Can a Police Officer make me pull up my windows?

Question

I have my front windows tinted at 20% which is pretty dark but in the day time you can see through it. My question is if my windows are always down and when a cop stops me can he make me pull my windows up and see i got tints and give me a ticket? Also can he make me change my exhaust if it is too loud? thanks I live in Los Angeles, California

I forgot to mention my car is a 2005 Lamborghini Murcielago my stock exhaust makes loud noise so I don’t think a police officer has the right to tell me its too loud when the dealer themselves are selling the cars stock.

Answer 1

Yes they can. They can also write you a ticket!

nfd

Answer 2

The officers can tell you to roll up the windows. No need to do so unless you are being an a$$ or the vehicle is being towed. Window tint is different depending on the jurisdiction.

An officer has every right to stop you for loud exhaust. Manufacturers do not care in the least if they make things that are illegal. They know full well that some fool will still buy it. Just like every shop that does window tints knows that the person is going to get pulled over for it. All they care about is making money.

When you received your driver's license you were informed that you needed to be a legal driver, which includes equipment on the vehicle you are driving. Grow up and drive legally.

EDIT:
To the two guys who said the police need a warrant to search the vehicle...I actually laughed out loud at your answers...any police officer, on ANY traffic stop, can search a vehicle if they have an articluated reason to do so, no warrant required. The reason that the vast majority are not searched is because the person did not give the officers a reason to feel the need to do so.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

You forgot to mention which state this occurred in. In my state the charge would be obstructed vision. The fine would be $80. The charge could also be used if you were to lazy to scrape the ice or snow from your window. When a police officer actually sees a traffic violation, as you described above, then there is no problem initiating a traffic stop to investigate further or issue a traffic ticket. This scenario would fall under the legal standard probable cause. However, an officer can initiate a traffic stop based on a lesser legal standard called reasonable suspicion. You can file a complaint with the police department if the officer violated procedure - it's fairly obvious he didn't so don't bother. For best results stop smoking marijuana - it would keep you from thinking up these crazy ideas for complaints.

Answer 5

I am going to agree with everybody on the window tint. The officer can look, and can cite you if you have illegally tinted your windows. However, I disagree, somewhat, regarding your exhaust.

IF the car was ORIGINALLY sold new in California, it had to meet California's noise limits on exhaust in order to be registered. (Vehicle Code section 27200.) IF the exhaust was not thereafter modified or damaged so to increase the volume, I would think that the officer's conclusion that the exhaust is too loud would be wrong. You may wish to have the volume independently verified. However, if it is too loud, it cannot be operated (or even registered). (Vehicle Code section 27150.)

If you can show that the officer's conclusion that the noise level is too high is incorrect, take such proof to court. (You might also want to keep it with you in the car, in case it happens again. You know you are driving a ticket magnet.)

Answer 6

This all comes down to what the law is in your state. In most states sound (Noise) canNOT exceed a certain amount of decibels, So if your exhaust are over the limit, then yes stock pipes or not he can cite you. And as for tinted windows yes he can have you roll them up if he wants to verify that they re in fact tinted and also put a tint meter on them.

Answer 7

Yes, there is a legal limit to the tint on windows, and it doesn't matter whether it is day or night. A cop can make you get out of your car and search it if he has probable cause to do it. (like it he smells alcohol on you, or suspects drugs) There are also legal limits on noise levels for you car. This includes stereos as well as exhaust.

Answer 8

As far as the exhaust goes, if there are noise ordinances that you are breaking you can either keep getting tickets for it get them fixed.

For the windows, you may be able to respectfully tell him that you would like to keep you windows down. I don't think they can actually make you roll them up to look.... until.... they call in and ask for a warrent to do so. Its easier to just roll them up for them if they ask and pay for the ticket they give you if they are too dark and then go get them fixed. (at least that is my understanding of the law)

In response to your pipes being stock. It doesn't matter. You chose the car you are driving and it is your responsibility to ensure that it does not break any ordinances or laws. If it is, in fact, breaking noise ordinances than you need to have your muffling system altered so it no longer does so... or move someplace with less strict noise laws.

Answer 9

He can absolutely cite you for excessive noise if the exhaust is too loud.

On the windows, if he has reason to believe that they are not legal, he can check to see if they are. If they are not, he can cite you for that, too.

One question... If your windows are "always down", then why tint them? Just remove the tint, and the cop won't have anything to find when he has you roll them up.

Answer 10

Oh, the agony! How can the police be so cruel and unfeeling? Yes, you can continue to be ticketed on both counts until you correct the matter. But hey, if you can afford the Lamborghini, you or your daddy can afford to keep paying the tickets.

Oh, wait, did you just post this so people would swoon, or are the body building supplements diminishing your mental capacity?

Answer 11

yes. Unfortunately they can make put your window up to check the percentage of light that passes through. And as for the exhaust yes it is a noise violations sucks!