Engineering is one of those fields that influences everything around us, and much of the time, it’s difficult to even see the connections. As a tinted car window can be a practical choice for many individuals driving in South Carolina, it’s easier to use the window film tinting as an entryway to understanding how KayBee Tech and Lighting Control got to where they are today. So, in the grand tradition of engineering (that is, making connections between entirely disparate things), we’re going to tackle window tint.

The most obvious question is, “Why would I get window tint?” and while this is an offshoot of information about the darkest legal tint in South Carolina: the main reasons are for heat reduction in the cabin of the vehicle and for privacy reasons. This is pretty basic; tinted windows offer a reprieve from the intense sunlight of South Carolina. A tinted window doesn’t block out 100% of sunlight, but it reduces it significantly while still allowing the driver to see the road clearly. “Privacy” is also fairly straightforward; you have tinted windows to obscure the view inside your vehicle from outside. This is a deterrent against robbery, as the would-be thief would not be able to easily see what belongs to the driver until he’s well and truly committed to the action of breaking in.

The darkest legal tint in South Carolina is 27% VLT (visible light transmission). The lower the percentage, the darker the tint. The percentage number denotes how much visible light can enter the vehicle through the window material. Tint also has a secondary layer of UV protection, which blocks out harmful ultraviolet rays. In most cases, the tint will correlate with the shade of the glass itself, so a dark tinted window will also be a dark shade of glass. However, it is not legally allowed to be a shade darker than the product being applied. Tinting is often applied to the windshield of the vehicle, though this is not the only place where window film can be applied. It reduces glare when the sun is low on the horizon, and provides some heat reduction inside the cabin. However, it will never be as dark as the side windows, as there is a difference in viewing distance, and the law does not allow for tinted film on the windshield if it is darker than the factory tint. There are, indeed, factory tint options, and these are generally colored or tinted glass that has been manufactured prior to installation. In many cases, the factory tint is built into the glass, but it’s not considered to be “film” again because of the way it’s applied. Factory tint is never as dark as tinting film, again due to the way applied tint can reduce visibility.

As mentioned previously, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of South Carolina does have regulations in place to govern window tint application. They are as follows: In addition to the darkness percentage, the law does specify that the front windows must always remain clear. Factories are not allowed to tint them, because of the importance of having the clearest available windows in the driver and passenger seating area.

For more information on window tint regulations, you can visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.