A bill introduced to the Virginia House of Representatives could alter Virginia’s current tint laws and allow for vehicles with tint to be charge a higher fee for their state inspection. The bill, Virginia HB 1728 2011, would increase the allowed amount of tint on the front side windows to decrease permitted light transmittance. Currently the minimum permitted light transmittance is 50%, but this bill would change that to 35%.

In addition to changing the current tinting laws the bill also would increase the cost of a Virginia safety inspection by $4 for all vehicles with any type of after-market window tint on the front side, rear side and rear windows.

“We do not object to a reasonable inspection charge being levied against window film, if standard practice dictates an inspection charge for all other after-market products which require inspection, ” said Darrell Smith, executive director of the International Window Film Association (IWFA). “We would object to window film being treated differently or subject to additional charges that are not incurred across regulated automotive retrofit products as a category.”

The bill has made its way through house committees and was passed to the Senate on February 1. Currently the bill is in the Senate committee on transportation.