Got a ticket - Advice needed

polishmafia · 09-01-2009

This is not a cop bashing thread, nor is this a "please pity me" thread.

On 7/29, I was pulled over here in Maple Grove. I turned the car off, put my keys and wallet on the dash, and turned on the interior lights.

The officer came to my window, asked for my license and registration, which I handed to him. He asked if I knew why he pulled me over, and I said I wasn't sure. He said he pulled me over for my window tint. He used the tint meter on my front driver and rear driver side windows, said my windows were at 35% percent. He never showed me the reading on the meter.

He returned to his car with my information, and after about 5 or 6 minutes he came back. He handed me my license and sternly said "Fix your car". He started walking back to his vehicle and I said "Ok officer, I will. Thank you."

I am guessing he didn't quite hear me, so he turned back for a second and asked "What?", to which I repeated that "I will get the tint taken care of, I appreciate you letting me go."

Again, but louder this time, he said "Fix your car!"

I believe I got a warning, and drove home.

...

Today in the mail I received a ticket for illegal window tint! It has the date and time of when he pulled me over, and it has all of my information.

- I never received a paper copy of the ticket when I was pulled over.
- I never signed anything or was given information regarding how to pay or contest the ticket.
- The officer never said he was issuing a ticket.

Can I be issued a ticket via the mail?? Even if I did NOT receive any notification when I was pulled over? I'm a bit shocked.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I'd really like to go to court to hear the officer's side of the story - that is, if I should have been given notification then and there when I was pulled over.

*** Cliff Notes
- Got pulled over
- Was never given a ticket or notified I was being given a ticket
- Got a ticket in the mail today

Any advice? If I'm in the wrong, I'll pay the ticket

Kevin 1G Drummer · 09-01-2009

I would start by making an appointment with a hearing officer to see what your options are. My guess is that you're gonna end up getting stuck with the ticket unless you remove the tint. It does seem kinda weird he would give you a ticket after he walked away, he must have been having a bad day.

FattyBoomBatty · 09-01-2009

Oh, you can definitely get a ticket in the mail, remember the red light tickets? All like that.

And is your tint 35%? I bet it is, and I bet you know it is, so why does he need to show you the reading?

I got a fix it ticket for an exhaust that was too loud on my Malibu, and the cop didn't use a decibel meter, nor did they use one after I fixed the system and showed them. But I knew it was pretty loud, so why argue?

I think 50% is the legal limit for tint, so why go darker unless you have Florida plates on your car?

**mlomker** · 09-01-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin_1G_Drummer

I would start by making an appointment with a hearing officer to see what your options are.

I've heard that by showing up on the court date you'll usually be offered a reduced fine. If you have more time than money then I'd give it a try.

slowbubblecar · 09-01-2009

Doubt there is a court date for that offense. I would meet one of the people at the court to see what they say about it. I thought they needed you to sign it. Regarding the red light tickets, I thought they ruled against them.

**Kracka** · 09-01-2009

Meet with the county prosecutor (call the court and schedule an appt). Do you have any pictures of your car pre-tint? If so, bring them with you. I have pictures of my car without tint and with a front license plate for this very reason

**mlomker** · 09-01-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowbubblecar

Regarding the red light tickets, I thought they ruled against them.

Yup, not allowed in MN.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/16/1688.asp

Project2G · 09-01-2009

Did they send you a ticket for the fine or a fix it ticket meaning if you fix the tint you can get it written off and just pay like a $10-25 fine? I'm sure every state is different so that's why I ask.

john · 09-01-2009

How much is the ticket. I am about to pull the trigger on tinting my car. I was thinking 20% though...

**Kracka** · 09-01-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by john

How much is the ticket. I am about to pull the trigger on tinting my car. I was thinking 20% though...

Around $130 I think. 20% is almost a guaranteed ticket.

Kevin 1G Drummer · 09-01-2009

I'm not sure how it works in Hennepin county, but in Ramsey county, having illegal window tint is considered a moving violation. I got a tint ticket a few months ago, but I just pulled the tint off my windows since it was getting kinda crappy anyways. Didn't have to pay any kind of fee or anything once the hearing officer looked at the car.

tehehodi · 09-01-2009

if your strapped on time, i would just call the court house, i think they have the number on the back of the ticket or something and see what they say.

or..........

just burn that mother fucka down! lol

t-revzr · 09-01-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by FattyBoomBatty

Oh, you can definitely get a ticket in the mail, remember the red light tickets? All like that.

