Stupid Tint Laws and all my troubles....

[PhatCellyGT]

I get pulled over today coming back to work from lunch. The cop said my tint was too dark and gave me a ticket. I work in VA and live in WVA, in WVA the tint law is 35%, in VA it's 50% The cops (all 5 that showed up :confused: ) said My car has to be VA state legal even though it's registered in WVA because work in VA. Then they search my car because my tint is "probable cause". The cop found a butterfly knife that I forgot I even had in my console. Now, I'm charged w/ a felony weapons offense too!!! I have court next month. This Sucks

Wil

[LaW]

Wow butterfly knives are illegal to own down there? Up here in wisc you can't sell them but you can own them... owe well,

[oldster]

I'm certainly not a lawyer but your story is interesting. If your tint is 35% and thus legal in the state in which the car is registered, I would think that would be the determining factor. If the ticket is bogus then a lawyer could (I think) make a good case for there not being any probable cause and thus an illegal search. If so maybe the knife charge would disappear. Get a lawyer.

[HilfigerCelica]

I didn't know knifes were illegal. Down here in TN, every redneck and his momma has a knife of some sort.

[LaW]

butterfly knife = different :)

[Timmy~GTS]

Isn't the car a more deadly weapon? :)

[VZV21]

You may have a profiling case (can't tell for sure, but try bringing a lawyer and pull a Johnny Cochran).

Tint laws in VA, 50% front & 35% rear.

The cops probably would say they had probable cause because of the tint (see first statement).

Acutally, no cop in VA has given me trouble with 35% all around, maybe they don't suspect that from a Camry driver.

But I'd look into a lawyer

[PhatCellyGT]

yeah, I'm gonna go talk to a DA tomorrow morning. She's a friend of mine and I'm gonna see what she thinks. I'll keep you guys posted(if I'm not locked up that is)

Wil

[2kgtx]

A stupid phrase comes to mind it sucks but yet so true "When in Rome do what the Romans do"

[cam_n_scott]

Yeah I have to say that its wierd how states decide what kinds of stuff is illegal. I believe that both switchblades and butterfly knives are illegal in CT. This is probably due to the fact that they were in the 80s what 9mm's and glocks are to gang warfare today. One has to wonder, what if you had been carrying a katana in your trunk...? or for that matter, a lawnmower blade ("I'm gonna kill 'im wit it... uh huh - Slingblade anyone?). Anyway good luck with your case, like oldster says, at the least consult a lawyer and see what you can do. Again, good luck

CS

[coOOlcelica]

i hate virgina's laws period!!!!!!!

[Boognish]

I feel your pain man. We've got the same stupid butterfly knife law in Ohio and the 50% tint law too. I find it really interesting that the law is 50% tint all ALL windows, yet half the freaking mini vans and SUVs I see here have Limo tint on the entire rear half. You think mini vans ever get pulled over for illegal tint? I think not.

[VZV21]

The minivan & truck tints can go as dark as 15%. It's all legal because it's factory tint.

In VA, trucks can go with 20% tint in the back, not exactly sure about SUV's and minivans, they may be the same.

[kuruptgt]

i never knew butterfly knives were illegal wow and its a felony sh!t u got screwed. that was deffinately a bogus stop if u live in one state and work in another your car can have whatever the registered state says is allowed. i know that for a fact. i had my car reg in VA but lived in NJ and i got pulled over all the time cause i had all my windows even winsheild tinted but i just told em it was legal in VA and they could.nt do anything about it

[DopeGTS]

Here in IL I believe they can't use probabal cause anymore. That's just a guess though. I used to live in a small suburb of chicago and I got pulled over atleast ever focking day because of my tint. I just kept getting tickets and paying them. They didn't require me to show up in court. Then when I moved, to a larger area I get pulled over gotta go to court and show the judge a picture. I didn't want to deal with it anymore so I just took off the front 2 windows. I miss them soooo much! Anyway, good luck man...May the schwartz be with you.