Hello everyone,

I've moved to the Seattle area about 6 months ago and my old plates have recently expired. I'm not familiar with the WA laws on emissions and safety... so here are a few questions I have. Any help would be appreciated!

Where do I need to get my safety and emissions done? No CEL thanks to English Racing so I don't believe emissions is an issue.

I do have 20% percent tint on the front windows, is that an issue? If so any way to work around that? Anything that I need to look out for, front plate? exhaust issues?

How much am I expecting to pay for the inspections and also to get it register? Mine's a 03.

That's about what i have off the top of my head. Thanks again

 

See this link for more info regarding tinting. Specifically, the Window Tinting/Suncreening section. Personally I've never had an issue with window tint and the highest I've gone is 20% (once had a SuperDuty with 5% + factory tint), and I've been pulled over a lot. I usually crack my windows when pulled over.

See this site for more info regarding emissions. I don't have much personal experience here as I live in Monroe.

 

35% is the legal limit, but a lot of people run 15-25% and get away with it, just don't drive like a tool and you should be fine

 

What about passing safety for the tint, am I gonna get any problems from the dmv inspection? I haven't had much issues with the cops so far. Knock on wood.

 

no

 

mostly cops don't just pull over for tint, you have to be doing some other kind of violation and then they will just throw the tint in there for ****s and giggles.

 

^and really only if you're being a major *** for them to throw that much of the book at you.

 

No inspections, just gotta worry about emissions down around Seattle. The further you are from there however, you won't have to do emissions like some of us!

 

I was pulled over for just my tint once. The cop was actually nice and explained to me that they were starting to crack down on people with tint that is too dark. He tested my windows and said they are 16%.

 

I used to rock 18% on my old lancer. Never got a ticket or pulled over just for that but I was stopped numerous times for no front plate which is mandatory.

 

18% on mine, no issues. Legal limit is 35%, as previously stated. Trucks have different laws, as I understand it, so maybe easier to get away with darker.

 

Thanks guys, very helpful!

 

I would advise caution if you are going to tint beyond the legal limit. Some cops turn a blind eye while others don’t. I had a not so legal tint on my Mazdaspeed I didn’t have a problem for over a year after I bought the car and then boom one day it became an issue. Fortunately the local cops only wanted the front side windows changed to a legal tint. Their view was that since trucks and SUV’s are allowed very dark tints on their rear and rear side windows they weren’t going to make me change the tint on my rear windows. Sometimes it’s nice living in a small town.


OM

 

I would say this is true most of the time...I have never been pulled over for my tint. They are usually too busy telling me how illegal my exhaust is to look at my tint.
That said a few weeks ago when I called the sheriff to file a police report after my evo was vandalized, he proceeded to tell me that my tint looked a little dark but that he didn't have his measurement tool. He told me if he had it he would measure it. Nothing like responding to someone who has just suffered thousands of dollars worth of damage to their car and tell them that you would really like to slap a meaningless ticket on top of that to really make their day..
The wife's car has way darker tint and never gotten a second look from the fuzz. So really I wouldn't worry about it but just deal with the fact that they can use it as a reason to shake you down and see what kind of municipal revenue they can get out of you.

 

My wagon has 15% on the doors and 5% around the black three trunk windows.