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legal
guide to UK motoring, sections for law enforcement, Driver licensing,
learner and new drivers, buying and selling, speeding fines, owning a
vehicle, wheel clamping, traffic information
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| ‘Lighten
Up’ - Windscreen Warning |
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Tinting
your car windows is a quick and cheap way of customizing your
vehicle. It makes the car look sleek and it also provides an
amount of security if possible thieves cannot see in. Some manufacturers
are even producing cars with the rear windows already tinted
with this in mind. They do not however supply cars with the
front windows tinted, with good reason, because there is legislation
preventing this.
However aftermarket tints can be bought which if used incorrectly
can breach this legislation. The law states that any tint must
allow at least 70% of the light to pass through them. There
are obvious reasons for this of course. If you cannot see clearly
through your windows then you might not be able to see that
cyclist, pedestrian etc. especially at night.
VOSA has spent £13,000 providing light meters for roadside checks.
If the meter detects between 45% and 65% of light getting through
then you would be asked to remove the tint, failing to do so
could result in a £2000 fine. If the meter says 30% to 45% the
vehicle is deemed unfit for the road and a delayed prohibition
is issued leaving 10 days to remove the tint. Less than 30%
and the vehicle cannot be moved until the tint is removed.
However there have been cases of people being caught without
the aid of a meter. The law says that an officer can issue an
immediate prohibition if he deems the tint to be dark in his
opinion. This however has to Obvious. This still seems like
a grey area as the resulting proceeding would be depend on the
amount of light that does get through and without a meter this
would be inaccurate.
What is excessively tinted glass?
Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 as amended
specify the minimum levels of light that must pass through the
windscreen and front side windows.
The limits are:
Motor Vehicles first used before 1 April 1985:
The windscreen and front side windows must allow at least 70%
of light to be transmitted through them.
Motor Vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1985:
The light transmitted through the windscreen must be at least
75%.
The front side windows must allow at least 70% of light to be
transmitted through them.
If the glass is tinted to a point whereby it lets through less
light, then the vehicle does not meet legal requirements.
Which windows in the vehicle does this apply to?
The windscreen and the front side windows to either side of
the drivers' head.
How does excessively tinted glass affect road safety?
It restricts the driver's vision, especially in dark conditions.
This
may prevent drivers from seeing other road users or pedestrians.
It also prevents other road users and pedestrians from confirming
through eye contact that they have been seen.
What is the purpose of the law?
The purpose of the law is to ensure the drivers' ability to
see the
road is not excessively restricted by glass tint.
Legally where do I stand?
If you are the driver -
- You must not drive a vehicle on the road with the windscreen
or front side windows excessively tinted. You may also invalidate
your insurance with this modification, particularly as the vehicle
is likely to be illegal.
If you are a tinting company -
- You must not modify, or offer to supply, a part that when
fitted to a vehicle means that it does not comply with Construction
& Use Regulations.
If you're selling a vehicle with extra tinting applied
to the windscreen or front side windows -
- The vehicle may now have glass that is darker than permitted
by Construction & Use regulations, in which case the vehicle
should not be sold.
Why are tinted windows not included in the MOT test?
Excessively tinted glass is seen as a serious issue but one
which currently affects only a small number of the 24 million
vehicles tested annually. To include this item in the MOT test
would require
all 18,000 garages to incur expenditure on special test equipment
and the time taken to carry out an MOT would increase. The MOT
fee would have to be raised to cover the extra time and investment.
This extra cost would affect all motorists - all for a small
number of vehicles. With the current levels of offending, roadside
enforcement is a better route as it targets the offenders while
minimising the
cost and inconvenience to compliant road users.
Is this a nationwide campaign?
Yes. VOSA staff throughout the country have been issued with
testing equipment. If the equipment is not available, a subjective
assessment will be carried out. If the vehicle is considered
dangerous to drive then an immediate prohibition may be issued.
| ‘Lighten
Up’ - Windscreen Warning |
|
Officers in Calderdale have been taking a dim view of people
with tinted windows.
Checks have been carried out in the district on vehicles with
tinted windows to make sure that the glass is not darkened beyond
the point where the drivers ability to see the road becomes
restricted.
“We are aware that some travelling criminals use vehicles with
heavily tinted glass so as not to be recognised,” said Sgt Garry
Alderson of Calderdale Road Traffic Department. “We wanted to
deny these criminals the use of the road as well as have a positive
effect on road safety.”
"Glass that is heavily tinted can present a real danger. Tinted
glass restricts the ability of a motorist to obtain a clear
view of the conditions outside their vehicle, particularly when
it’s dark. It is vital that a driver can, at all times, see
pedestrians and other vehicles. Furthermore, those who drive
behind tinted windows have reduced eye contact with others,
they cannot confirm that they have seen you, which is another
potential hazard.”
The law concerning tinted windows applies to the front windscreen
and also to the two front side windows on either side of the
driver. For vehicles registered after April 1985 the front windscreen
must have at least 75% light transmission through it, whilst
the side windows must allow 70% in. For vehicles registered
prior to 1985 the figure is 70% for both the windscreen and
the front side windows.
“Most vehicles these days do come with a small amount of tinting
as standard,” continued Sgt Alderson. “This means that you don’t
have to add too much extra for it to become illegal.”
“As well as the issue of safety there is also the fact that
any modification to a vehicle, that alters the standard to which
it was manufactured, could render the insurance invalid if the
insurance company are not notified - so you could also find
that you are not covered. Also, window tinting is not currently
included in an MOT, there are steps being taken to incorporate
it in the future, but you could find yourself with a car that
has passed its MOT but is still not road legal.”
Officers have been stopping vehicles throughout Calderdale over
the summer to check windscreens with the ‘Pocket Detective -
Window Tint Meter’.
“It is an American system which runs off a 9 volt battery,”
explained Sgt Alderson. “It is extremely easy to use. The base
system slides onto the window, you push a button, a laser reads
the tint measurement and the reading is displayed. If the light
reading comes up as less than 30% then we tend to prosecute.
If it is between 30% and 70% then the driver is cautioned and
given the opportunity to remove the tinting there and then.
We always test the base unit with calibrated glass before we
use it so that we know it is working accurately.”
Officers arrested a disqualified driver on the first day of
using the system at the end of July this summer. Since then
a further 2 disqualified drivers have been arrested, 13 drivers
have been reported for summons, 28 verbal warnings have been
given and 11 fixed penalty notices issued. A number of uninsured
vehicles have also been seized and extra intelligence has been
gathered about travelling criminals.
Sgt Alderson is currently informing local West Yorkshire companies,
who offer a glass tinting service, of their responsibilities.
A leaflet, produced by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
(VOSA) which sets out all the regulations, is being supplied
so there are no excuses for ignorance.
Information courtesy of |
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