Mississippi Window Tint Laws: Medical Exemptions and Fighting Compliance Tickets

Driving with illegally dark window tint in Mississippi is a quick way to get pulled over. The state takes visibility seriously, enforcing specific light transmittance levels to ensure law enforcement officers can see inside vehicles during traffic stops. However, if you suffer from a medical condition that requires protection from the sun, the law provides a clear pathway to legally darken your windows. If you find yourself facing an expensive compliance ticket, consulting an experienced traffic lawyer through our US Attorney Directory can help you navigate the justice court system and potentially get the citation dismissed.

Understanding Mississippi's 28% Light Transmittance Rules

Window tint laws in Mississippi are governed by Miss. Code Ann. § 63-7-59. When a state trooper pulls you over, they will use a specialized device called a tint meter to measure the VLT (Visible Light Transmission). The rules differ depending on the type of vehicle you drive.

• Sedans (Passenger Cars): Your front side windows, back side windows, and rear windshield must all allow more than 28% of incoming light to pass through. The tint cannot be more than 20% reflective.
• SUVs and Vans: The front side windows must comply with the 28% rule. However, you are legally permitted to use any darkness of tint (even "limo tint") on the back side windows and the rear windshield.
• Windshields: For all vehicles, non-reflective tint is only allowed along the top edge of the windshield, specifically above the manufacturer's AS-1 line.

Exemptions for Lupus and Photophobia

Mississippi law is accommodating to drivers with severe medical conditions, such as Lupus, albinism, or photophobia, where exposure to sunlight causes physical harm. Under Miss. Code Ann. § 63-7-59(4), you can legally bypass the 28% rule if you obtain a medical exemption. To qualify, you must present an affidavit signed by a licensed physician or optometrist certifying your condition to your local county tax collector, who will issue an official Certificate of Medical Exemption free of charge. Crucially, the law requires that this official certificate must be prominently displayed on your vehicle's dashboard at all times. Simply carrying a doctor's note in your glovebox is not enough to stop an officer from writing a ticket.

Out-of-State Tint Rules in Mississippi

If you are a tourist driving through Mississippi with a vehicle registered in a state with more lenient tint laws (like Florida or Arizona), you can still be pulled over. While interstate commerce laws provide some leeway, Mississippi Highway Patrol officers can and will issue citations if they believe your tint presents a severe safety hazard on their roadways. An attorney can easily help get these specific tickets dismissed by showing proof of out-of-state registration, but the traffic stop itself remains a frustrating inconvenience.

How to Appeal a Tint Ticket

An illegal tint citation in Mississippi is a misdemeanor. According to the statutes, the maximum penalty can technically reach up to a $1,000 fine or even jail time, though such extremes are practically never applied for a simple first offense. Typically, the fine ranges from $100 to $300 depending on the county.

Most local courts, such as the Hinds County Justice Court, Jackson or the Harrison County Justice Court, Gulfport, treat these as "fix-it" tickets. This means if you remove the illegal tint, have your vehicle inspected by a local mechanic or police officer to verify compliance, and present that proof to the judge on your court date, the judge will often reduce the fine significantly or dismiss the ticket entirely.

Typical Costs for Tint Violations

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)