Window tinting leads not only to car accidents, but also to other unnecessary incidents as well.   For example, in Oceanside, there was just a newspaper article about an automobile with tinted windows being used as a “weapon.” In some other states, more change is slated to come.

From their experience with the law, our auto accident attorneys know that although New York has one of the toughest traffic accident window tint laws in the nation, many states have found it hard to keep cars with dark windows off the streets.  People may sometimes be confused by window tint laws, because there are federal standards for window tint laws, and there are usually individual state standards as well.

Also, due to the different state window tinting laws, a legal tint in Maryland, for instance, could get a ticket while being driven through New York.  The NHTSA has automobile window tinting rules, and all car manufacturers follow the tinting rules of the NHTSA which should prevent unnecessary pain and suffering.  These safety tips which were promulgated as rules regulate that the car’s manufacturer must allow 70 percent of visible light into the car’s interior.  That is lighter than it sounds, because what looks like untinted car windows are usually at 70 percent tint.  Back and rear car windows have different standards.

They can have any tint of darkness as long as the automobile has side mirrors.  This safety tip rule was probably made under the consideration of car accidents, but as the auto advocate stated, the safety of police officers was very likely not calculated into the equation.  Many car manufacturers end up letting only 20% of the light in for the rear and back windows.

When car buyers get their cars from an auto dealership, the window tints have to meet state standards.  For instance, in New York, the federal standard of 70% light through is kept for every window except for the rear windows, so owners are not allowed to further tint their windows.  There is a huge loophole in the standards for window tints, however.  All cars classified as multi-passenger vehicles (M.P.V’s) are allowed have any tint on the back and rear windows, as long as the motor vehicle has both side mirrors.

In order to help prevent automobile accidents, the category of M.P.V’s is defined as any car “designed to carry 10 persons or less and constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation.  These may include anything from SUV’s to minivans and limos to trucks.

Another type of window tint also has to be taken into consideration.  Car manufacturer tints are built right into the auto’s windows.  But aftermarket tints also contribute to the overall darkness of the windows.

There are 2 types of automobile window aftermarket tints, and both of them are applied onto the windows with adhesive.  Some window tints (1) reflect light, so someone on the outside cannot look in, whereas other window tints (2) absorb light, so less light enters the vehicle.  Either type of aftermarket window tint decreases the visibility looking inwards from the outside.  And this contributes to the risks that police officer have to face while approaching a vehicle with dark-tinted windows.

A New York State Senator is drafting a proposed law to tighten New York’s automobile window tinting laws.  His goals are to bring about the following changes:  prohibit unlimited tinting of the rear car windows and including tint as a requirement of to be examined during annual car safety inspections.  Penalties for having illegal automobile tinted windows too dark would also increase to $250, which in turn could be used towards police officer safety.  He also wishes to create a system where all automobile tint shops would have to record the license plates of cars that they tint, the license number of the car’s driver purchasing the tint and the darkness of the window tint.

The Senator believes that these changes may help bring about increased automobile safety for police officers.  As car accident attorneys, we believe safety is most important, and that safety is not limited to car accidents and all traffic accidents.  We have handled many car accident cases where wrongful deaths occur and the grief of relatives is irreparable.

A human life is a human life, and whether it is taken away by a bullet coming from inside a tinted window or from being crushed in a car accident, the loss of human lives is permanent and devastating.  That is why as car accident lawyers, we strongly support his endeavor to protect police officers in the line of duty as well as any other member of legislature who is an advocate for stricter window tint laws, to avoid unnecessary injuries that may require years of medical treatment to fix.

Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney and find out how we can help you.  We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case.  No fee if no recovery.