Run-DMC]Tinted windows don't mean nothing, they know who's inside[/Run-DMC]

I already know there are laws about tint on the front windows and thats not really what I'm talking about here. So you're telling me there are different laws for window tint for all other types of vehicles other than cars? So whats the difference between my cherokee with car plates and it being considered a wagon and any other car? I have privacy glass on my cherokee behind the b pillar, I want that on cars.

Yes, trucks and vans are treated differently in the eyes of legislation in many ways, windows being just one. There are generally lots of loopholes and technicalities to be exploited.

It's not even just state-by-state variation on tint. Around here, neighboring municipalities have different standards, so you can be legal on one side of the street and in violation on the other.

In the snooty 'hoods, it's intended as a gimme for the po-po to pull you over, issue a fix-it ticket, and run you (the riff raff) out of their bucolic little burg. That or a reason for them to smell alcohol or marijuana, coerce you into waiving your 4th Amendment rights, and search your car. All 'cause your windows were 2% too dark.

Not that that ever happens.

Haha you thought you had 4th amendment rights to refuse a search of your vehicle?

You need to google supreme court decisions.

Ford Edge, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Magnum, GM Suburban, Jeep Cherokee, Chrysler Minivans, All full sized pickups... These vehicles come with some pretty dark privacy glass all behind the b-pillar. The Magnum I would consider a car but why cant you get the same privacy glass behind the b-pillar in the Charger? You can go and get your rear windows practically blacked out with tint in every state (yes/no?) but not from the factory. Why? Is there really some convoluted law that prevents it, and the Magnum sneaks threw a loop hole?

In the eyes of the federal courts, the 4th Amendment still protects from unreasonable search and seizure of vehicles. Does that mean you can assert that right and expect to have a cop say, 'Well, okay then,' and walk away? No. Will you be vindicated after a lengthy and expensive legal battle? If your lawyer is good enough, yes.

IIRC, "Privacy Glass" is intended for businesses so people can't see what kind of fancy job specific stuff they carry. It is meant as a theft deterent. Or that is what I remember from when thew news looked into it like 5-10 years ago.

There was one cop in my home town that was pulling kid over all the time for window tint but it was only for the windows on the front doors of the car. He actually made a friend of mine rip it off on the side of the road, but only on the front windows. He let him keep the back tint on the car. Once again reinforcing myself asking WHY?

RossD wrote: You can go and get your rear windows practically blacked out with tint in every state (yes/no?) but not from the factory.

Yes/no? Depends on the vehicle, state and municipality.

RossD wrote: Why? Is there really some convoluted law that prevents it, and the Magnum sneaks threw a loop hole?

I don't know off the top of my head, but it's entirely possible that Chrysler classifies the Magnum as a light truck. Several manufacturers exploited a loophole to help with their CAFE scores. Subaru, for instance, classifies the Forester as a truck. Chrysler might do the same with the Magnum.

So the minivan with privacy glass, built in booster seats, two dvd tv screens and a Bugs Bunny emblem on the side of the vehicle has business applications?

RossD wrote: There was one cop in my home town that was pulling kid over all the time for window tint but it was only for the windows on the front doors of the car [...] WHY?

Again, depends on city/state/muni laws. Most do have different standards for front and back windows. Most also regulate the amount of 'visor' tint on windshields.

It's all pretty arbitrary. The safest thing to do, if you have tinted windows, is carry a copy of the receipt from the tint shop showing the tint percentage, and a copy of the appropriate ordinance.

Or smile, say, 'Yes sir, Officer,' and call your lawyer in the morning.

RossD wrote: So the minivan with privacy glass, built in booster seats, two dvd tv screens and a Bugs Bunny emblem on the side of the vehicle has business applications?

It's not usually delineated by commercial vs. private vehicles, but car vs. truck/van.

I'm calling shenanigans.

I'll pistol whip the next person to say Shenanigans..

I'm calling shenanigans on pistol whipping.

Anyway, Ross, it's the law. Reason has no bearing.

alex wrote: I'm calling shenanigans on pistol whipping. Anyway, Ross, it's the law. Reason has no bearing.

With that, thread closed. Thanks for playing ya'll.

I guess with trucks, someone must have successfully argued that if you can build a panel van by replacing the back windows with metal, tinting the glass can't be any worse.

Truck (and SUV's) can have privacy glass but in order to do so they have to have dual side mirrors. Dual mirrors are pretty popular but in years past were an option. Chrysler had a recall in the early minivans where it was possible to option the vehicle with tinted rear windows but only one mirror. Chrysler had to include the second mirror in the recall.

Also classed as a truck are HHR, PT Cruiser, Jeep Compass (but not Dodge Caliber - same vehicle) and many more.

MadScientistMatt wrote: I guess with trucks, someone must have successfully argued that if you can build a panel van by replacing the back windows with metal, tinting the glass can't be any worse.

I doubt it. You can hold a gun on a cop behind tinted glass while he is walking up to a car/truck, that would be a bit more difficult behind a sheet of steel. I believe the tinting laws are meant to help prevent the above.

jrw1621 wrote: Truck (and SUV's) can have privacy glass but in order to do so they have to have dual side mirrors.

Depends on the area. Not in this state for example. Though you can replace the rear glass with sheet metal and be legal with dual outside mirrors.

nocones wrote: I'll pistol whip the next person to say Shenanigans..

Hey Farva what's the name of that restaurant you like with all the goofy E36 M3 on the walls and the mozzarella sticks?