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South Dakota: Everything You Need to Know

• South Dakota Window Tint Exemption Laws

  South Dakota's window tinting laws are governed under South Dakota Codified Laws §§ 32-15-2.4 through 32-15-5 (Sunscreening devices). Unlike many other states, South Dakota has not 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.

  • South Dakota window tint laws were originally enacted in 1989 under SDCL §§ 32-15-2.4 through 32-15-5, making it one of the earliest states to codify tint regulations.
  • There is currently no medical exemption provision in the law. No state agency administers a certification program or issues exemption certificates for window tint.
  • Film manufacturers are required to certify the tint they sell in South Dakota as meeting state requirements.
  • A compliance sticker identifying the tint as legal must be placed between the film and glass on each tinted window.
  • Metallic and mirrored tinting materials are prohibited on all vehicle windows.
  • Violations of South Dakota's tint law are classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor under SDCL § 32-15-5.
• Policy Timeline

  1989 – Original Tint Law Enacted

  • South Dakota codifies window tint restrictions under SDCL §§ 32-15-2.4 through 32-15-5, making it one of the first states in the country to establish formal tint regulations. VLT requirements are set for all vehicle windows. No medical exemption provision is included in the original text.

  1993 – Compliance Standards Updated

  • South Dakota updates its tint compliance framework, introducing the requirement for a certification sticker to be placed between the film and glass on each tinted window. No medical exemption provision is introduced.

  2005 – Reflectivity Restrictions Clarified

  • South Dakota clarifies its prohibition on metallic and mirrored tinting materials, applying the restriction uniformly to all vehicle windows. No medical exemption pathway is introduced during this update.

  2019 – Enforcement Practices Modernized

  • South Dakota updates enforcement practices under SDCL § 32-15-5, allowing law enforcement to use electronic tint meters to measure VLT compliance during traffic stops. No medical exemption provision is introduced.

  Present Day – No Exemption Program Exists

  • South Dakota remains one of the few states with no medical window tint exemption pathway. SDCL §§ 32-15-2.4 through 32-15-5 contain no provision for physician certification or darker tint for photosensitive patients.
• Legal Tint Limits

  South Dakota law sets specific tint limits under SDCL §§ 32-15-2.4 through 32-15-5. Because no medical exemption program exists, these limits apply to all drivers without exception.

  Standard South Dakota Tint Limits:

  • Windshield: Non-reflective tint permitted only above the AS-1 line. No tint may extend below the AS-1 line for any driver.
  • Front Side Windows: Must allow more than 35% VLT for all vehicle types.
  • Back Side Windows: Must allow more than 20% VLT for all vehicle types.
  • Rear Window: Must allow more than 20% VLT for all vehicle types.
  • Prohibited Colors: Metallic and mirrored tinting materials are not permitted on any window.
  • Compliance Sticker: Required between the film and glass on each tinted window at all times.