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Colorado: Everything You Need to Know

• Colorado Window Tint Exemption Laws

  Colorado's window tinting laws are governed under Colorado Revised Statute § 42-4-227. Unlike many other states, Colorado has never established a medical exemption program within its tint statute. All drivers, regardless of medical condition, must comply with the same standard tint limits under state law.

  • Colorado window tint laws were originally codified in 1995 under CRS § 42-4-227 and last amended in 2021 under SB 21-271, effective March 1, 2022.
  • There is no medical exemption provision anywhere in CRS § 42-4-227.
  • No Colorado DMV form, waiver, or physician certification process exists for window tint exemptions.
  • Violations are a Class B traffic infraction carrying fines ranging from $500 to $5,000 under CRS § 42-4-227.
  • Installers who apply non-compliant tint commit a Class A traffic infraction under the same statute.
• Policy Timeline

  1994/1995 – Original Tint Law Codified

  • Colorado's window tint statute is codified as CRS § 42-4-227, replacing the prior § 42-4-224. The law establishes VLT requirements for all vehicle windows. No medical exemption provision is included in the original text.

  1995 – Enforcement Standards Established

  • Colorado sets specific VLT minimums for front and rear windows, along with prohibitions on metallic and mirrored tint. Medical exemptions are again absent from the final framework.

  2019 – HB19-1067 Amendment

  • The legislature amends CRS § 42-4-227 with updated language. Penalty structures are refined but no medical exemption pathway is introduced despite growing awareness of photosensitive conditions.

  2021 – SB 21-271 Updates Enforcement Provisions

  • Governor Polis signs SB 21-271, updating enforcement provisions under CRS § 42-4-227, effective March 1, 2022. No medical exemption language is introduced in the final bill.

  Present Day – No Exemption Program Exists

  • Colorado remains one of the few high-altitude, high-UV-exposure states with no medical window tint exemption pathway. CRS § 42-4-227 contains no provision for physician certification or darker tint for photosensitive patients.
• Legal Tint Limits

  Colorado law sets specific tint limits under CRS § 42-4-227. Because no medical exemption program exists, these limits apply to all drivers without exception.

  Standard Colorado Tint Limits:

  • Windshield: Non-reflective tint permitted only on the top 4 inches. Must maintain at least 70% VLT. No material presenting a metallic or mirrored appearance is permitted.
  • Front Side Windows: Must allow more than 27% VLT. No metallic or mirrored appearance permitted.
  • Back Side Windows: Must allow more than 27% VLT for passenger cars. No VLT minimum for SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks.
  • Rear Window: Must allow more than 27% VLT for passenger cars. No VLT minimum for SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks.
  • Prohibited Colors: Red and amber tints are not permitted on any window.
  • Reflectivity: No metallic or mirrored appearance is permitted on any window.