As of January 1, 2020, drivers in Alabama are required to have a minimum level of tinting on their windshields. The new law, which was passed by the state legislature in 2019, requires that all cars and trucks have at least a 35% light transmittance on the windshield. This means that 35% of the light that hits the windshield will be allowed to pass through. The other 65% will be reflected or absorbed by the tint.
The new law applies to both front and rear windows, but there are some exceptions. For example, if a car has side windows that cannot be opened, then those windows do not need to meet the 35% light transmittance requirement. Additionally, if a car has aftermarket window tinting that was installed before January 1st, 2020, then that tinting is grandfathered in and does not need to meet the new requirements.
There are several reasons why the state legislature decided to pass this new law. One reason is safety; darker tints make it harder for drivers to see out of their windows, which can lead to accidents. Another reason is aesthetics; many people believe that darkly-tinted windows look better than lightly-tinted ones. Finally, this new law will help reduce heat build-up inside cars during the summer months by allowing more sunlight into the cabin.
If you live in Alabama and drive a car with window tinting, make sure that your tinting meets the new legal requirements. Otherwise, you could be pulled over and fined by police officers who are now on the lookout for violators of this new law.