Window tint exemption?

[jmcgriff19]

I have looked up the tint laws here in Arkansas and it says that the state allows for a medical exemption for "darker than legal" tint. I then went to the eye doctor to see about getting an exemption and he said he had never heard of it. He didn't want to do something that he didn't know if it was legal. So then I called the local police station and talked to one of the Sergeants and he told me he had never heard of it. The only other guess I have is to call the state police.
The sun really does bother my eyes. There are days that I am driving to work and can harly keep my eyes open because the sun is causing me to squint my eyes so bad. So I would have no problem passing a test if they were to run one on my eyes.

So what do I have to do to get a medical exemption for my tint.

[97Silverado]

Just do what the rest of us do...wear sunglasses.

[jmcgriff19]

I have an expensive pair of polarized Oakley's and they still don't really help. My eyes are extremely sensitive to light. It is the worst early in the morning driving directly into the sun and late at night when there are a lot of cars on the road.

[stukinarut]

I have an expensive pair of polarized Oakley's and they still don't really help. My eyes are extremely sensitive to light. It is the worst early in the morning driving directly into the sun and late at night when there are a lot of cars on the road.
Not to be a smart @$$ but what good will it do from the front? You can only tint down 6 inches on the front. FYI they usually don't check that strip at all. I've tinted it double 8% and never ever got asked about it. Now the sides well they got torn off and put back on at least 3 times.

[BobbyWayne]

I have never heard of that. What is the statute number that you speak of?

If your expensive sunglasses don't work ehy do you think tinting your windows will?

[jmcgriff19]

Not to be a smart @$$ but what good will it do from the front? You can only tint down 6 inches on the front. FYI they usually don't check that strip at all. I've tinted it double 8% and never ever got asked about it. Now the sides well they got torn off and put back on at least 3 times.

From what I understand the exemption allows you to tint the front windshield too. I have several friends that have a layer of 50% on the windshield. You can't tell it by looking at it but it knocks a lot of the glare off.

[jmcgriff19]

I have never heard of that. What is the statute number that you speak of?

If your expensive sunglasses don't work ehy do you think tinting your windows will?

I am not sure what the statute number is.

I have several friends that have just gotten their windows tinted dark and the windshield done in 50% and I can see perfectly out of their trucks.

["Big Daddy" MudBug]

Check on the internet for the state statute and print it out. Also check with the state troopers website for the exemption form. I have an exemption form for here in La. I had to download it from lsp.org (state police website), have the eye doctor sign off on it (and pay for an eye exam), have it notorized, then submit it to the DMV for a background check. I checked ok, they signed it and sent it back. Mine is good for 3 years.

My truck is tinted 5% all around, plus 20% over on the back, plus 35% on the front glass with a 10" strip.

[97Silverado]

Here is the Arkansas information:

27-37-306. Light transmission levels for the tinting of motor vehicle windows.

(a) It shall be unlawful to operate a vehicle on the public highways if after-market tinting material, together with striping material, has been applied to any windows of the vehicle or if letters or logos larger than one-quarter inch (1/4") have been applied to the windows of the vehicle.
(b) After-market tinting of vehicle windows shall be lawful only as follows:

(1) The glass immediately in front of the operator may have a strip of tinting material applied to the top edge, known in the industry as an "eyebrow", but it may not extend downward more than five inches (5") from the top center of the windshield;

(2) On all 1994 model vehicles and later model vehicles, the side windows and side wings located on the immediate right or left of the driver or to the right or left immediately behind the driver may be covered with an after-market tinting material which results in at least twenty-five percent (25%) net light transmission, except that the side windows immediately behind the driver on any truck, bus, trailer, motor home, or multiple purpose passenger vehicle may be covered with an after-market tinting material which results in at least ten percent (10%) net light transmission; and

(3) On all 1994 model vehicles and later model vehicles, the rearmost window may be covered with an after-market tinting material which results in at least ten percent (10%) net light transmission.

(c) Any vehicle that is operated on Arkansas roads with after-market tinting material on any glass shall have attached to the front glass immediately to the operator's left a label containing the name and phone number of the company installing the tinting material and affirming that all tinting on the vehicle conforms to the requirements of this section.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to motorists operating vehicles registered in other states that have enacted legislation regulating the shading of windshields or windows of motor vehicles who are driving on Arkansas roads and highways.

(e)(1) A motorist shall be exempt from this section if the motorist is diagnosed by a physician as having a disease or disorder, including, but not limited to, albinism or lupus, for which the physician determines it is in the best interest of the motorist to be exempt from the requirements of this section. The motorist shall carry in his or her motor vehicle a physician's certification.

(2) The installation of tinted glass shall be exempt from this section if the tinted glass is installed in the motor vehicle of a person exempted under this subsection, as evidenced by a physician's certification.

(f) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to vehicles or operators of vehicles used exclusively or primarily for the transportation of dead human bodies.

(g) Any installer of motor vehicle glass tinting material who installs any glass tinting in violation of this section or otherwise violates the provisions of this section or any person operating any motor vehicle with glass tinting or other after-market alteration of the glass in the vehicle which is contrary to the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

(h) The provisions of this section shall also apply to:

(1) All 1993 and older model vehicles which have not had after-market tinting material applied in accordance with Acts 1991, No. 563 [repealed], or Acts 1991, No. 1043 [repealed]; and

(2) At such time as the ownership of the same are transferred, all older model vehicles which have had after-market tinting material applied in accordance with Acts 1991, No. 563 [repealed], or Acts 1991, No. 1043 [repealed].

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other law to the contrary, windshields of law enforcement vehicles may be tinted to the extent that the windshield permits at least fifty percent (50%) net light transmission.


History. Acts 1993, No. 967, §§ 1, 2; 1997, No. 143, § 1.

[jmcgriff19]

So is 27-37-306 the statute number? This is kind of a dumb question but what exactly does the statute number mean? Is it just a system to help look up the law or something?

[97Silverado]

Yes. It is Title 27, Subtitle 3, Chapter 37, Subchapter 3...or written altogether 27-37-306 of the Arkansas code.

[jmcgriff19]

Thanks man. So if I get the same "I have never heard of that" when I call the state police I can just give them that number and they can look it up?

[fire730]

"Big Daddy"- Do you get the exemption filled out for more than one vehicle? So what is the light transmission limitations if you get the formed filled out? Thanks

["Big Daddy" MudBug]

I have not gotten my wife's truck (02 Sequoia) tinted so no need for a second exemption...tho I'd like to. She doesn't drive well during the day normally. She'd be blind in my truck at night. When I went to get my inspection sticker, I had to tint on the front. I overheard te mechanics talking about if the one guy ripped my tint they'd be liable to replace it so be careful. I told them that it was illegal for me to have the front tinted. I was told "You have an exemption. You can have whatever you want on there as long as you have that." I got my tinting done at Tinting Concepts (corner of Vets/ Power). They said the same thing.

["Big Daddy" MudBug]

The pic in my sig is old. My windows there were just 5% with the 6" brow.

[jmcgriff19]

Check on the internet for the state statute and print it out. Also check with the state troopers website for the exemption form. I have an exemption form for here in La. I had to download it from lsp.org (state police website), have the eye doctor sign off on it (and pay for an eye exam), have it notorized, then submit it to the DMV for a background check. I checked ok, they signed it and sent it back. Mine is good for 3 years.

My truck is tinted 5% all around, plus 20% over on the back, plus 35% on the front glass with a 10" strip.

If you don't mind me asking, what is your medical condition that allowed you to get your exemption?

I am trying to remember what the condition is call for sensitivity to light but I don't remember what it is. It is something like photophobia I think.