Window Tint Ticket Cost by State: Fine Lookup Tool

How the tint ticket lookup works

The tint ticket lookup shows the fine a state law sets for a driver or owner. Pick a state to see the fine range, the class of offense, the statute, the date checked and any fix-it rule. Every state links to its full page of window limits.

The figure comes from the tint statute first. Many tint statutes only name a class, such as “misdemeanor” or “infraction”. In those states the amount comes from the general penalty section for that class, and the result names both sections.

The lookup shows what the law sets. It does not show what a given court will charge. County and court costs vary, and they sit on top of the fine in most states. A figure marked “Not confirmed” means no dollar amount was found in the sections read. To check whether your film is legal before you get a ticket, start with the guide to what car window tint is legal.

How much a tint ticket costs by state

A first tint ticket runs from $20 to $1,000 in fine alone across the jurisdictions below. The chart shows the top figure for a first offense, so a low bar means the law itself is cheap.

State	Fine for a driver or owner	Class of offense	Statute
California	Up to $100, plus add-ons	Infraction	Veh. Code 42001(a)
Florida	$30 base, about $52.50 with fees	Nonmoving infraction	Fla. Stat. 318.18
Georgia	Up to $1,000	Misdemeanor	O.C.G.A. 17-10-3
Illinois	$50 to $500	Petty offense	625 ILCS 5/12-503(j)
Maryland	$70 preset	Preset fine	Schedule DC-CR-090
New York	Up to $150	Traffic infraction	VTL 1800(b)(1)
Ohio	Up to $150	Minor misdemeanor	R.C. 2929.28
Oregon	$265 presumptive	Class B violation	ORS 153.019
Texas	$1 to $200	Misdemeanor	Transp. Code 542.401
Virginia	Up to $250	Traffic infraction	Va. Code 46.2-113

The rest of the states are in the lookup above. Georgia’s $1,000 is the general misdemeanor ceiling, because its tint section names no amount. The rules behind the Georgia window tint laws page explain the limits that trigger it.

Why the amount on your ticket can differ

The amount on a ticket usually differs from the fine in the statute because courts add their own charges. State law sets a fine or a ceiling, and each court and county then applies fees. Iowa is the clearest example. Its $70 scheduled fine picks up a 15% surcharge of $10.50 and $55 in court costs, for $135.50.

Florida works the same way. Its $30 nonmoving penalty gains a $12.50 fee and a $10 assessment, which comes to $52.50 before other county costs. In Texas the general penalty is $1 to $200, yet the Bexar County schedule lists $222 for an owner or operator. That page does not say what the extra covers.

California adds state penalties on top of its $100 ceiling. Penal Code 1464 charges $10 for every $10 of fine, and other assessments can follow. Shop blogs quote totals near $197 for California, but those totals are not itemized in any statute. The California tint law guide covers the state’s correctable ticket in more detail.

Which states have a fix-it rule for tint tickets

A fix-it rule lets you remove the film and shrink or end the ticket. Twelve entries in the lookup carry a note, and the terms differ a lot. Some rules cancel the charge, some reduce it, and some only set a deadline to comply.

• California: a correctable notice, up to 30 days, and a $25 transaction fee per violation.
• Delaware: dismissal before trial if the car is repaired and no collision occurred.
• North Carolina: remove the tint within 15 days and produce a DMV or Highway Patrol certificate.
• Oregon: the court may dismiss the citation or reduce the fine.
• Virginia: the court may dismiss with proof of compliance on or before the court date.
• Alaska: evidence of repair before the court date voids the citation.

Maryland and Connecticut add deadlines instead. Maryland’s repair order gives 10 days to correct and certify. Connecticut gives 60 days to remove the film and report to the police department. Removal has its own price, which the window tint cost calculator can estimate. To take film off yourself, follow the steps on how to remove car window tint.

Repeat offenses, points and installers

Repeat tint tickets cost more in several states, and a few reach jail time. New York moves from $150 to $300 and then $450 within 18 months. California moves from $100 to $200 and then $250 within a year. Alabama climbs from $100 to $500. Massachusetts suspends the license for up to 90 days on a third or later conviction.

Points depend on the state. Virginia’s statute says no demerit points, and Nevada says the violation is not a moving violation. Colorado gives no points for a class B infraction. Michigan’s Court of Appeals reversed points on a tint citation in People v Pitts. Most other sections read are silent, so ask the court.

Installers can face larger penalties than drivers. Indiana’s Class A infraction reaches $10,000, and Hawaii sets $700 to $1,200 per offense. New Jersey’s $1,000 to $5,000 figures apply to its installation rules, and they are often quoted as the driver’s fine by mistake. Its driver fine in 39:3-79 is $25, plus court costs.

What to do after a tint ticket

After a tint ticket, read the citation first, because it names the section, the court and the deadline. The right next step depends on that section and on whether your state has a fix-it rule. Paying can close the option to contest it. In Florida, paying counts as admitting the infraction and waives the hearing, and the driver has 30 days to pay or elect a hearing. Other states set their own deadlines, so the date on the citation controls.

Keep the shop receipt and any meter reading with the citation. Oregon’s statute names a business receipt and a written statement from an officer as evidence a court may consider. This page is general information and not legal advice. A lawyer or the court clerk can confirm how a rule applies to your ticket.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a tint ticket in California?

The fine is up to $100 for a first infraction under Vehicle Code 42001, plus state and county add-ons. A correctable notice can end the case with proof of the fix and a $25 transaction fee.

How much is a tint ticket in New York?

A first conviction carries a fine of up to $150, up to 15 days in jail, or both, under VTL 1800(b)(1). The fine rises to $300 and then $450 for repeat convictions within 18 months.

How much is a tint ticket in Texas?

The general penalty is $1 to $200 under Transportation Code 542.401, and court costs are extra. The limits themselves are on the Texas tint laws page.

Is a tint ticket a moving violation?

It depends on the state. Florida and Nevada treat it as nonmoving, and North Dakota can treat it as either. Your citation or the court can confirm how yours is recorded.

Can a tint ticket be dismissed?

Yes, in states with a fix-it rule, such as Delaware, Oregon and Virginia. The court usually wants proof that the windows now comply on or before the court date.

Sources

• Cal. Veh. Code 42001 (read 31 October 2026)
• Cal. Veh. Code 40303.5 (read 31 October 2026)
• N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law 1800 (read 31 October 2026)
• Tex. Transp. Code 542.401 (read 31 October 2026)
• ORS 153.019 (read 31 October 2026)
• ORS 815.222 (read 31 October 2026)
• RCW 46.63.110 (read 31 October 2026)
• A.R.S. 28-1598 (read 31 October 2026)
• Fla. Stat. 318.18 (read 25 October 2026)
• Iowa Code 805.8A (read 29 October 2026)
• Va. Code 46.2-1052 (read 28 October 2026)
• 21 Del. C. chapter 43 (read 29 October 2026)
• Bexar County ticket fine schedule (read 25 October 2026)