What a window tint ticket costs in Rhode Island
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. Rhode Island fixes the offence — civil violation under R.I. Gen. Laws 31-23.3-2, with $250, the figure the division of motor vehicles states for this law. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Offence | Civil violation |
| Amount set by statute | $250, the figure the Division of Motor Vehicles states for this law |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | R.I. Gen. Laws 31-23.3-2 |
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 Rhode Island does settle
Rhode Island is one of the few states whose motor vehicle agency simply publishes the number, and it says $250. Treat that as the current figure rather than a settled one: the House passed a 2025 bill, H 5644, that would add an escalator of $375 for a second violation and $500 for a third or later, and we could not confirm from the Assembly's own record that it became law. The medical exemption, which is granted on a notarised affidavit, does not cover the windshield.
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 70% VLT minimum, back side windows 70% VLT minimum, rear window 70% 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 Rhode Island →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in Rhode Island?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. Rhode Island fixes the offence — civil violation under R.I. Gen. Laws 31-23.3-2, with $250, the figure the division of motor vehicles states for this law — 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 Rhode Island correctable?
We could not verify that Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
We could not verify whether Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
The limits are front side windows 70% VLT, back side windows 70% VLT, rear window 70% 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 Rhode Island tint ticket dismissed?
Rhode Island 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
- RI DMV - Miscellaneous motor vehicle laws (official)
- Rhode Island State Police - Motor vehicle laws (official)
- Rhode Island General Assembly - 2025 H 5644 (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.