Darker car tints now allowed in Utah

BLUFFDALE, UT – JUNE 10: Cars drive down a road near the new National Security Agency (NSA) data center June 10, 2013 in Bluffdale, Utah. The center, a large data farm that is set to open in the fall of 2013, will be the largest of several interconnected NSA data centers spread throughout the country. The NSA has come under scutiny after two large scale data survalliance programs were leaked to the press. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)

by: Kiah Armstrong

Posted: Mar 7, 2022 / 07:19 PM MST

Updated: Mar 8, 2022 / 10:18 AM MST

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – A new bill was passed through the Utah Legislature last week that will now allow Utahns to have darker car window tints.

S.B. 149 will allow the change in tint to go from 43% to 35% with a 5% buffer. This change is only applicable to the front two windows.

The tint percentage represents the amount of light allowed into a car.

Allowing less light into a car reduces the amount of cooling or air conditioning that’s needed to make the car cabin comfortable, which helps the environment.

The bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Dan McCay, R-District 11, passed 20-6 in the Senate and 68-3 in the House and was officially approved on March. 4.

According to the Utah Tint Association, prior to the passage of this bill, Utah’s previous 43% tint law was among the highest in the West.

Nevada has their set at 35%, Colorado’s is 27%, Idaho is at 35%, and Arizona’s tint law is 33%.