Window Tinting - Amendments To Legislation

Zee007 · January 22, 2004

I know a good number of people here have tints (me included) so this should be of interest, very bad news for those of us with "light" tints. <_<

During the early part of 2004, Section 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations will be amended to include "Window Tint Films", where such materials attached to the glass are capable of reducing the Visible Light Transmission of forward windows to below prescribed levels. These changes will be back-dated to become applicable from 1st January 2004.

This will effectively ban virtually all tinted films fitted to windows forward of the B-Post on any vehicle that is to be driven on UK roads.

The reason for these changes is the recent proliferation of vehicles that are excessively tinted. Some vehicles may be so heavily tinted that they present a real danger when used on public roads. The action being taken by the Government follows a fatality that occurred recently where a heavily tinted car was involved in a collision with a motorcycle and the window tints were held to blame due to the vision of the driver being impaired.

There is however, a recognised difference between "light window tints" which may be considered safe for road use and "excessively dark window tints" which are not.

There has also been a great deal of debate in recent years about the legitimacy of window tints that do not obscure the vision of the driver. A clear case has been argued that road-safe window tints do not actually conflict with existing regulations. The Department for Transport have argued however that Section 32 was always intended to cover materials attached to the glass, despite the fact that no mention of this is made in the Regulation itself.

The only solution remaining would be to amend the Legislation.

Consequently and in order to clarify the situation, the Government have finally decided to up-date the Regulations to specifically include Tinted Films since, in the view of the Police and the Department for Transport, this is the only way in which the problems of excessive tints can be remedied.

Unfortunately however, even tint films that may be considered to be safe for road use will now be viewed as in conflict with the Regulations, enabling the Police and Vehicle Inspectorate to take action against vehicle owners.

This has significant implications for the owners of vehicles that have window tints already fitted and also those that are responsible for installing or selling window tints.

Implications for the vehicle owner

After much discussion, a sympathetic Enforcement policy has been agreed between the Department for Transport and The Glass and Glazing Federation to ensure that all vehicle owners that have had tints applied in the past may be dealt with fairly. This applies in particular where the infringement is with respect to tints that do not pose a significant threat to Road Safety, despite being in contravention with the amended Regulations.

In any event, after the date of the amendment to Section 32, the owner of a vehicle that has window tints applied forward of the B-Post could be challenged by either a Police Officer or by an Inspector from the Department for Transport's Vehicle Inspectorate, where their vehicle is noticed being driven on Public Roads.

Where such a vehicle is stopped and the window tints applied are such that the Visible Light Transmission level, when measured using an approved device falls to below prescribed levels, the following enforcement guidelines have been agreed with, and recommended, by the Government.

Above 30% Visible Light Transmission (Less Severe Window Tints)

The owner or driver of such a vehicle would be required to have the tinted film removed from the windows under the direction of either a Rectification Notice or a Delayed Prohibition Notice. A period of grace will apply for a limited number of days (normally ten) during which time the vehicle may be driven whilst the rectification work is to be completed.

In either case, the vehicle will need to be inspected by either a Police Officer or Vehicle Inspectorate Officer to confirm that the glass has been restored to a compliant condition. Prosecution is unlikely in such circumstances provided the vehicle owner complies fully.

Action that needs to be taken

All Businesses that have supplied window tints forward of the B-Post are being encouraged by the Government and the Glass and Glazing Federation to contact all of their previous customers to inform them of the changes to Legislation and to offer them a chance to have their vehicle rectified by having the front tints removed.

Zee (with tints)

Matthew_McNally · January 22, 2004

The action being taken by the Government follows a fatality that occurred recently where a heavily tinted car was involved in a collision with a motorcycle and the window tints were held to blame due to the vision of the driver being impaired.

Zee, you have links to this case?

interested in how dark the tints were, and the analysis that took place that proved, to a degree accurate enough to prompt a change in law, how the tints were repsonible.

does you source include any more details on this case?

NickF · January 22, 2004

I was going to arrange to get mine tinted next week. Probably not such a good idea now...

