What a window tint ticket costs in New Mexico
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. New Mexico fixes the offence — penalty assessment misdemeanor under NMSA 1978, 66-3-846.1, with set by the magistrate court's penalty assessment schedule rather than by the section; before the change to a penalty assessment misdemeanor it was a petty misdemeanor capped at $75. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | New Mexico |
|---|---|
| Offence | Penalty assessment misdemeanor |
| Amount set by statute | Set by the magistrate court's penalty assessment schedule rather than by the section; before the change to a penalty assessment misdemeanor it was a petty misdemeanor capped at $75 |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | NMSA 1978, 66-3-846.1 |
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 New Mexico does settle
The classification is the useful part. A penalty assessment misdemeanor in New Mexico is one you can settle by paying a fixed amount on the court's schedule without appearing, which is why no figure lives in the statute: the schedule carries it and the schedule changes. The section used to be a petty misdemeanor with a $75 ceiling, and that older figure still circulates. New Mexico sets the side and rear floor at 20 percent, among the most permissive in the country, and exempts glazing that already complies with the federal standard.
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 20% VLT minimum, back side windows 20% VLT minimum, rear window 20% 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 New Mexico →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in New Mexico?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. New Mexico fixes the offence — penalty assessment misdemeanor under NMSA 1978, 66-3-846.1, with set by the magistrate court's penalty assessment schedule rather than by the section; before the change to a penalty assessment misdemeanor it was a petty misdemeanor capped at $75 — 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 New Mexico correctable?
We could not verify that New Mexico 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 New Mexico?
We could not verify whether New Mexico 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 New Mexico?
The limits are front side windows 20% VLT, back side windows 20% VLT, rear window 20% 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 New Mexico tint ticket dismissed?
New Mexico 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
- New Mexico H.B. 200 (2019), reproducing NMSA 66-3-846.1 (official)
- New Mexico H.B. 271 (2018), showing the change to a penalty assessment misdemeanor (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.