Traffic Violations

DelawareTint Ticket — Fines, Penalties & How to Fight It

Got a tint ticket in Delaware? Here's what you need to know about fines, what happens in court, and how to prevent future tickets with a medical exemption.

Delaware Tint Ticket Fines & Penalties

Under Delaware Code Title 21, §4313, tint violations are motor vehicle offenses. While individual fines are relatively modest, they accumulate quickly — and the real cost is mandatory tint removal.

First Offense

$57.50 fine

Plus court costs if contested

Repeat Offenses

$57.50–$115 fine

Fines increase with each subsequent violation

Additional Consequences

Mandatory tint removal order (costs $50–$200 at a shop)
Must provide proof of tint removal or compliance
Court costs added if you contest the ticket
Potential points on your driving record

Can You Be Pulled Over Just for Tint in Delaware?

Yes — tint is a primary offense in Delaware

Delaware State Police, Wilmington PD, and Newark PD can pull you over solely because your windows appear to have aftermarket tint. Given Delaware's strict 70% VLT standard, virtually any visible tint gives an officer probable cause for a stop.

High-enforcement corridors: I-95 (Wilmington area), Route 1 (Dover/beach traffic), US-13 (north-south corridor), and near the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

How Do Delaware Police Test Your Tint?

Officers use a tint meter (photometer) to measure the Visible Light Transmission (VLT) of your windows:

1The officer places the tint meter on your window
2The device emits light and measures how much passes through
3The reading shows the VLT percentage
4If the reading is below 70% VLT, a citation is issued under Title 21, §4313

Delaware has no annual safety or tint inspection. All enforcement is at traffic stops. Tint meters can sometimes give varying readings based on calibration and temperature — this is one reason tickets can be contested in court.

How to Fight a Tint Ticket in Delaware

If you've received a tint ticket from DSP, Wilmington PD, or another agency, you have several options:

Option 1: Pay the Fine

Pay the $57.50 fine and either remove your tint or comply with Delaware's 70% VLT standard. The simplest option, but leaves you vulnerable to future tickets.

Option 2: Contest in Court

Challenge the ticket by questioning the tint meter's calibration, the officer's training, or the accuracy of the reading. Bring evidence like a receipt from your tint installer showing the VLT percentage. Delaware Justice of the Peace courts handle traffic violations.

RecommendedOption 3: Get a Medical Exemption

The most effective long-term solution. If you have a qualifying medical condition, get a medical exemption under Title 21, §4313. Present it in court to potentially have the ticket dismissed AND you'll be protected from all future tickets statewide.

Prevent Future Tint Tickets in Delaware

In Delaware, staying within the legal 70% VLT limit means having virtually no visible tint. If you need any real tint for medical, privacy, or UV protection reasons, a medical exemption at $225 is the only legal path.

$57.50+ per ticket

Per tint ticket

Plus removal costs ($50–$200), court time

$225

Medical exemption

One-time fee, permanent statewide protection

Already Got a Tint Ticket in Delaware?

If you have a qualifying medical condition, getting an exemption now may help you contest your current ticket in Justice of the Peace court and prevent all future tickets from DSP, Wilmington PD, and every other agency statewide.