What 393.60B means in plain language
FMCSR 393.60B addresses unauthorized tinting or coating on your windshield or front side windows. The regulation prohibits any tinting or coating that reduces light transmittance below the legal threshold. In practical terms: if an inspector can't see clearly through your windshield or front side windows, or if a light-transmittance test shows the tinting blocks too much light, you're in violation.
This is a safety issue. Windshield and window transparency directly affects your visibility and the visibility of other road users who need to see into your cab. Even aftermarket coatings applied for privacy or heat reduction can fall under this violation if they exceed the legal limits. The citation doesn't require your vehicle to be placed out of service—it's a maintenance defect that you can typically correct and move on—but it does get recorded in your safety profile.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ roadside inspection records, 393.60B windshield tinting violations rank #699 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. Over all time, we've recorded 1,066 citations for this code. In the last 12 months, we saw 556 citations, and in the last 90 days, 95 citations.
The out-of-service rate for 393.60B is 0.1%—meaning only 1 vehicle out of 1,065 total citations was placed out of service. This is dramatically lower than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, which tells you that inspectors treat this as a correctable defect rather than an immediate safety threat. You won't be sidelined for this violation; you'll be cited and expected to fix it.
The citation trend over the last 12 months shows seasonal variation. We recorded 21 citations in April 2025, then climbed to 66 in September 2025—the highest single month in the period—before settling to 33–43 citations monthly through early 2026. This suggests enforcement activity spikes at certain times, possibly tied to weather or regional inspection campaigns.
Who gets cited most
Georgia leads enforcement with 42 citations in the last 180 days, followed by Arizona with 16 and Pennsylvania with 13. Across all three states, the OOS rate remained 0.0%, consistent with the national pattern. None of these states treat windshield tinting as a reason to remove trucks from service.
Our data shows fleets such as Federal Express Corporation with 9 all-time citations and Evans Delivery Company Inc with 4 citations have encountered this violation, but the distribution is broad—no single carrier dominates the statistics, indicating the violation occurs across diverse fleet types and sizes.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
393.60B sits in the vehicle maintenance category alongside windshield condition defects (393.78) and lighting requirements (393.9 and 393.11). The comparison is instructive:
- 393.78 (Windshield condition defective): 157,894 citations with a 0.3% OOS rate. This code covers cracks, damage, and condition issues—far more common than tinting violations and slightly more likely to result in removal.
- 393.11 (Lighting devices/reflectors): 179,734 citations with a 1.8% OOS rate. Lighting problems are cited more than 168 times as often as tinting violations and are removed from service 18 times more frequently.
- 393.9(a) (Inoperable required lamps): 660,737 citations with a 15.4% OOS rate. This is the dominant maintenance violation and results in OOS decisions 154 times more often than tinting.
In short: tinting violations are rare compared to other windshield and lighting codes, and they almost never result in removal from service.
How to avoid it
Prevent 393.60B citations with these concrete steps:
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Check your windshield and front side windows before every trip. Look for aftermarket tinting film, coating, or discoloration. If you've applied any non-OEM treatment, have it removed or lightened to meet legal transmittance standards. Many states require at least 70–80% light transmission; verify your state's standard and ensure compliance.
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Inspect windows for clarity and cleanliness during your pre-trip inspection. Dirt, haze, and film buildup can appear as unauthorized tinting to an inspector. Keep all glass surfaces clean and transparent.
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Avoid cosmetic or heat-reduction films unless rated for windshield use and legal transmittance. Cheap aftermarket tinting applied to the windshield for privacy or appearance is a common violation trigger. If you need heat or glare reduction, use legal sunshades that don't involve permanent film.
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When you service your vehicle, verify the windshield hasn't been re-tinted. Our data shows tinting violations often co-occur with other cab and body work—specifically hood and cab component issues (393.203C and 393.203A appeared together in 40 and 26 shared inspections respectively in the last 90 days). If someone has worked on your cab front end, double-check that the windshield wasn't re-sealed with tint in the process.
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Pay attention to Freightliner, Volvo, and Mack units particularly. These makes accounted for 261, 97, and 88 citations respectively—not because they're prone to the violation, but because they represent a large portion of the fleet. If you operate one of these vehicles, be especially diligent about window clarity.
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Know your state's rules. Georgia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania account for most citations we see. If you operate in those states, enforcement is active. Understand the local light-transmittance standard and keep your windows in compliance.
A 393.60B citation is not catastrophic—the 0.1% OOS rate means you'll stay in service—but it's a correctable defect that adds to your safety record and can delay your inspection process at roadside. Transparency literally matters here: keep your windows clear, resist aftermarket tinting, and you'll avoid this violation.