Tinted Window Crackdown
Friday, May 4, 2012 @ 12:11 PM
Prince George, B.C.- The Prince George RCMP Traffic Services Unit is putting the heat on owners of vehicle which violate the window tint law.
In the past three days, members of the RCMP traffic Services have issued 37 tickets for violations of the window tint law. ( vehicle shown at right would be in violation of B.C. window tint law)
In British Columbia, the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (MVAR), Section 7.05(8) states:
No person shall drive or operate on a highway a motor vehicle which has affixed to or placed on the windshield or a window any material that reduces the light transmitted through the windshield or window unless the material is affixed to or placed on:
· the windshield but no more than 75 millimeters (3 inches) below the top of the windshield,
· a side window that is behind the driver, or
· the rear window if the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on the left and right side of the motor vehicle.
Those persons in contravention of this regulation may be subject to a $109.00 fine and an order to have the tint material removed. Failing to comply with a removal order is an additional $598.00 fine.
Tinting of windows creates safety concerns that affect the motoring public, as well as pedestrians. The decrease in visibility can mean no direct eye contact can be made with the driver to determine if the driver has seen you.
"Whether you are a pedestrian crossing the roadway, a driver of another vehicle or a rider of a motorcycle, making eye contact with other road users is of critical importance. Tinted windows may prevent road users from determining the actions of drivers" states Sgt. Al Steinhauser of the Prince George RCMP Municipal Traffic Services Section.
There is also the issue of what happens in the event of a crash. Side windows in a vehicle are designed to shatter upon impact, reducing the risk of injury to the driver or occupants. In a collision, tint film holds the broken glass together, which can cause the broken window to act like a knife.
Most reputable window tint installation businesses have their customers sign a waiver acknowledging that the installation is in contravention of law. Despite this, persons still choose to install window tint in areas where the legislation does not allow.
Comments
Good! It’s about time.
Cuz everyone tints their windshield. How about a crackdown on not knowing what the hell ‘merge’ means.
I don’t tint my windshield.
Merge, Yield, Stop, Keep Right Except To Pass, Signal….there’s a whole whack of stuff they should be cracking down on as well.
Sarcasm + the internet = fail. No one tints their windshield. Well, almost no one.
“Sarcasm + the internet = fail. No one tints their windshield. Well, almost no one.”
I realized you were being sarcastic after I hit “Post Comment” I’m slow sometimes :)
How about piped motorcycles? There are laws against them as well. Oh right, Steinhauser rides one of those, or did.
Next thing you know they will be writing tickets for bald tires too!! After all what else can they fine you for?
how about a crackdown on drywall being installed by off duty RCMP.
“how about a crackdown on drywall being installed by off duty RCMP.”
Huh?
Seen an all blacked out black RCMP 4×4 Yukon type vehical the other day…..wonder if this applies?
Were their windshields blacked out too?
“The decrease in visibility can mean no direct eye contact can be made with the driver to determine if the driver has seen you.”
Now that is an interesting excuse which does not hold much water, in my opinion. If it did, then wearing sunglasses whiule driving should be against the law as well. Noticing a person does not always mean a movement of the head is required. People’s eyes are quite capable of moving back and forth to loocking ahead, looking at traffic lights, looking at people entering a crosswalk within less than a second without moving one’s head.
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