Kansas Tint Laws Explained

Understanding the terms of Kansas tint laws are very important if you have a car or plan to invest in a car in Kansas. Whether you’re buying a brand new car or an older used model, it’s important to know that the law has specific requirements about how much tint you are legally allowed to have on your windows.
The window tint laws in Kansas are some of the most flexible and lenient in the United States when it comes to what colors and levels of tint are legal. The main requirements state that the front windshield must be 35 tint percentage for the top 5 inches and no less than 70 tint percentage for the rest of the window . For the front side windows, non-reflective 35 tint percentage is permitted, while a maximum of 20 tint percentage is allowed for the back side windows. Any color is allowed for the sides and a maximum of 6 percent is allowed for the back windshield.
For the rear windshield, 6 percent is allowed going over the factory tint line while a maximum of 15 percent is permitted for the sides. Only dark colors such as black, brown, gray and charcoal are allowed for the tint.
Any person who fails to ensure that his or her car complies with the window tint laws in Kansas will be pulled over and may subsequently receive a fine or even be sentenced to jail time. The amount of the fine can vary but is often no more than $100 depending on the severity of the penalty.

Kansas Window Tint Legal Percentages

When talking about window tint in Kansas, you have to understand that the law restricts how dark your tinted windows can be under the law. Window tint darkness is measured by VLT or Visible Light Transmission percentage. VLT is the percentage of visible light allowed to pass through your tinted windows and is regulated in different ways for different classes of windows.
Windshield
The front windshield must have more than 35% VLT. The entire windshield may have a non-reflective tint along the top of the windshield above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line, or the top 5 inches of the windshield, whichever is longer. No tint is allowed on the windshield below the manufacturer’s AS-1 line or the top 5 inches respectively.
Front Side Windows
The front side windows must allow more than 35% VLT.
Back Side Windows
The back side windows must allow at least 35% VLT.
Rear Windows
The rear window must allow at least 35% VLT.
Kansas Tint Law Exemptions
The exemptions to the Kansas Tint Law are:
• Window film medical exemptions – for more info, visit ksrevenue.org
• Window film color exemptions – but must be manufacturer made
It also helps to understand when talking about the permissible color of window tint in Kansas, that no window tint film, except clear or shades of the color blue, yellow or red, shall be utilized on vehicles. So no matter what your favorite color is, it’s illegal to use that shade of window tint film in Kansas unless it’s clear, blue, yellow or red.
The tint film on all windows, except the top 5 inches of the windshield, must be applied to the interior of the window.

Exceptions and Special Cases

While the majority of drivers must adhere to the Kansas tint laws outlined above, there are exceptions to the rules. In addition to factory-installed tint usually being allowed, there are some exceptions and special conditions as well.
The law does allow for a medical exemption when the individual in question has an eye condition or other medical issue that requires a driver and/or passenger to be shielded from excess sunlight. An example would be light sensitivity caused by cataracts, which are frequently treated with laser surgery. There are, however, exceptions to this, such as protecting a passenger if he or she is normally transported in a wheelchair.
To be granted an exemption sticker, the car owner must provide a note from a medical doctor of osteopathy or allopath (physician), or an optometrist or oculist (eye care professional) explaining why a tinted window is needed. Once written, this request is sent to the highway patrol, along with a $5 fee. In every case, the physician or optometrist must have a valid Kansas license.
If the owner is a minor, the note must come from his or her parent or legal guardian.
When approval is granted to a driver or passenger for a tinted window sticker, that sticker should be affixed to the corner of the window opposite of the one that is tinted. The owners of tinted vehicles must follow the law when it comes to the sticker, too, as its absence or improper placement is a fineable offense.
Another exception exists when it comes to motorcycles and vans. While vans are, for most intents and purposes, regulated in the same manner as vans, tinted windshields are not required for motorcycles. Vans have a similar stipulation, but only when the van in question has only two rear side windows, and no rear windows.

