What a window tint ticket costs in Alabama
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. Alabama fixes the offence — misdemeanor; the traffic schedule lets you plead guilty before a magistrate instead of appearing under Ala. Code 32-5C-2 (prohibition); 32-5C-4 (exemption), with $20 on the supreme court's traffic-offence schedule, which is a scheduled fine rather than a statutory ceiling. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | Alabama |
|---|---|
| Offence | Misdemeanor; the traffic schedule lets you plead guilty before a magistrate instead of appearing |
| Amount set by statute | $20 on the Supreme Court's traffic-offence schedule, which is a scheduled fine rather than a statutory ceiling |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | Ala. Code 32-5C-2 (prohibition); 32-5C-4 (exemption) |
Why the figures online disagree
A tint citation's total is a base amount plus court costs and surcharges, and those are set per county by the citing court rather than by the tint statute. That is why three pages about the same state will quote three different numbers, all of them sourced from each other rather than from a schedule. The number that binds you is the one the clerk of the court named on your citation gives you — so that call is the first thing worth making.
What Alabama does settle
Chapter 32-5C states the prohibition and the exemption but no penalty of its own, so the amount comes from the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, Rule 20, which lists improper window tinting among the offences a magistrate can take a guilty plea on. Read the schedule carefully: the row carries a $20 figure and a $250 figure in different columns and the rule does not label which is the fine and which is the cash bond, so do not quote either as the amount you will pay. A 2026 bill, HB 314, would require an officer to measure light transmission with a device before charging anyone; it is introduced only, not law.
What to do next
- 1
Ring the clerk of the court named on the citation and ask for the amount and the appearance date. Do not rely on a figure from a blog.
- 2
Ask the same clerk whether the citation can be dismissed on proof that the film was brought into compliance — some courts allow it even where the statute is silent.
- 3
Have the film replaced with film that meters legal through the glass, and keep the receipt in case the court will take it.
The limits you were measured against
Front side windows 32% VLT minimum, back side windows 32% VLT minimum, rear window 32% VLT minimum — metered through the film and the glass together. Factory side glass already blocks some light before any film goes on, which is how film sold as “legal” ends up metering under the limit.
Check what film will meter legal in Alabama →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in Alabama?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. Alabama fixes the offence — misdemeanor; the traffic schedule lets you plead guilty before a magistrate instead of appearing under Ala. Code 32-5C-2 (prohibition); 32-5C-4 (exemption), with $20 on the supreme court's traffic-offence schedule, which is a scheduled fine rather than a statutory ceiling — and the total you pay is set by the fee schedule of the court that issued the citation, which varies by county and is not published statewide. Call the clerk of the citing court for the figure that applies to you.
Is a tint ticket in Alabama correctable?
We could not verify that Alabama treats it as a correctable violation, so do not assume removing the film clears the citation. Ask the clerk of the citing court before the appearance date.
Does a tint ticket put points on your licence in Alabama?
We could not verify whether Alabama assigns licence points for this, so we are not going to guess. The clerk of the citing court can tell you.
What tint got me cited in Alabama?
The limits are front side windows 32% VLT, back side windows 32% VLT, rear window 32% VLT, measured through the film and the glass together — which is why film sold as legal can still meter under.
Can a medical exemption get a Alabama tint ticket dismissed?
Alabama does have a medical exemption, but it is something you hold before the stop, not a defence you assemble afterwards. If you qualify, get it in place so the next stop goes differently.
Sources
- Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, Rule 20 (traffic offence schedule) (official)
- ALEA - Alabama Tinting Regulations (official)
Reference only, not legal advice. We do not publish an estimated ticket total because no statewide schedule exists to support one. For the amount that applies to you, ask the clerk of the court on your citation.