What a window tint ticket costs in Louisiana
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. Louisiana fixes the offence — the tint section sets no penalty for the driver, so the general chapter 32 penalty applies; the installer is fined under the tint section itself under La. R.S. 32:361.1; driver penalty at La. R.S. 32:57, with up to $175 or 30 days for a first violation under r.s. 32:57, rising to $500 or 90 days on a repeat; $1,000 for a first-offence installer and $2,000 on a second. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Offence | The tint section sets no penalty for the driver, so the general Chapter 32 penalty applies; the installer is fined under the tint section itself |
| Amount set by statute | Up to $175 or 30 days for a first violation under R.S. 32:57, rising to $500 or 90 days on a repeat; $1,000 for a first-offence installer and $2,000 on a second |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | La. R.S. 32:361.1; driver penalty at La. R.S. 32:57 |
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 Louisiana does settle
Louisiana splits the exposure. The driver falls through to R.S. 32:57, the catch-all penalty for the whole traffic chapter, which is why no tint-specific figure exists. The shop does not: subsection G of the tint section fines sellers, installers, manufacturers and distributors on a fixed escalator and bars them from the business altogether on a third conviction. If your film predates 1994 you are exempt, but only with the certificate, and it has to be in the vehicle whenever it is driven.
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 25% VLT minimum, back side windows 25% VLT minimum, rear window 12% 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 Louisiana →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in Louisiana?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. Louisiana fixes the offence — the tint section sets no penalty for the driver, so the general chapter 32 penalty applies; the installer is fined under the tint section itself under La. R.S. 32:361.1; driver penalty at La. R.S. 32:57, with up to $175 or 30 days for a first violation under r.s. 32:57, rising to $500 or 90 days on a repeat; $1,000 for a first-offence installer and $2,000 on a second — 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 Louisiana correctable?
We could not verify that Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
We could not verify whether Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
The limits are front side windows 25% VLT, back side windows 25% VLT, rear window 12% 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 Louisiana tint ticket dismissed?
Louisiana 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
- La. R.S. 32:57 (penalty for the traffic chapter) (official)
- La. R.S. 32:361.1 (sun screening devices) (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.