New Laws : Tinted Window's - Wirral-Wikiwirral

BLACKOUT BLITZ

VOSA, working with a number of police forces, has begun a blitz on
drivers with illegally tinted windows.

The crackdown follows concerns over the
number of vehicles being driven with heavily
tinted windscreens and front side windows.
These restrict the driver’s vision, especially in
dark conditions.
Stopping drivers
Both the police and VOSA are now stopping
vehicles with tinted windows and checking the
Visual Light Transmission (VLT) through
windscreens and side windows. If the light
getting through is less than is legally required,
the driver may be prohibited from using the
vehicle until the tint is removed. Motorists who
don’t rectify the problem may be prosecuted.
The legal limits for window tinting are a
minimum of:
● 70 per cent VLT for side windows
● 75 per cent VLT for windscreens on
vehicles first used after April 1985 and
70 per cent VLT for those first used prior
to that date.
VOSA Enforcement Examiners will normally
remove prohibitions of this nature at Goods
Vehicle Test Stations by prior arrangement
with the owner. This is a departure from the
normal clearance procedure of putting
vehicles through an MOT.
Stopping retailers
Any retailer displaying vehicles with
over-tinted windows for sale is committing
a number of offences. Neil Cumming,
Roadworthiness Project Manager for VOSA,
points out, ‘Section 77 of the Road Traffic
Act 1988, as amended, makes it an offence
for any person to supply or offer for sale a
motor vehicle in an unroadworthy condition.’
Neil went on to explain, ‘Section 76 makes it
an offence for any person to fit, or cause or
permit to be fitted, a vehicle part which
would, by reason of the fitting of that
part, constitute a contravention of any
construction and use requirements.’ So some
retailers and tinting companies could find
themselves with a prosecution on their hands.
The simplest solution
But why is tinting not included in the MOT
test? Alan Wilson, head of VOSA’s Testing
Standards Policy and Strategy branch advised,
‘Excessively tinted glass is seen as a marginal
issue currently affecting a small number ofvehicles in relation to the 24 million tested
annually. To impose the £300 to £500 cost of
equipment on each of the 18,000 garages
could be seen as disproportionate in road
safety benefit terms. The time taken to test all
cars would have to increase and so would the
MOT fee, to account for the additional time
and investment in specialist equipment.’ For
this reason, VOSA has chosen to target
problem vehicles at minimum inconvenience
to compliant road users.
Spread the message
If you know a tinting company who fits tints
to front windows, or a retailer that sells these
vehicles, pass the message on or they may find
themselves prosecuted. If one of these vehicles
comes in for test, let the driver know – you
may save someone’s life on a dark night.

Quote

For information leaflets on tinted
windows for your customers or your
noticeboard, call our national number
on 0870 60 60 440

WHATS YOUR OPINIONS ????

Found another report on this topic also.

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has started a blitz on drivers who have illegally tinted windows. The crackdown follows concerns that have been raised over the number of vehicles being driven with heavily tinted windscreens and front side windows. Many drivers do not realise that their vision is significantly impaired when looking through tinted glass and are often unaware that heavy tinted glass is illegal.

VOSA are now stopping vehicles with tinted windows and checking them for opacity using specialised equipment. If the windows are found to be over the legal tint limit the vehicle will be prohibited and cannot be driven until the tint is removed.

Quote

Motorists who do not rectify the problem will be prosecuted.

Well it's dangerous, so it should be checked. It's like driving a car with no seatbelts, or with the axel hanging off

i agree ando...one easy way around it is to tint the rear, and rear sides, still looks cool, and doesn't cost as much!

I would agree "Limo Black" cound be dangerous at night especially. Mine are lighter tints on the front which only cause me a problem in a dark area that is totally unlit, Obviously when this occurs i simply lower both front windows at one touch of a button. Appart from that its fine.

don't really have much of an opinion on this 1 folks. but i do kno taz got pulled last night and had to remve his front tints.

well i agree with the law as usaual NOT!!!!!
Scooby? does that mean that i an goosed then or will i get away with it?????????? limo black on the back 5 windows and dark smoke on the front two? get back to me <img border="0" alt="

" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions051.gif" />

Sorry matey, i do not have a light meter to asses anyone's car. The only safe option is to remove your front window tints or drive around wiv ya windows open <img border="0" alt="[are u mad]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions050.gif" />

As far as i can gather a normal <img border="0" alt="[police]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions032.gif" /> cannot ask you to remove your tints or threaten to impound your car unless he has a light meter to asses to percentage of light in your vehicle.

