Ottawa OPP officers charged several drivers in the first days of September 2026 for having tint on their front windshields, CTV News Ottawa reported on September 2. Const. Michael Fathi said the only tint on a front windshield should be what the manufacturer installed, no more than three inches deep at the top. He warned that a tinted windshield can be deemed unfit for the road and fail a safety inspection, which can lead to the plate being seized and the vehicle towed. The fine for an illegal colour coating is $110.
What Ontario's law says
Ontario doesn't write a percentage into its statute. Section 73 of the Highway Traffic Act bans driving with a windshield or window coated with a colour spray or coating that obstructs the driver's view (s. 73(2)), and bans coloured or reflective material on the windshield or the windows directly left or right of the driver that "substantially obscures the interior" when seen from outside (s. 73(3)). Windows behind the driver aren't named, so dark tint there is legal as long as the rear view is covered by mirrors (s. 74).
Many guides quote 70% light transmission for the front side windows and say aftermarket windshield tint has been banned on vehicles made since January 1, 2017. Neither number is in the Act. Both are usually traced to Ontario's vehicle safety inspection standard and to police guidance. We haven't read the inspection standard itself, so treat the 70% as the practical guide rather than the statutory limit, and the officer's test ("can I see the driver?") as the one that matters at the roadside.
Enforcement is steady, not new
This isn't a new law or a new blitz. Earlier in 2026, Caledon OPP ran a "vehicle anonymity" campaign that produced 745 charges for illegal tint and obstructed plates (CTV News Barrie, March 25, 2026). The Ottawa reminder is a signal that windshield tint in particular gets attention.
What it means for drivers
- Leave the windshield alone apart from the factory strip at the top.
- Keep the front side windows light enough that an officer can see you through them.
- Behind the driver, any shade is fine, with mirrors on both sides.
