What a window tint ticket costs in Minnesota
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. Minnesota fixes the offence — misdemeanor under Minn. Stat. 169.71, subd. 1, with up to 90 days and up to $1,000, the general misdemeanor ceiling, which the tint statute does not vary. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Offence | Misdemeanor |
| Amount set by statute | Up to 90 days and up to $1,000, the general misdemeanor ceiling, which the tint statute does not vary |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | Minn. Stat. 169.71, subd. 1 |
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 Minnesota does settle
Older legislative guides group section 169.71 with the petty misdemeanors, and shops still repeat it, but the current statute does not support that: subdivision 1 ends with the line that a violation of the subdivision is a misdemeanor, which is a criminal level with jail attached. The business of applying non-compliant film is handled separately in subdivision 4, so a shop that installs it is exposed on its own account. Minnesota widened who may certify a medical need in 2025 and again in 2026, so a request refused earlier may succeed now.
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 50% VLT minimum, back side windows 50% VLT minimum, rear window 50% 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 Minnesota →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in Minnesota?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. Minnesota fixes the offence — misdemeanor under Minn. Stat. 169.71, subd. 1, with up to 90 days and up to $1,000, the general misdemeanor ceiling, which the tint statute does not vary — 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 Minnesota correctable?
We could not verify that Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
We could not verify whether Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
The limits are front side windows 50% VLT, back side windows 50% VLT, rear window 50% 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 Minnesota tint ticket dismissed?
Minnesota 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
- Minn. Stat. 169.71 (Revisor of Statutes) (official)
- Minnesota House Research - summary of the window tint provisions (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.