I think only VOSA have these meters at the roadside check set up across the wirral, (Cammell Lairds is a common road check).

<img border="0" alt="[does this help]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions041.gif" />

Tz (Tony in the cav) got caught re the above the other night, he had to take his front one's off.

u rite scooby only VOSA with rozzers assistance can make u remove tints...and not without a light meter.

My friends m8 had her whole car tinted black black apart from the front which was smoked. The police ripped her front side tints out and she is now taking them to court.

they can't get away with that! i used to have a mark 5 escort...limo black on rear, and rear sides...dark smoke on front, and never got pulled!! they need VOSA to check with light meter b4 they can do anything!

I am NOT Sure on the date this come into effect however it is only recently that this is being enforced strictly.

Be carefull about your normal <img border="0" alt="[police]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions032.gif" /> or even a Traffic <img border="0" alt="[police]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions032.gif" /> attempting to remove your tints or prosecute you without the use of the correct equipment (Light Meter). Some of them think what they say goes, NOT !!!!!!!!

I would certantly contest any officer attempting to remove my tints ot prosecute me without the use of a light meter......

From wot ive heard it came into affect from the 1st of jan this yr an at the moment its only a guy on a bike pulling people.
Ive also heard that the police can do woteva they want to u cos nothing has been set down in court on wot the procedure for punishing people is.
However i was spking to the guy down at vinyl-grafix an hes found a film that looks like 20% but gives the 70% VLT reading for em to be legal.

Paul

Quote

Ive also heard that the police can do woteva they want to u cos nothing has been set down in court on wot the procedure for punishing people is.

Dont allways listen to what you hear.

If there has been nothing set down in court how can VOSA possibly impound ya car then ????

Also if nothin has been put down in court how can a police officer do anythink he likes ????? A police officers job is to "Enforce the Law" therefore it must be law !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VOSA LIGHTMETER

[Linked Image]

This meter was shown to us by a police officer at southport beach cruise.
As they went around advising cruisers about window tints.

So i asked him about the law :

Dont you have to have a light meter ? See the above image.
Ah ha but isnt it true that you also have to be VOSA to enforce this ?
DOH ! He was a vehicle inspector.

He was advising drivers of the law and testing window tints.

Summary : Reduction of light.

25% Front Screen Window
30% Front Side Windows
100% Rear and Rear Sides FULL BLACK

So the rears can be like a van totaly black.

On this day : As the above is the Law.
+ 5% Advice Note to Correct within 2 weeks.

+ 10% Remove them at once. Or Notice to Impound, 3 Points £ 60 Fine !!

Nice bloke cool Quad

Look what i got today, Yipee...............

[Linked Image]

Roadside Police trap at the side of the road by Cammell lairds. Really nice officer and very friendly. He measured the light through my Tinted front side windows and you have to have LTV Value of 70% through these windows, Mine read a mear 19.30 % <img border="0" alt="[are u mad]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions050.gif" />

The officer then issued me with a vehicle defect notice to have the fault rectified within 14 day's. I then have to have them re-tested my a MOT centre and the above form stamped and returned by post. One slight problem though, MOT centres do not have Light Meters to test it <img border="0" alt="

" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions049.gif" />

I have to contact the officer whom issued the ticket and he will meet me at Heswall police station to re-asses the fault once i have the tints removed.....

Another small fault, The officer has not filled in the very bottom of the ticket about what the fault is that i have to have rectified........ I presume i can take the vehicle to an MOT centre and they should stamp the ticket as no fault is recorded, he he.............

He gave me this Booklet for further information.

[Linked Image]

Just what i allways wanted.....

Also he gave me a Producer, O Boy, I havnt had one of those for about 12 years now, Its like being a teenager again.................

