Students who are asking for a $75 front window tint job for the holidays should think again. That gift can come with a price tag that far exceeds the original cost.

Although front window tint is not illegal, it’s illegal to drive a vehicle with any tint that will obscure a policeman’s view of the driver, authorities say.

Many students are unaware that campus police are also able to ticket students with front window tint.

“Yes, we are able to enforce the same laws as the other police departments in the State of California, said David Sanchez, a Ventura College Policeman. ” We have the same authority.”

“I didn’t know that campus police can fine me for front tinted windows,” Moorpark College student Chris Paredes, 20, said. “I recently just put front window tint on my new car.”

According to section code 27608A1, any tint at all is considered illegal. Brandon Mumme, a California State Patrolman, explained his thoughts on this situation.

“There is a misconception about this illegal act,” Mumme said. “Many people think that it has to do with how dark the tint is, but a person can still be pulled over with any kind of tint in the front windows.”

Therefore, nothing can be permanently affixed on the front windows. The issue is why it is legal for the body shops as well as some car dealerships to apply the tint on the front windows and not be fined.

“There is no law written that makes it illegal to put on front window tint,” explained Mumme. “The only one held responsible is the vehicle owner.”

If the police will give tickets to drivers, a person would assume the police would stop those who were applying it. Many wonder if there is going to be a law passed to prevent body shops from being able to apply front window tint. “I haven’t heard anything about that yet,” said Mumme.

Another issue that many students get confused on is what happens when a person gets pulled over again for the same reason. Do they get issued a fix-it ticket again and or will they pay a greater fine?

“Yes it could become a fix-it ticket again which is a correctable violation,” said Mumme. “If the person has more that one or two on their record it can become an uncorrectable violation with a fee of $80-$90 more that than previous one.”

As California Highway Patrol Officer Brandon Mumme explained, “It’s a violation like any other violation.”