Legislation sponsored by State Sen. Eric Buckson (R–South Dover) and State Rep. Lyndon Yearick (R–Camden, Woodside) that gives Delaware drivers greater flexibility in choosing window tint for their vehicles was recently signed into law.
The level of tinting that can be legally applied to vehicle windows is not just a consumer preference but an issue with serious consequences for police, motorists, and Delawareans struggling with health issues.
Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 255 changes Delaware’s vehicle window tinting requirements, allowing darker tint on the front side windows of motor vehicles without requiring the vehicle owner to obtain a medical waiver.
Under the new law, front side windows may have tint that allows at least 50% of visible light to pass through. Previously, Delaware had one of the most restrictive window-tinting standards in the nation. Windows generally had to allow at least 70% of visible light through unless the owner had a medical waiver signed by a licensed Delaware physician, osteopath, or optometrist.
In writing their bill, Sen. Buckson and Rep. Yearick worked with police and healthcare professionals to reach a consensus on the new threshold. The Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police, the Delaware State Troopers Association, and the Delaware Optometric Association all support the new law.
“This is a common-sense change that gives Delaware drivers more flexibility while maintaining a clear safety standard for the windows alongside the driver,” said Sen. Buckson. “For many people, darker window tint provides added comfort and privacy, and they should not have to go through the process of obtaining a medical waiver simply to use a tint that is legal in many other states.”
Rep. Yearick said the change brings Delaware’s law more in line with drivers’ practical needs. “Senate Bill 255 makes a straightforward change to a law that has been unnecessarily restrictive for Delaware drivers,” he said. “Drivers can now choose darker tint for their front windows without having to demonstrate a medical need, while still keeping a reasonable standard in place for visibility and safety.”
The measure received broad bipartisan support in the General Assembly.