Can't you stamp it yourself or dont you do MOTs.
<img border="0" alt="[blonde moment]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions037.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="

" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions051.gif" />

I was thinking that aswell mate, try and find a loophole scooby!

<img border="0" alt="[laff my ass off]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions042.gif" /> I dont do MOT's anymore, we sub-contract them to a local garage. Hopefully in the near future we will be doing them again ????

I can get it stamped by any MOT Station as he hasnt stated what the fault is at the very bottom of the form....... <img border="0" alt="[blonde moment]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions037.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="

" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions049.gif" />

Going to slog this one out though to see how much info i can find out etc.... <img border="0" alt="[are u mad]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions050.gif" />

the other day i was in a mates bro's bmw and we got pulled by them VOSA people ! they checked his 2 front side things with this little box light thing and it let 0.6% light through or sutton so he has got 14 days to take them out ! but he said he aint oing to because he don't live round here he from liverpool ! does same apply to liverpool ? plz help !

the same rule apply were ever you are and if he has been given 14 days to remove them and he doesn't then he can be fined and given points i think <img border="0" alt="[does this help]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions041.gif" />

[Linked Image]

if this rule apply's for cars does it apply for limo's ? coz i think they shud give u ppl with tints the money u paid for the ints back first ! then u take em out

YES
Anything after the front & front side windows is under this law

After that its up to you as this would make vans illegal to drive lol.

he got pulled in again by the village hotel in bromborough and they called his reg num up on the walkie talkie thing and they said if he get's caught again they will remove the whole window and his car will be undrivable ! becus he aint aloowed to drive without windows or sutton !

i don't think that they are aloud to do that matey, they would have to give him a ticket like they did with scooby then its either a warning and then you have to take then off if you don't then its a fine and points i think you would have to speak to scooby i think as he was pulled he would have more information <img border="0" alt="[does this help]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions041.gif" />

he got pulled bout n2 weeks ago and got the ticket thing but it was second time he got pulled they threatened to take em out !

gutted i pulled today got 14 days to remove me front window tints am well gutted

I trust the <img border="0" alt="[police]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions032.gif" /> had a light meter to test them with ?? Also what defect did he write on the bottom of the form ??

yer he pull me and got some one to come and test them he wrote its should read 70% and mine was 19% am gutted now car won't be the same

are sun strips illegal ive got one which is pain black and u can see through it but got told have to remove it but some cars hav them on there windows as standard

a friend of mine onlythe 0.6 thru !

sun strips can be ilegal as they obstruck your vision i was told to take mine off on sunday because it let 0.0% of light through so it had to be taken off and also had to take my front side window tints off as they only let 33% of light through and you must let 75% of light through <img border="0" alt="[does this help]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions041.gif" />

*************Important Legal Information*****************

Sun-Strips ARE NOT ILLEGAL <img border="0" alt="

" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions049.gif" />

Any object or windscreen damage that comes into the "Swept Area" of the windscreen is possibly illegal, I will attempt to explain. <img border="0" alt="[are u mad]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions050.gif" />

What is the swept area of the windscreen ??

The sweap area is the area of the windscreen that your windscreen wipers cover when swithed on.

Summary of Sun-Strip Laws

If when switched on you front windscreen wipers go into the area of your Sun-Strip then your sun-strip is illegal. Simple.......

Tip of the Trade....

Fit smaller windscreen wipers so they dont go into the area of your sun-strip when switched on.... (There are laws regarding the size of your windscreen wipers also.....)

Hope this clears this issue up ?????

I DEFO DONT AGREE WITH THE LAW BECAUSE ITS AN EXCUSE NOT A SAFETY MEASURE 2 PERSECUTE US YOUNG KIDS WITH DONE UP CARS AS PER USUAL. IF I FONED UP THE <img border="0" alt="[police]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions032.gif" /> AND SAID SOMEONE WAS TRYIN 2 BREAK INTO MY CAR OR HOUSE THEY WOULD USE THEIR FAVORITE EXCUSE HAVE A GUESS "WE HAVENT GOT ENOUGH RESOURCES" BUT THEY RUB THEIR HANDS TOGETHER WHEN THEY HEAR THE WORD MOTORISTS I DONT WANT 2 OFFEND ANYONE BUT THEY R A ****IN WASTE OF SPACE THEY WANT A KICK UP THE ****. BET PEOPLE WITH TINTED WINDOWS HAVENT EVEN HAD NE ACCIDENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i've found that theres advantages and disadvantages of having tinted windows.

