Plain-language summary
Minnesota Statutes section 169.71 controls automotive glazing and window tint. For windows covered by subdivision 4, the key measurements are visible light transmission and luminous reflectance.
Vehicle exceptions in subdivision 4a
The 50% side and rear window restriction has listed exceptions. They include rear windows of pickup trucks, rear windows and side windows behind the driver on vans, and specified windows on funeral vehicles, limousines, and police vehicles. The exact statutory definitions matter.
Medical exception
A documented medical need can qualify when the statutory requirements are met. The driver or passenger must possess the required prescription or statement. It must say whether the need is temporary or permanent, state the minimum light-transmission percentage needed, and include an expiration date no more than two years after issuance unless the condition is permanent.
Minnesota Session Laws 2026, chapter 89, effective retroactively from July 1, 2025, clarified that an optometrist, as well as a physician, may issue the statement described in subdivision 4a.
Installer and seller obligations
Subdivision 5 prohibits selling, offering, or applying noncompliant material as part of a business transaction. A violation of that subdivision is a misdemeanor.
Official sources
Practical booking rule
Do not choose film from appearance alone. Identify the vehicle, the window, the existing glass, and the finished measured transmission. If a medical exception is involved, bring the required current documentation.