Legal Question in Traffic Law in Minnesota

I received a ticket today for illegally tinted windows on my vehicle. I bought this vehicle, nearly new, from the dealer 9 years ago with this tint and I've had two speeding tickets during that time and no one has ever mentioned window tint to me. This is especially disconcerting to me for two reasons:

1.) It's not a "fix-it ticket" so the only incentive to actually remove the tint is fear I'll be pulled over again and it took 9 years to be pulled over the first time. Removing the tint is not cheap, I'd still have to pay the ticket, and keeping the tint has many benefits from comfort in the hot summer months to security when my vehicle is parked outside.

2.) It would appear the intent of the law is to protect police officers when they are making a traffic stop. I was stopped solely for my tinted windows. I was not speeding or driving with a taillight out. If the whole point is to reduce the opportunities for officers to make traffic stops on vehicles with tinted windows, it's totally undermined by making the stop specifically because of the tint.

Do I have any recourse here? I know I can drag this out and cost everyone a whole lot of money and waste everyone's time including my own, but if I'm just going to get rolled over, then why bother? It's the principal of the thing. If I was speeding, fine, but this is a ridiculous use of the police force.


Asked on 8/02/10, 11:19 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Ross Brandborg Brudvik Law Office

It sounds like as long as you have this tinting on your windows you are in danger of being pulled over for that alone.

Doesn't matter whether you were speeding or anything else.

You can keep this current ticket in court, plead not guilty and try and work out a good deal.

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Answered on 8/09/10, 8:36 pm

Although creative, neither of your "disconcerting reasons" are defenses. As Mr. Brandborg stated, show up on your court date and defend yourself if you feel you did not violate the law. Otherwise, you may be able to convince a judge to lower the fine if you pay to have the tint removed before court.

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Answered on 8/10/10, 9:22 am


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