i've found it difficult to see out of my rear window when there is poor light outside, which can sometimes cause problems with parking.

an advantage is that when Divvys' drive with their foglights behind you it doesnt dazzle you as much

i can see where the law is coming from as at night it does reduce visibility a bit but i think they're just looking for more ways as to sting motorists for more money :rolleyes:

Adam, I bet its hard for you to reverse in the dark because of your rear lights! One of the reasons why reverse lights are white is so that you have some idea of where youre going. Even without tints, its still pretty difficult to reverse at night time though

although the window tints look great on any car i still have problems reversing and i have white lights but the tint at the back is to dark, on the other hand as adam pointed out that when you get someone behind you with there fog lights on it does take that glare away

they can never make it illegal 2 have all the rear windows done cause of vans some dont even have rear windows.

lol ! i din't think of that ! hahahaha ! that'll teach em ! unless they ban the vehichles which don't nhave rear windows !

that wud be nasty !

well they can never ban because wat about lorries!! THE <img border="0" alt="[police]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions032.gif" /> MAKE ME

Although I can't vouch for this one, I was once told that if you say your window motor's f'ed and you can't get it down you're OK - afterall, if they can't test you then they can't ticket you - right?

Anywaits, if you're still gonna tint the front windows then bear in mind that they've normally got SOME level of tint on them from the manufacturer (mine are around 10% in a 406 I think). If you go and stick a tint on that blocks 25% of light (as the law allows you to) then altogether you're blocking 35% and you're gonna find yourself getting ticketed before long...

Quote

Originally posted by Aterlatus:
Although I can't vouch for this one, I was once told that if you say your window motor's failed and you can't get it down you're OK - afterall, if they can't test you then they can't ticket you - right?

They could say the car is unroad worthy and impound the car. And at the end of the day all he has to do is reach in and try the window, or you could be preventing an officer carrying out his duties. If found to be over they can if they wish enforce a Notice, or Impound the vehicle and issue 3 points and a £60 fine.
Is it worth it trying to be clever for 30 seconds?

Not worth getting shirty, the law has changed and you will at some point have to change with it.

Hope this helps

webmasters right sad 2 say it but ull never outsmart the law!!!!

Quote

Originally posted by WebMaster:

Quote

Originally posted by Aterlatus:
[b] Although I can't vouch for this one, I was once told that if you say your window motor's failed and you can't get it down you're OK - afterall, if they can't test you then they can't ticket you - right?

They could say the car is unroad worthy and impound the car. And at the end of the day all he has to do is reach in and try the window, or you could be preventing an officer carrying out his duties. If found to be over they can if they wish enforce a Notice, or Impound the vehicle and issue 3 points and a £60 fine.
Is it worth it trying to be clever for 30 seconds?

Not worth getting shirty, the law has changed and you will at some point have to change with it.

Hope this helps [/b]

Doesn't help me mate - I ain't got tints.

Was just passing on stuff I'd been told in the past

Steve

why are these peeps windows lettin thru 0.7% and stuff.
WHAT ARE THEY....PAINTED!!!!!!!! even my limo black back and sides still let light innot much but some.i have light smoke front sides and a limo black 5 inch deep sunvisor.can see out but the outside world cant see ur forehead. as far as i knew u cant tint the windscreen at all.and hu wud n e way.sunvisors yes but the whole screen. Even 1%on that is too much.are u allowed mirror tints if they let the correct amount of lite thru.i heard u cudnt cos of the distraction to other road users.This i can uderstand as once i got the sun in my eyes when followin a white van man down a steep hill.Still look kool tho

i got pulled last week and got the lecture about tints! he got that booklet out and the laws that scooby showed a copy of there.

