What a window tint ticket costs in Washington
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. Washington fixes the offence — traffic infraction to drive it; misdemeanor to install it; gross misdemeanor to buy or sell the installation under RCW 46.37.430(7); installation offences at RCW 46.37.435, with up to 90 days and up to $1,000 for the installation misdemeanor, the general ceiling; the 2019 amendment removed the fixed fines the section used to carry. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | Washington |
|---|---|
| Offence | Traffic infraction to drive it; misdemeanor to install it; gross misdemeanor to buy or sell the installation |
| Amount set by statute | Up to 90 days and up to $1,000 for the installation misdemeanor, the general ceiling; the 2019 amendment removed the fixed fines the section used to carry |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | RCW 46.37.430(7); installation offences at RCW 46.37.435 |
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 Washington does settle
Washington is the only state in this set that grades the customer above the installer. Driving a non-compliant vehicle is merely a traffic infraction. Knowingly installing the film is a misdemeanor. But providing or accepting payment for installing non-compliant film, knowing that is the purpose, is a gross misdemeanor — so the person who pays for an illegal tint job is exposed at a higher level than the driver who merely has it. The statute also counts fitting windows that already carry film as installation, which closes the swap-the-glass workaround. Senate Bill 5881 in 2019 stripped the fixed dollar amounts out, which is why figures quoted from before then no longer match the section.
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 24% VLT minimum, back side windows 24% VLT minimum, rear window 24% 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 Washington →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in Washington?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. Washington fixes the offence — traffic infraction to drive it; misdemeanor to install it; gross misdemeanor to buy or sell the installation under RCW 46.37.430(7); installation offences at RCW 46.37.435, with up to 90 days and up to $1,000 for the installation misdemeanor, the general ceiling; the 2019 amendment removed the fixed fines the section used to carry — 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 Washington correctable?
We could not verify that Washington 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 Washington?
We could not verify whether Washington 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 Washington?
The limits are front side windows 24% VLT, back side windows 24% VLT, rear window 24% 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 Washington tint ticket dismissed?
Washington 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
- RCW 46.37.435 - Unlawful installation and unlawful purchase or sale (official)
- RCW 46.37.430 - Safety glazing, sunscreening or coloring (official)
- Senate Bill 5881, Chapter 438, Laws of 2019 (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.