Penalties for Violation

Violating Kansas tint laws can have various consequences for drivers, ranging from simple warnings to vehicle registration issues. Those pulled over or involved in a traffic stop with windows that do not meet the legal requirements for tint may face warnings and the requirement to have the tint removed before they continue on their way.
However, in some cases, officers may issue a citation or fine for tinted windows. In addition, all vehicles must pass inspection by the Kansas Highway Patrol, and if these inspections notice an ongoing tint law violation at the time of renewal, it can inhibit registration. Hence, the implications of tinted windows can continue beyond the citation and fine, as the driver may have to rectify the situation not only to avoid future tickets but also so they can even drive the vehicle in the first place.
Even after an officer issues a citation for a tint law violation, the individual may still have recourse. Kansas allows drivers to have their citation reviewed by a judicial officer after resolving the tint issue within 30 days of receiving the ticket. If they can provide a copy of the receipt for the work to remove the tint, it can mitigate some of the penalties. As a result, even if a driver faces a tint violation citation, an officer may work with them to ensure they can still resume driving the vehicle.

How Kansas Tint Laws Compare to Other States

While the tint regulations in Kansas are relatively strict, neighboring states maintain more or less similar levels of regulation. Missouri, for example, is slightly more lenient regarding the level of light transmittance for side windows in passenger vehicles; side windows in the front can have 35% while rear windows may have up to 5%. Kansas window tint regulations for cars window tint laws state that front side windows may be darker than the current 35%, however, it isn’t advisable as vehicles have been cited for it.
Missouri also has a 6" tinted strip that can legally be placed on the windshield, while Kansas completely disallows any tint applied to the windshield. Kansas’ tint law guidelines regarding tint applied to medical vehicles allow up to 30% transmission for passenger cars and 35% for SUVs and vans, while in Missouri they allow 35% and 30% respectively . Missouri does, however, require that the tint on any medical vehicle be certified by a medical practitioner. Kansas also allows for red, blue, and amber highlights (lights) or reflective tape on emergency vehicles, whereas Missouri only allows red, blue, white and green highlight lights. For reflective tape, Missouri allows 2" white and 1" red, blue, or amber.
Both states allow for a winshield strip or tint that does not allow for more than 35% dark. Going even darker than the 35% rule can lead to fines so it is best to stick with what is known to be allowed in the states and Kansas.
When compared solely to its two immediate neighbors, it would appear that Kansas tint regulations fall toward the middle of the spectrum. However, when placed alongside other states, it becomes clear that Kansas window tint laws are about as strict as those any driver is likely to encounter.

Choosing Legal Tint

When selecting legal tint, the primary goal should be to ensure that the tint application is within the parameters set forth by the law. Therefore, consulting with a reputable professional tinting service is an important first step, as they are likely to be up to date on the legal ramifications of your choices.
Many tint installation shops will offer to test your window tint for you to make sure it abides by all the applicable laws. Of course, it’s still a good idea to make sure about this yourself after the fact. If you’d rather be safe than sorry, there are affordable aftermarket tint testers that can give you an accurate reading.
There are three primary types of tint you can choose from: dyed, metallized and ceramic. Each of these comes with slightly differing legal limits, so be sure to check your specific tint to verify that it complies with the law.
Remember, if you are pulled over for any reason by law enforcement, he or she may ask you to prove the tint on your vehicle is legal. Likewise, law enforcement officers have the right to stop traffic for vehicles that are not abiding by tinted window laws.

Conclusion: Kansas Tint Laws

As with any other law, it is the responsibility of the driver to be fully aware of the window tint laws in the state where they are driving a vehicle. Driving a vehicle in Kansas as a driver or passenger when the window tint goes against the law can result in a citation . Since tinted windows will allow you to see outside your vehicle, it is a safety issue for drivers and passengers in addition to being a legal issue. With this in mind, ensure that the window tint on your car follows the law and helps you remain safe as you drive.