And is your tint 35%? I bet it is, and I bet you know it is, so why does he need to show you the reading?

I got a fix it ticket for an exhaust that was too loud on my Malibu, and the cop didn't use a decibel meter, nor did they use one after I fixed the system and showed them. But I knew it was pretty loud, so why argue?

I think 50% is the legal limit for tint, so why go darker unless you have Florida plates on your car?

When i was pulled over i got a warning for my tint. The officer told me it's illegal to have any tint on cars in the state of minnesota now. Even the back doors on your car! He told me it's only allowed on trucks now days and only the back doors on a truck.. Is this true?

Kevin 1G Drummer · 09-01-2009

You can still have tint, as long as it's not darker than 50%. On a truck, van, or SUV it can be as dark as you want on the back windows, but not on the front door windows. Also, you're not allowed to have tint on the windshield at all other than the little strip at the very top.

john · 09-01-2009

This 20%?????

polishmafia · 09-01-2009

I'm not questioning the validity of the ticket, whether my tint is illegal or not. If I am found guilty, I'll pay the fine. If not, I will walk away.

I'm questioning the officer's actions in citing a violation of MN law without notifying me when I was pulled over.

I'm getting alot of replies here and on some other forums. I'll keep everyone up to date. I will call tomorrow.

slowbubblecar · 09-02-2009

I am actually suprised I haven't gotten any tickets for my car. As seen above, mine are illegally tinted and were like that when I bought the car. My car is also somewhat loud and doesn't have a front plate either. For the most part, cops seem to leave me alone. I even have my windows closed a lot when driving. They probably think I am an old man because they cant see who is driving it. The tint works well in the daylight (no need for sunglasses) but I can't see anything backing up at night. I need the windows open because I can barely see out of them at night unless the road is lit up well.

If I do get a ticket for the plate, noise, or the tint, I will probably just pay it. I am not going to change any of those. I like the privacy of the windows and there are no decent looking front plate mounts for my car. The factory didn't even put them on the cars so all of them are aftermarket. If you ever see John's blue viper, you can see how stupid the plate looks.

As far as it goes for tinting the rear windows, I didn't think it mattered on the rear windows in a car as long as the driver and front seat windows are not to too dark. I thought I remember hearing you could paint them black if you really wanted and it wouldn't matter. It doesn't make sense why they would limit tint on rear passenger windows. Look at all of the molester vans driving around during the day that don't have any windows behind the driver. I wouldn't think it would be any different.

talonite · 09-02-2009

ya tint is kind of a stupid law in my opinion, i've gotten it a couple times lol, im still not taking it off, im too stubbourn. but a tint ticket is $133 and you need the meter reading on the ticket. Fight it all you can. Worst come to worst you will just have to pay it. might as well try.

TheBlizzard · 09-02-2009

The ticket for tint is actually $50 in MN, BUT there is a $83 surcharge which makes it $133, just their way of fucking you over. I was stopped numerous times for this same reason, I paid it the first few times (being stubborn), then I just took it all off (except my back window).

Even my neighbor who is a Hwy Patrol stopped me, gave me a warning, and said that he would give me a ticket next time. After that I just took it off, which I must say is a pain in the ass, even with the right tools.

Just pay it, the only way you are getting out of it is if you remove it all and bring your car down there and show them. Pictures might work but your change is a lot less with them. They are really cracking down on tint in MN, my buddy and I were just stopped in his 2008 1 ton Ford truck the other day, his tint was 35%, the cop was driving the other way and whipped around and got us. Crazy.

Kevin 1G Drummer · 09-02-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowbubblecar

As far as it goes for tinting the rear windows, I didn't think it mattered on the rear windows in a car as long as the driver and front seat windows are not to too dark. I thought I remember hearing you could paint them black if you really wanted and it wouldn't matter. It doesn't make sense why they would limit tint on rear passenger windows. Look at all of the molester vans driving around during the day that don't have any windows behind the driver. I wouldn't think it would be any different.

In a car the darkest you're allowed to have on any window is 50%. It's pretty stupid how trucks, vans and suv's can get away with dark tint on the back windows but cars aren't allowed anything over 50%.