I think that the light transmission is the important part... As long as it is a fairly clear view from INSIDE the car, whether it is just shaded or reflective it is ok.. depends on the state. Besides what kind of country do we live in where TINTED windows?! are a big problem... it is hard to imagine a developing country would even think about this much less make a law about it. It is almost as if when there is too little serious crime, strife, etc, that these kinds of restrictions begin to show up, because there are no far more time consuming endeavors. Still, it seems that there are a lot better things that the lawmakers could be working on than outlawing tinting windows, and if they are going to outlaw it then dont lie to us, say it is because you want abusive small-town cops to be able to see someone smoking a joint in their car... not for bogus safety reasons because everyone knows from the inside it doesnt block visibility to a significant degree. And besides, lexus SUVs have that colored metal reflective tint on the back and rear side windows from the factory, so if you bought that car, even in a highly restrictive state such as NY, what can they tell you?... I would look in parking lots and an SUV not likely to have someone who would tint there windows as an owner... and find the darkest one out there.. and dont tint any darker than that.. then, if someone is out there with factory windows tinted the same as yours how can there be a difference, ignoring for this example's sake of profiling people with fast cars and young drivers