What a fix-it ticket is
A fix-it ticket (formally a correctable violation) is a citation for an equipment problem that is dismissed if the driver fixes the problem and proves compliance within a deadline. Illegal tint is one of the most common fix-it violations. In California this is formalized in CA Vehicle Code § 40610.
The fix-it process
- Read the deadline on the citation (usually 14–30 days).
- Remove the illegal tint at a reputable shop. Keep the receipt.
- Have the shop meter the windows and print the post-removal VLT.
- Bring the vehicle (or just the signed officer certification, depending on state) to the compliance office.
- Pay the small dismissal fee (usually $10–$25).
What happens if you miss the deadline
A missed fix-it deadline converts to a non-correctable fine, usually 2–5x the original cost, plus failure-to-appear fees. Always file early.
Deeper dive
Fix-it tickets: the streamlined path to dismissal
The three certificates that prove correction
Different states accept different evidence of correction. The three documents that cover virtually every jurisdiction are:
- Officer sign-off — after removing the film, bring the vehicle to any law-enforcement agency. An officer verifies the removal, signs the back of the citation, and you mail the signed citation in.
- Shop VLT receipt — a licensed tint shop meters the windows and prints a receipt showing the VLT at each window. This serves as proof of compliance in courts that will not do live inspections.
- DMV / inspection station stamp — in inspection states, the annual inspection station will verify and stamp the citation.
State-by-state variation
| State | Correction window | Dismissal fee | Accepted evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 30 days | $25 | Officer sign-off OR shop receipt |
| Arizona | 30 days | $15 | Officer sign-off |
| Texas | 10 days | $10 | Written compliance affidavit |
| Florida | 30 days | $10 | Shop receipt |
| Nevada | 30 days | $10 | Officer sign-off |
| Washington | 30 days | $25 | Officer sign-off |
| Oregon | 30 days | $25 | Officer sign-off OR shop receipt |
| Colorado | 20 days | $15 | Officer sign-off |
When the fix-it path is NOT available
- Inspection-state registration holds. In New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Massachusetts, inspection failures are not fix-it tickets — they are registration blocks. You must remove the tint and re-inspect rather than file a correction slip.
- Repeat offenses. Second or third offenses often lose fix-it eligibility and escalate to a fixed fine or misdemeanor.
- States without correctable-violation statutes. A few Southern and Midwest states treat all tint violations as flat fines regardless of remediation.
- Medical exemption defenses. If you have a valid exemption, do not file a fix-it slip — file an exemption defense instead. The exemption defense avoids the removal cost.
State-by-state snapshot
Quick lookup for every U.S. state
Use the table below to jump straight to any state’s tint law page. Front side VLT is the most-cited number and is shown for sedans. Deep-link into any state for the full rule, SUV differences, windshield rule, medical exemption, and the statute citation.
| State | Front side VLT | Back side VLT | Rear VLT | Medical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 32% VLT or higher | 32% VLT or higher | 32% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Alaska | 70% VLT or higher | 40% VLT or higher | 40% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Arizona | 33% VLT or higher | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| Arkansas | 25% VLT or higher | 25% VLT or higher | 10% VLT or higher | Yes |
| California | 70% VLT or higher | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| Colorado | 27% VLT or higher | 27% VLT or higher | 27% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Connecticut | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| Delaware | 70% VLT or higher | 70% VLT or higher | 70% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Florida | 28% VLT or higher | 15% VLT or higher | 15% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Georgia | 32% VLT or higher | 32% VLT or higher | 32% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Hawaii | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Idaho | 35% VLT or higher | 20% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Illinois | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Indiana | 30% VLT or higher | 30% VLT or higher | 30% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Iowa | 70% VLT or higher | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| Kansas | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Kentucky | 35% VLT or higher | 18% VLT or higher | 18% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Louisiana | 40% VLT or higher | 25% VLT or higher | 12% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Maine | 35% VLT or higher | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| Maryland | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Massachusetts | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Michigan | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| Minnesota | 50% VLT or higher | 50% VLT or higher | 50% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Mississippi | 28% VLT or higher | 28% VLT or higher | 28% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Missouri | 35% VLT or higher | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| Montana | 24% VLT or higher | 14% VLT or higher | 14% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Nebraska | 35% VLT or higher | 20% VLT or higher | 20% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Nevada | 35% VLT or higher | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| New Hampshire | 70% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| New Jersey | Not allowed | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| New Mexico | 20% VLT or higher | 20% VLT or higher | 20% VLT or higher | Yes |
| New York | 70% VLT or higher | 70% VLT or higher | 70% VLT or higher | Yes |
| North Carolina | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| North Dakota | 50% VLT or higher | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| Ohio | 50% VLT or higher | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Unclear |
| Oklahoma | 25% VLT or higher | 25% VLT or higher | 25% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Oregon | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | 70% VLT or higher | 70% VLT or higher | 70% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Rhode Island | 70% VLT or higher | 70% VLT or higher | 70% VLT or higher | Yes |
| South Carolina | 27% VLT or higher | 27% VLT or higher | 27% VLT or higher | Yes |
| South Dakota | 35% VLT or higher | 20% VLT or higher | 20% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Tennessee | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Texas | 25% VLT or higher | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| Utah | 43% VLT or higher | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| Vermont | Not allowed | Any VLT allowed | Any VLT allowed | Yes |
| Virginia | 50% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Washington | 24% VLT or higher | 24% VLT or higher | 24% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Washington, D.C. | 70% VLT or higher | 50% VLT or higher | 50% VLT or higher | Yes |
| West Virginia | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Wisconsin | 50% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | 35% VLT or higher | Yes |
| Wyoming | 28% VLT or higher | 28% VLT or higher | 28% VLT or higher | Yes |
This snapshot summarises sedan rules only. SUV, van, and pickup (MPV) rules differ in most states — see each state’s dedicated page for the full picture. All values are re-verified against primary sources for 2026 (see sources & methodology).
Tint fix-it tickets — FAQ
Does every state offer fix-it tickets for tint?
Most do, but a handful treat tint violations as non-correctable from the first offense. Check the citation for a correctable-violation box.
Can I fix the tint myself to satisfy a fix-it ticket?
Yes in most states, but you still need a third-party (usually a tint shop) to provide a written VLT reading. Some courts will only accept a tint-shop receipt.
Editorial standards
How we verified this guide
- Primary sources only. VLT limits, windshield rules, and medical exemption procedures cited in this guide are verified against each state’s statute, administrative code, or DMV publication. See our sources & methodology.
- Annual re-review. Every guide is re-read against current state law at least once a year. This page was last reviewed on January 15, 2026.
- No affiliate influence. Our rankings, recommendations, and ticket-fighting advice are never paid. See our editorial policy.
- Not legal or medical advice. Enforcement is fact-specific; always verify with your local DMV, your state statute, or a licensed attorney before acting. See the legal disclaimer and medical disclaimer.
- Report an error. Spot something wrong or outdated? Contact our editors — we publish corrections quickly and note them in our next review cycle.