tint ticket, and pissed!

KBuva06 · Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:13:53 AM

So I was just driving in Rosslyn, Virginia in the rain, and an arlington county imbecile pulled me over in E36 to check my tint. Of course its too dark and "not legal in VA"

I do however have Florida license, registration, plate, etc and the tint shade is totally legal for florida. I just bought the car 6 months ago with the tint on it and live in DC for a year until I move back to Florida for school.

Is this worth arguing in court??? the ticket was only $90 ($30 infraction+$60 processing fee wtf) but its more the principle.

Anyone ever have experience with this happening to them?

Thanks in advance....

propchef · Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:27:32 AM

You can argue, but you'd probably lose. You were operating the vehicle with illegal equipment in the state of Virginia. The same would happen to you if they saw you were using a radar detector. Legal in some states, but not VA.

Tint is one of those things my HP friend calls a "suspicion" stop. They suspect you of driving erratically, fitting a suspicious profile, or speeding but they don't have the radar on, so they find an excuse to pull you. No officer likes to walk up to a vehicle they can't see into.
You could probably take the tint off (if you plan to stay) and have the ticket dismissed. Otherwise just pay it off and wave as VA disappears in your rear view mirror.

KBuva06 · Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:36:11 AM

I hear you, but I actually wasn't driving erratically or drawing attention, just looking for a parking spot.

The ordinance makes no sense if you are registered in another state... What if someone was passing through on a roadtrip or something... I can understand carrying a concealed weapon in glove compartment which is legal in FL, but not something that is not easily removeable such as tint.

Z3MCOUPE · Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:42:35 AM

So - If you fight it you are going to have to go to a court date in that state. Are you going to want to take the time and mileage to do that.

They know you wont want to do it. Unless you are a wealthy attorney, you are not gong to win.

Been there ....

KBuva06 · Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:56:37 AM

I actually live in DC, like 4 miles from the VA courthouse, which is the only reason i was entertaining the idea.

i just wanted to know if i had any legitimate argument or I would just be wasting my time...

MPRESV · Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:58:43 AM

I'd get an NRA sticker for your rear window. Then they'll think your one of them and not jack with you. But really, just pay that crap and f-em. At least it's not like some penisheads in Texas. These jack offs will actually scratch a huge X in the tint so it has to come off. But mostly they don't care. Clearly this cop is a penis and needed something to do, so you were his target. But that's cops for you. All of them are Hypocrites Anonymous members. I heart cops as you can tell and I have good reason to, but we won't get into that on here.

JAnglz · Tue, Feb-23-2010, 01:07:37 AM

You're going to be wasting your time because the court will ruled against you because you broke a state law. You were within their state and with that in mind, you must obey their laws. Does it suck? Yes, it does but the law it's the law, dumb or not.

I can see you winning if you paid an attorney but come on, would you really want to go this route? If this ticket isn't going to affect your license, which it should not, I would just pay it off and keep away from VA. If you're going to keep entering the state of Virginia and don't want to get another ticket, then consider removing your tints or getting a much lighter shade of tint.

KBuva06 · Tue, Feb-23-2010, 01:09:38 AM

haha, thanks bro, your post actually cheered me up a bit. Sometimes I literally think the cops are jealous over our sleek ride. I keep my car in good shape and it probably looked sexy in the rain, with it beading up on the wax. I think if he had scratched an X in my tint I would be in a jail cell right now.

JAnglz · Tue, Feb-23-2010, 01:11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPRESV

I'd get an NRA sticker for your rear window. Then they'll think your one of them and not jack with you. But really, just pay that crap and f-em. At least it's not like some penisheads in Texas. These jack offs will actually scratch a huge X in the tint so it has to come off. But mostly they don't care. Clearly this cop is a penis and needed something to do, so you were his target. But that's cops for you. All of them are Hypocrites Anonymous members. I heart cops as you can tell and I have good reason to, but we won't get into that on here.

I know that you are entitled to your opinion and I'm sorry to know that you had bad encounters with law enforcement agents but at least keep in mind that not EVERYONE it's as you have described

fitchesbass · Tue, Feb-23-2010, 01:18:28 AM

Waste of time... Arlington cops suck and have nothing better to do (ask me how I know).

If you go to court you risk them questioning why the car is still registered in Florida despite your residence being here for over a couple months. Out of state plates in this area are just asking for cops to pull you over. So many people don't change over their plates in NOVA to avoid the obnoxious VA car property tax (~5% annually in Arlington). As a result, I see people all the time without of state plates get pulled over just so the cops can question the people.

Pay the fine and be glad they didn't make matters worse with you living in DC but having a license and car registration from FL.

I deal with Arlington cops everyday on my way to work. They sit under the bridge from fairfax dr to 66 West and just watch as cars creep by at 2 mph looking for out-of-date registration, tax decals and cars with no front license plates, so your story is no surprise to me.

Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:13:53 AM	#1
KBuva06 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,621 Reputation: 0 Location: Washington, D.C.	tint ticket, and pissed! So I was just driving in Rosslyn, Virginia in the rain, and an arlington county imbecile pulled me over in E36 to check my tint. Of course its too dark and "not legal in VA" I do however have Florida license, registration, plate, etc and the tint shade is totally legal for florida. I just bought the car 6 months ago with the tint on it and live in DC for a year until I move back to Florida for school. Is this worth arguing in court??? the ticket was only $90 ($30 infraction+$60 processing fee wtf) but its more the principle. Anyone ever have experience with this happening to them? Thanks in advance....

Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:42:35 AM	#4
Z3MCOUPE Gort! Klaatu barada nikto. Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 7,493 Reputation: 0 Location: NH	So - If you fight it you are going to have to go to a court date in that state. Are you going to want to take the time and mileage to do that. They know you wont want to do it. Unless you are a wealthy attorney, you are not gong to win. Been there .... __________________ 2000 Z3 MCoupe, '01 LSB E46 M3, '99 VW GTI VR6, '06 Audi A4 2.0T, Andrew (camdinans3) '95 M3 Avus

Tue, Feb-23-2010, 01:07:37 AM	#7
JAnglz Back to the Sandbox Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 30 Posts: 219 Reputation: 0 Location: Northeast, MA	You're going to be wasting your time because the court will ruled against you because you broke a state law. You were within their state and with that in mind, you must obey their laws. Does it suck? Yes, it does but the law it's the law, dumb or not. I can see you winning if you paid an attorney but come on, would you really want to go this route? If this ticket isn't going to affect your license, which it should not, I would just pay it off and keep away from VA. If you're going to keep entering the state of Virginia and don't want to get another ticket, then consider removing your tints or getting a much lighter shade of tint. __________________ Johanlet '95 Cosmos ///M3 - Going up for sale soon

Tue, Feb-23-2010, 01:18:28 AM	#10
fitchesbass Like a carpenter that makes stairs Join Date: Jul 2003 Age: 27 Posts: 15,842 Reputation: 0 Location: NoVA	Waste of time... Arlington cops suck and have nothing better to do (ask me how I know). If you go to court you risk them questioning why the car is still registered in Florida despite your residence being here for over a couple months. Out of state plates in this area are just asking for cops to pull you over. So many people don't change over their plates in NOVA to avoid the obnoxious VA car property tax (~5% annually in Arlington). As a result, I see people all the time without of state plates get pulled over just so the cops can question the people. Pay the fine and be glad they didn't make matters worse with you living in DC but having a license and car registration from FL. I deal with Arlington cops everyday on my way to work. They sit under the bridge from fairfax dr to 66 West and just watch as cars creep by at 2 mph looking for out-of-date registration, tax decals and cars with no front license plates, so your story is no surprise to me. __________________ Last edited by fitchesbass; Tue, Feb-23-2010 at 01:22:39 AM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:27:32 AM	#2
propchef Toodle-oo Motherf**kers Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2,634 In the garage: '98 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Geyserville	You can argue, but you'd probably lose. You were operating the vehicle with illegal equipment in the state of Virginia. The same would happen to you if they saw you were using a radar detector. Legal in some states, but not VA. Tint is one of those things my HP friend calls a "suspicion" stop. They suspect you of driving erratically, fitting a suspicious profile, or speeding but they don't have the radar on, so they find an excuse to pull you. No officer likes to walk up to a vehicle they can't see into. You could probably take the tint off (if you plan to stay) and have the ticket dismissed. Otherwise just pay it off and wave as VA disappears in your rear view mirror.

Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:36:11 AM	#3
KBuva06 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,621 Reputation: 0 Location: Washington, D.C.	I hear you, but I actually wasn't driving erratically or drawing attention, just looking for a parking spot. The ordinance makes no sense if you are registered in another state... What if someone was passing through on a roadtrip or something... I can understand carrying a concealed weapon in glove compartment which is legal in FL, but not something that is not easily removeable such as tint.

Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:56:37 AM	#5
KBuva06 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,621 Reputation: 0 Location: Washington, D.C.	I actually live in DC, like 4 miles from the VA courthouse, which is the only reason i was entertaining the idea. i just wanted to know if i had any legitimate argument or I would just be wasting my time...

Tue, Feb-23-2010, 12:58:43 AM	#6
MPRESV "What? No. No, no, that is The Pen is Mightier." - AT Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 569 In the garage: '97 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Fort Worth	I'd get an NRA sticker for your rear window. Then they'll think your one of them and not jack with you. But really, just pay that crap and f-em. At least it's not like some penisheads in Texas. These jack offs will actually scratch a huge X in the tint so it has to come off. But mostly they don't care. Clearly this cop is a penis and needed something to do, so you were his target. But that's cops for you. All of them are Hypocrites Anonymous members. I heart cops as you can tell and I have good reason to, but we won't get into that on here.

Tue, Feb-23-2010, 01:09:38 AM	#8
KBuva06 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,621 Reputation: 0 Location: Washington, D.C.	haha, thanks bro, your post actually cheered me up a bit. Sometimes I literally think the cops are jealous over our sleek ride. I keep my car in good shape and it probably looked sexy in the rain, with it beading up on the wax. I think if he had scratched an X in my tint I would be in a jail cell right now.