I just played really dumb and said "o really i didnt know, i thought it was just the windscreen you couldnt have tinted" and because i played so stupid when he said it was the front ones i was like "omg really, i'd have taken them off if i'd known, i didnt think they wer dangerous so left them on, i wud have taken them off if i'd known"
Then the policeman was jus like "yeh they r illegal mate u shud get em taken off"

He didnt issue anything formal or do a light test so

although he did say "i'd guess yours let 20% of the light thro if that" when they are actually 50% on the front! but i didnt wanna correct him because i was trying to act stupid!
And it worked!

Well this time it worked anyway.
I can see where the laws are coming from, because if you get chavs who do their own self-tint with limo style tints then it wud be impossible to see out. but with smoked front windows etc they still look cool and are still pretty easy to see out of most of the time, and as scooby says, if u ever have a problem u just click a button and open the windows and look out!!

I think it wud be funny to go to a policestation car park at night with some tint film and tint the front of all of the cars with limo black film and superglue (even tho u'd have to do it on the outside, and you might possibly get arrested and in a lot of trouble it would be funny to see their faces!)

Ok i'm jus chattin Shiiiit now but you get my point!

Got pulled tonight by the north welsh plod!

Tried acting a bit dumb but he still seemed to have it in for me, firstly he said you were speeding then but I ain't doing you for that, very very confusing as I wasn't speeding and only reason he didn't do me was he had no proof so as being an officer of the law he had too find something wrong with the car. Front side window tints aha. He had the tester thing, showed me it was fully calibrated and then on he went approx 22% coming in, I was very suprised.

£30 fine and for me too take them off! Nothing more! Really confuses me with the consistinsy of these coppers and how they all work differently!
I then started to get cheeky with the cop and started asking more and asking if cop cars were legal then as they look as dark as mine, apparently any tint that comes manufactored there fine and most cars already have tints. I asked alsorts then about sun visors, and stuff like why they so illegal, to be fair everything he answered was true as it was the same as in the manual! I even got so cheeky to say why's it legal to drive with sunglasses??

All I gotta say is not against all these laws but were is the god damm consistincy!

Were does my hard earned £30 go now to, government, I pay enough god damm tax! This world is a crazy 1!

Rant over!

Was this lastnight broomage? Aggy got moaned at by the police for having his seat so far back lastnight as you know (Saz made the little comment of.. 'he cant drive with his seat so far back, hes too small

) All go go's fault but we wont mention that

What was his answer when you asked about sunglasses

Yeah was last night after drooping ur biatch off.

He said that they can still see you turned towards them with sunglasses on.

Yeah 28 days too pay it.

From Above :

£30 fine and for me too take them off!
Didnt you have the option to remove them there and then ? (Save a fine).
In your defence, Its not a test that MOT's carry out so how were you suposed to know they were illegal? (something to consider anyway?).

if cop cars were legal then as they look as dark as mine
Ask to see the documentation for this is he says that manufactured cars are legal?
As scooby was telling me that when he was issued with a producer
that a brand new car in front (dont remmber the make)
was being given a producer to have them removed, and the
lady was screaming "its a new car i bought it like this"
More to think about and reslove i think!!

If we can clarify a defence, then consistancy would follow.

Anyone know about the manufactured cars ?
And can they now give you a fine now (on the spot)?
Even if you offer to take them off now.

Just to clear it up and help anyone in the future.

And the best one of all, look for faults on there car?
Break lights, Head lights... Might just swing it back in your favour..

i was stopped and told to take my tints off. this too was a result of them being heavily tinted but the reasons behind them being banned was that the traffic bobby couldnt see what i was doing and there fore could not antissipate my next move, he was on a bike and said this causes accidents. hmmmmmmm.

when you buy a a brand new car and want tinted windows it is not a film which is stuck on, the window is actually tinted when made, this was the case when i worked for landrover big companys could hav ethe hassel of customers coming back saying my windows have bubbled or scratched.

how can take the tint of a window when it is actually the glass? but how do you get that across the the angry police man who knows he is being stumped

Well woke up this mornin to me car with no front tints

My mum decided to take my car as her's wouldn't start. She comes accross about a dozen coppers randomly stopin cars to do vehicle checks along the road leading upto birkenhead town centre. Get's stopped by a copper who checks everything, details e.t.c and says on you go miss, as she went to drive off an above the law kinda cop decides to run over and stop her. Asks did the last copper do you for your tints, i dunno my mum says, he checks her notes and says pull in. He then publically rants and raves at this other cop, and proceeds to test the car with the lightmeter. 23% i got this time(different then last time, mmmm) he explains the law to her and says he must in-pound the car ha ha, my mum gives it the i didsn't kno about any such law e.t.c so he said ok i want them takin off and proved by today. My mum says that'd cost a bomb so he said they are only stickers and proceeded to rip them and show her how to take them off.