Zee007 · January 22, 2004

does you source include any more details on this case?

Not sure - can find out for you Matt...

Michael (who supplied the info) is the MD of a very well respected tuning firm and a member of the 200plus club which is where he passed the info on too (and I stuck it on here)...

I'll check (but a bummer either way)........ :(

Andy Freeman · January 23, 2004

Yea this is what i was told wen my car (My Megane) was checked by sum1 who worked for this government road safety group. He knew a guy in the office and popped into the office.

The car that was involved was an X5, turned right at a junction and the overtaking motorbike driver was killed.

In addition to the above legislation the Police are going to have Window Tint tester kits in the car which will help them to enforce it.

This was all about 4 months ago, after this little run in i got all tints removed from my car :(

whitie · January 23, 2004

So just double checking... If I wanted to I could get my rear-windscreen and back two doors tinted, which there is no restriction on??

Fargo · January 23, 2004

unlucky for 'some' of us,, even more unlucky for the max power muppets with there nova'sand fiesta's with black windows.. oh i gota laugh at them now.

Whitebeam · January 23, 2004

Am I reading this right?

Rather than enforce the existing laws which already make excessive tints illegal they have effectively made made almost all tints illegal.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

JohnRX400h · January 23, 2004

Yeikes! I got my fronts done with the legal maximum (35% I think) guess this will be illegal now. I'll cross post this to the TT forum, my other car, as I know some there will be affected.

Andy Freeman · January 23, 2004

Am I reading this right?
Rather than enforce the existing laws which already make excessive tints illegal they have effectively made made almost all tints illegal.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

unfortunately according to this legislation your correct.

Maz · January 23, 2004

so as long as we remove the Tints from the 2 front doors we are ok? if so, how difficult is it to remove the tints?

Monster-Mat · January 23, 2004

sorry but i aint doin it.......i;ll take my chances, or have the windows down when plod is around.....

again, targeting those that are easy to catch

i can understand limo tints, but not smoked tints

Maz · January 23, 2004

what get me is i had the lightest tints on my BMW cause i park it on the street, and to me tints are a form of security, this is getting sad, is this a war again motorist?

Fidgits · January 23, 2004

Another example of blanket legislation by the goverment...

SteveAudioX · January 24, 2004

They should introduce things to catch people without insurance and Licence instead of wasting their time and Tax payers money to police this.

Answer is NO... Not removing it for nobody.... What are they going to do... Cuff us... At least we're insured !

gazza200 · January 24, 2004

At least we're insured !

I would think if your driving a car with illegal tints then.... nope....I doubt you are insured (knowing how insurance companys work they will do anything to get out of paying a claim)

Maz · January 24, 2004

At least we're insured !

I would think if your driving a car with illegal tints then.... nope....I doubt you are insured (knowing how insurance companys work they will do anything to get out of paying a claim)

this is what i though as well, surely if tinting the front is illegal, wouldnt your insurance policy become invild if you keep it on?

aido · January 24, 2004

I spoke to Direct Line yesterday about this and they said it was fine but they've increased my excess to £250, no increase in policy.

Guess it will depend on the insurer though?

SteveAudioX · January 24, 2004

At least we're insured !

I would think if your driving a car with illegal tints then.... nope....I doubt you are insured (knowing how insurance companys work they will do anything to get out of paying a claim)

We can't win a thing nowadayz

MAC_600 · January 25, 2004

If it makes you feel better your not the only ones. Bikers are not allowed to wear tinted visors, even though they have been proven to cut dazzle and save lives, the government does not think bikers are capable of changing visors (30 seconds on mine) at night.

In winter riding into low sun light you have two options 1) place your hand in front of your face/helmet, shielding your eyes from the sun or 2) ride blind.

The realy stupid part is that option 1) is in theory illegal, as you can be deemed ot be not in proper control of a vehicle and prosecuted.

That said there is no law that states you can't wear sun glasses at night! So forget the tinted windows, just wear your Ray Bans all the time