Tinting your car windows helps block harmful ultraviolet rays while driving on the roads of Salt Lake City. It also keeps the temperature in your car at a comfortable level. Although it provides these benefits to drivers and passengers, the installation of window tinting is subject to existing standards, particularly when it comes to the degree of tint.
The Risks of Dark Window Tint
Driving with tinted car windows makes your trip comfortable. But it can also put your safety at risk while on the road. If your tint is too dark, it may affect your vision when you’re driving at night. This increases your risk of getting involved in an accident.
During the day, window tint reflects the sunlight away from the vehicle. You protect yourself from harmful UV rays, but other people on the road may suffer from excessive reflection. The glare from your windows can be blinding to other drivers.
Using darker window tints for the back and the side windows are acceptable in some states. It gives drivers privacy and comfort. But it’s a different case when the tint on your front windshield is too dark.
Tinting Laws in Utah
States have their own laws for window tinting. In Utah, such laws were enacted in 2005. The state has specified the percentage of visible light allowed through car windows, or visible light transmission (VLT), and these are:
- Windshield: Non-reflective tint beyond the manufacturer’s AS-1 line or top 4 inches
- Front side windows: 43 percent of light in must pass through
- Back and Rear side windows: Any darkness is acceptable
Utah’s window tint laws also state that Sedans, SUVs, and vans must not use mirrored or metallic appearance. The state doesn’t restrict tint color, as well.
Replacing Window Tint
In case your car window tint doesn’t meet the legal standards in your area, it’s best to remove it and replace it with a new one. You can remove your car’s tint in three different ways. Each of them varies in cost and difficulty levels.
- Thermal – this method uses heat to remove window tint. Hot steam softens the adhesive, separating the window tint from the glass. It’s an easy method, but it would require you to have a clothing steamer.
- Mechanical – this is a more affordable option than thermal. It’s more labor intensive, though. When you use this method, you will probably rip the film in smaller pieces, which can be painstaking.
- Chemical – since the adhesive used in window tint is soluble in ammonia or alcohol, you can use these chemicals in removing the window tint. This technique can get a little messy, so you need to wear personal protective equipment to protect yourself from toxins from the chemicals.
Clean your car windows once you have removed the tint completely. Wash off the residue of the adhesive, and find cleaning products specially formulated for your car windows.
Window tints can improve driving comfort. But it has to be done according to the law. So know the tinting laws in your area to avoid any legal problems down the road. Work with professionals, whether you’re removing or installing a new window tint, to avoid mistakes or damage to your car.
