Why is a certain level of window tint illegal?

[Whatthefluff]

At least in the US, you will be fined and made to undo your tint by the cops if it’s too dark. The question I have is, why is it anyone’s business? Is there an inherent hazard or risk to having tinted windows? And what can be said of the tint in vehicles that transport the rich and famous, necessary for privacy in certain situations? Do they get a free pass?

Or is this representative of the excess policing lawmaking for everyday citizens? I am especially curious what those not from the US have to say about this and whether their laws are similar about window tint in cars.

[bolverk]

It is classed a as visual obstruction, in the UK the front windscreen must let at least 75% of light through and the front side windows must let at least 70% of light through this can be checked at the roadside by the use of a photometer, there is not limit on the rear passenger windows along with the rear windscreen, but if you have any sense you'd use a tint that allowed 75% of light through the rear windscreen.

In United Kingdom having illegal window tint is punishable by law.

Police or DVSA ( Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) can measure your window darkness with a photometer, and police officers are equipped with these devices with increasing frequency.

Unless you use extreme tint darkness you will likely be issued with an EFPN notice (Endorseable Fixed Penalty Notice), resulting in your drivers license endorsed with 3 points and a £60 fine.

Delayed Prohibition Notices or Rectification Notices are received most often by drivers with prohibited car tint.

These are typically issued for tint which is not legal but passes more than 30% of light.

These notices will enable you to drive (usually for up to 10 days), but you are required to remove all non-legal tint and provide proof to a police station.

Illegal car window tint on windshields and front side windows which is considered extreme (less than 30% light transmission) can result in a “Prohibition Notice, ordering you to stop using the vehicle until it complies with UK window tint laws.

It is a serious offence to ignore this notice and you are likely to be prosecuted for driving non-roadworthy vehicle.

Furthermore you can also receive a penalty notice or court summons, both of which incur additional costs.

If you notice that in vehicles that transport the rich and famous it is only the rear windows that are heavily tinted, the driver windscreen and side windows are usually clear

[WhiteSteve]

I’m not totally up on the details of the laws, but I feel like this is another one of those little offenses that are initially built on some minor safety concern but are usually only enforced as an excuse for police to pull a driver over if they want to check them out for whatever reason. Additionally, I think they dress it up as a police safety issue.

I actually really want to tint my windows for skin health reasons, as I spend a lot of time driving and the sun is often beating down on my face or my arms, not to mention being blinded by the brightness. I don’t need blacked out windows or anything, but I’d like it dark enough that I’m always shaded from the sun. But one of my main goals in life is not having to have interactions with police, so I’m worried it will lead to me getting pulled over even if I’m driving totally fine. It’s not even a matter of if they test it and it clears, I’m just so bothered that they could even stop me to check.

[Agagagagaga]

Why would police bother you? You’re White. Didn’t you know they are HUNTING Black men? 🙄

[XHopelessRomanticX]

Tinting reduces the amount of visible light that gets into your car. This can make it more difficult to see the road, other cars, pedestrians, street signs, etc.

And limited view while driving leads to serious and sometimes fatal accidents.

Many states consider window tinting something that obscures a driver's field of vision. It's also something that is considered a safety risk to police officers, which is why cops don't appreciate cars with tinted windows. Not only is the officer unable to see what drivers or passengers are doing, they can’t make eye contact with individuals inside the vehicle. Excessively dark windows can conceal illegal activity, which puts officers on high alert when approaching a vehicle.

[LeeannaDD]

In theory it's a safety issue. In practice it's a precursor reason to stop you and generate revenue and arrests

[NamerOfStars]

If you can't see through it, that's a problem. If others can't see through it, that's a problem. How? Well, I'm a native of Illinois, transplanted to Florida, which evidently has laxer tinting laws, and I can't tell you how many times I've been about to cross a road when a car pulls up, and... waits. It MAY be that the driver is waving me to go first, but I can't tell, because their windows are so damned dark. The net result is a delay in traffic at best, and a fatal accident at worst.

We have sunglasses for a reason.

[blackgaletiger]

We have similar laws here. All though the rear windows can be slightly darker than the front. My understanding was it was more to do with safety during traffic stops where the officer was able to see the driver and not be blinded in case there was a weapon involved although i never really looked into hit

[Lliam]

I don't know about other states, but California window tint law restricts windshield tint on top 4 inches. Front side windows must have 70% light transmission or more. Back side windows and rear window may have any tint darkness.

I think restrictions on front side windows are to allow cops to see into your car.

[DryGermanGuy]

I drove an imported car from California once, with maximum tint on the side windows. You could not see much at night, I would consider that dangerous. The fact that law enforcement can’t see the occupants comes on top of that.

[OfMiceandMen]

I believe those laws are there to protect law enforcement officers for when they pull people over on a traffic stop.

They want to be able to see what you are doing when they approach the car, for their safety and yours.

[CassandraSpender]

That's for their safety, not yours. What would help with your safety when dealing with police would be more accountability and better training... which would also help the reputation of the police so it's a win win

[OfMiceandMen]

@CassandraSpender I look at it both ways, if they feel safe and can see what I am doing then, I am safe because everything remains calm. I agree for the most part on the accountability and training, but I see too many people putting themselves in a position where they escalate things too, one of them is often not being compliant. If you just comply with what they ask then things tend to go smoothly, if they are an belligerent ass, then you take the name and the badge # afterwards and report them to their superiors. But all that aside, the tinted windows are there for reason so things don't escalate. If I was a cop, I would be concerned about not seeing what is going on in the car.

[CassandraSpender]

Where I come from, if you took their name and badge number to their superiors you'd end up with multiple tickets for things like not stopping at stop signs in a week even if you put your car in park at each stop sign... this obviously isn't cops everywhere, I know several from other cities who are respectable public servants, and their department will not, as a rule, hire cops who ever served in my hometown! My point is just to never assume that internal policing will always do the job.

[OfMiceandMen]

@CassandraSpender For sure, there is a fundamental difference with respect to policing in our two countries. I completely understand where you are coming from.

[NaultD]

My guess is cops are scared of regular stops and waiting for the window to roll down but the person is aiming for a head shot and can't see it.

[Dargil]

The lawmakers believe that tint that is too dark, impedes visibility, especially at night.
Also, law enforcement wants to see an occupant in case of a stop, incase you have a Glock in your lap.

[StormChaser838]

its called obstruction of vision, only the front windshield counts, even big hanging stuff on rear view mirror gets tickets. Simple u can't see and u may bang someone

[Paul09]

Oh look more nice things we can't have because of criminals. Here the reader windows you can go very dark. In the front 20-5% tint I believe. Barely noticeable. Would be sweet to be able to do front side windows as dark as rear windows.

[Pete671]

Same in the UK, too much tint affects night vision, rich and famous usually have a driver so side windows are ok to be dark, windscreen would be lightly tinted, if at all,,,

[NostalgiaSenpi]

Because it can make it more difficult to see the road, other cars, pedestrians, street signs, etc. Imagine if you tinted your window so much that you can't see out of it at all on a foggy day.

[AviatorTom]

It's important that drivers behind the car can see through the car for potential obstacles ahead.

[VikingWarLord]

Just another point of reference to prove that we're not free and never have been

[CassandraSpender]

You agreed to these rules as part of the social contract... if you don't like the rules of the road, set by the society who built it, then you are free to not use the road. If you don't like the rules of society, you are free to not be part of society.

[Lookitsmadmax1994]

It illegal because you can't see the driver of the vehicle

[Iron_Man]

Limousine Tinting

[In_Trance]

For driver visibility

[CassandraSpender]

It's a safety thing

[ChefPapiChulo]

Race law.