The real reason for limited tint on the driver's side, passenger side and no tint on windshields? It's for your police officer's safety. In the mid 80's during a few traffic stops around the country officers were shot approaching heavily tinted windows, and the reason the officers never saw it coming was the tint. They then made laws limiting the available tint on windows so that when an officer approaches you he can see you and what you are doing.

I know this because one of my father's deputies was a victim of this when I was a kid (early to mid 80's, don't remember the exact date cause I was so young). He was a good man and had a family. It was a simple "hey mister, your break lights aren't working, go fix em" stop that ended up ending his life and ruining his family's life. Funny thing is my father has a rule with his deputies that they don't do traffic stops. He said that is what city cops and highway patrols are for...his deputies are reserved for criminal investigation etc. The one exception to this...when safety is a concern (ie, 120 mph will get their attention, or breaklights not working).

Needless to say my father was a huge proponent of the tint laws in texas when they were being drafted.