What a window tint ticket costs in Illinois
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. Illinois fixes the offence — petty offence on a first violation; class c misdemeanor on a second or subsequent under 625 ILCS 5/12-503, with $500 — a first offence is fined no less than $50 nor more than $500, a second or subsequent no less than $100 nor more than $500. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Offence | Petty offence on a first violation; Class C misdemeanor on a second or subsequent |
| Amount set by statute | $500 — a first offence is fined no less than $50 nor more than $500, a second or subsequent no less than $100 nor more than $500 |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | 625 ILCS 5/12-503 |
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 Illinois does settle
Illinois is one of the few states that puts the range in the statute rather than leaving it to a county fee schedule, so the figures here are the law's own. It also attaches a remedy on top of the fine: a person convicted under the front side window provisions must bring the non-conforming windows into compliance, so paying does not end it. Note the metering tolerance — the statute allows a 5% variance for a law enforcement officer's reading.
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 35% VLT minimum, back side windows 35% VLT minimum, rear window 35% 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 Illinois →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in Illinois?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. Illinois fixes the offence — petty offence on a first violation; class c misdemeanor on a second or subsequent under 625 ILCS 5/12-503, with $500 — a first offence is fined no less than $50 nor more than $500, a second or subsequent no less than $100 nor more than $500 — 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 Illinois correctable?
We could not verify that Illinois 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 Illinois?
We could not verify whether Illinois 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 Illinois?
The limits are front side windows 35% VLT, back side windows 35% VLT, rear window 35% 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 Illinois tint ticket dismissed?
Illinois 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
- 625 ILCS 5/12-503 (Illinois General Assembly) (official)
- Illinois Public Act 096-1056 (amending 12-503) (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.