'NYPD Blue' Star Jimmy Smits -- Pulled Over by Cops For Shady Behavior

"NYPD Blue" star Jimmy Smits' obsession with UV protection nearly cost the guy an arm and a leg -- after police in L.A. pulled the actor over for overly-tinted windows ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, cops corraled Jimmy on some L.A. highway Tuesday -- after noticing the extreme limo-style window tinting on his black SUV.

Lucky for Jimmy, he got off without a ticket -- we're told cops gave the guy a verbal warning ... and sent him on his way.