Are you wondering, ‘Can you get pulled over for tint in New Mexico?’
In the state of New Mexico, it is important to know the laws surrounding how dark the tint of your windows can be, along with how reflective your tint can be.
New Mexico also has additional regulations concerning tinting that drivers should be aware of.
Legal Tint Limit for Passenger Vehicles
In New Mexico, there are certain limits set for the individual windows included on passenger vehicles.
Passenger vehicles typically include sedans, coupes, convertibles, hardtops, and hatchbacks, and are defined by law as vehicles with motive power carrying ten people or less.
Front Windshield
The front windshield on a passenger vehicle in New Mexico may only have a non-reflective tint that is above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
A tint is only allowed on the top five inches of the windshield.
Front Seat Side Windows
The windows at the sides of the front seat may have up to 20% tint darkness.
Back Seat Side Windows
Like the front seat side windows, the back seat side windows of a passenger vehicle may have up to 20% tint darkness.
Rear Window
Finally, the rear window may also have up to 20% tint darkness.
Legal Tint Limit for Multi-Purpose Vehicles
Your vehicle is likely federally classified as either a passenger vehicle or a multi-purpose vehicle.
To determine what kind of vehicle your car is, you can look for a Federal ID label, which is located on your driver’s door panel.
This label will feature your Vehicle Identification Number along with its classification.
Multipurpose vehicles can include SUVs, RVs, pickups, campers, mini-busses, vans, and more.
Front Windshield
In New Mexico, a multi-purpose vehicle can use a non-reflective tint only above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
It can also have a non-reflective tint within the top five inches on the windshield.
Front Seat Side Windows
The front seat side windows of a multi-purpose vehicle may have up to 20% tint darkness.
Back Seat Side Windows
Unlike the front seat side windows or passenger vehicles, a multi-purpose vehicle may use any percentage of tint darkness on the back seat side windows.
Rear Window
Likewise, multi-purpose vehicles may use any level of tint darkness on their rear window.
Additional Window Tint Laws in New Mexico
There are some additional laws in regards to window tinting in the state of New Mexico that can impact whether or not you get pulled over by law enforcement, even if your tint levels are correct.
For that reason, it’s important to know these laws and adhere to them.
Any vehicle that has side or back windows tinted in New Mexico must also have dual side mirrors.
Otherwise, the tint is not allowed and the driver violates the law.
New Mexico does allow colored tints for all vehicles.
However, drivers may not use the colors red, amber, or yellow in their tints.
Additionally, every tinted window from a certified manufacturer must have a sticker to identify its legality.
This sticker must be between the film and the glass of each tinted window.
Medical Exemptions
In many states, certain medical conditions qualify you for exemptions to the existing tinting laws.
These exemptions allow you to install a tint that is darker than the regulations permit.
New Mexico law does allow window tinting for medical purposes.
However, the law does not specifically state the VLT permitted for these exemptions.
Any physician or optometrist in New Mexico may issue an affidavit excusing window tinting, and that affidavit must be kept in the vehicle at all times.
How is Tint Darkness Measured in New Mexico?
In the state of New Mexico, tint darkness is measured by the percentage of light that the tint allows to come through the window.
This percentage is called the Visible Light Transmission, or VLT.
The higher the VLT percentage is, the more light can pass through the tint.
The VLT limit varies from state to state, so it is critical to know what your state’s limits are to avoid getting pulled over.
These limits can also vary for passenger vehicles and multi-purpose vehicles.
How Reflective Can Tint be in New Mexico?
Certain window tints include a metallic film, which reflects both light and heat away from the vehicle.
While this reflective feature can help minimize light distractions and heat for drivers, states also have laws concerning reflective tints.
In the state of New Mexico, drivers are not permitted to have reflective tint on their front windshield.
However, there are currently no laws for tint reflection used on front side windows or back side windows for passenger vehicles or multi-purpose vehicles.
More Questions?
Window tinting laws are put into place for public safety measures.
Dark tints can obstruct investigations and pose a threat to law enforcement during routine traffic stops.
Too dark a tint can also be dangerous for drivers, as it can result in poor visibility.
Window tinting laws are different in every state and may even be interpreted differently by local officers and law enforcement authorities.
To avoid breaking any of your state laws about window tinting, contact your local DMV or police department to learn more about the rules and regulations in your area.
You can find a helpful list of New Mexico law enforcement agencies here.
Be sure to stay up to date on all road and safety laws at all times.