See Clearly, Drive Legally: Quick Guide to Montana Window Tinting

Spending a lot of time on Montana's roads these past few months, I have noticed more people making modifications to their vehicles. There are the trucks that have been lifted to sit extra high on the road. There are the compact cars that have modified their exhaust systems to be extra loud. I have also noticed a few vehicles that have had extra dark tinted windows on the vehicle, making it difficult to see who is driving.

Montana's Window Tinting Laws

Montana has laws regarding the tinting of windows on vehicles. You aren't allowed to tint them too dark and there are certain areas that can't have tint at all. According Montana laws a person may not operate a vehicle if:

• The windshield has sunscreening material that is not clear and transparent below the AS-1 line or if it has a sunscreening material that is red, yellow, or amber in color above the AS-1 line.
• The front side windows have sunscreening or other transparent material that has a luminous reflectance of more than 35% or has light transmission of less than 24%.

• The rear window or side windows behind the front seat have sunscreening or other transparent material that has a luminous reflectance of more than 35% or has light transmission of less than 14%.

Like a Lot of Laws, There are Exceptions

There are exceptions for the rear window or side windows, if they are on van, bus or the windows of a camper, motor home, pickup cover, slide-in camper, or other motor vehicles. You also can't operate a vehicle that has a shattered windshield that "obstructs or impairs a driver's clear view".

via GIPHY

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For those that are looking at customizing, or purchasing vehicles from out of state, you need to know what you can and can't legally do to keep the sun and prying eyes out of your vehicle.