He then checks up and says i've been given a £30 fine before and asked to take them off, and i have blantinly ignored the law so he says my car will have to stay with them. Luckily my mum give the i didn't kno he got pulled and if i did he would noty be driving around, she also went on moaning of how they always pull the law abiding 1's. So he let us off with just getting them removed by a test centre and proving it at a cop shop.

What get's me tho is the consistinsy of these cops, knowing the laws and what machines there using.

Glad it wasn't me who was pulled tho as i would be locked up now.

Mate am gutted for you, must admitt though the cops are getting stricker now with us law abiding people than what they are with the real crim's

Quote

Originally posted by mikebroomy:
Well woke up this mornin to me car with no front tints

My mum decided to take my car as her's wouldn't start. She comes accross about a dozen coppers randomly stopin cars to do vehicle checks along the road leading upto birkenhead town centre. Get's stopped by a copper who checks everything, details e.t.c and says on you go miss, as she went to drive off an above the law kinda cop decides to run over and stop her. Asks did the last copper do you for your tints, i dunno my mum says, he checks her notes and says pull in. He then publically rants and raves at this other cop, and proceeds to test the car with the lightmeter. 23% i got this time(different then last time, mmmm) he explains the law to her and says he must in-pound the car ha ha, my mum gives it the i didsn't kno about any such law e.t.c so he said ok i want them takin off and proved by today. My mum says that'd cost a bomb so he said they are only stickers and proceeded to rip them and show her how to take them off.

He then checks up and says i've been given a £30 fine before and asked to take them off, and i have blantinly ignored the law so he says my car will have to stay with them. Luckily my mum give the i didn't kno he got pulled and if i did he would noty be driving around, she also went on moaning of how they always pull the law abiding 1's. So he let us off with just getting them removed by a test centre and proving it at a cop shop.

What get's me tho is the consistinsy of these cops, knowing the laws and what machines there using.

Glad it wasn't me who was pulled tho as i would be locked up now.

here's when you got done matey by the welsh

Quote

Originally posted by mikebroomy:
Got pulled tonight by the north welsh plod!

Tried acting a bit dumb but he still seemed to have it in for me, firstly he said you were speeding then but I ain't doing you for that, very very confusing as I wasn't speeding and only reason he didn't do me was he had no proof so as being an officer of the law he had too find something wrong with the car. Front side window tints aha. He had the tester thing, showed me it was fully calibrated and then on he went approx 22% coming in, I was very suprised.

£30 fine and for me too take them off! Nothing more! Really confuses me with the consistinsy of these coppers and how they all work differently!
I then started to get cheeky with the cop and started asking more and asking if cop cars were legal then as they look as dark as mine, apparently any tint that comes manufactored there fine and most cars already have tints. I asked alsorts then about sun visors, and stuff like why they so illegal, to be fair everything he answered was true as it was the same as in the manual! I even got so cheeky to say why's it legal to drive with sunglasses??

All I gotta say is not against all these laws but were is the god damm consistincy!

Were does my hard earned £30 go now to, government, I pay enough god damm tax! This world is a crazy 1!

Rant over!

My friend just text me, she got pulled for her light tints in the front side windows this afternoon.

£30 fine on the spot?! And ripped out there and then. Can this happen? Im confused again

Yeah, Front windows and windscreen cannot be tinted to keep it in a nut shell...

£30 fine and ripping them off aint a bad result

so £30 and ripping them off, she has been let off lightly????

not lightly as such, just a standard issue, but the officer could have issued a lot worse if he wanted too

ah right. cool

Heres this for a bit of a joke:
Coming home from liverpool at 3:30 in the morning i got pulled in Prenton and the reason i got pulled: they wanted to check my tints!!
How are you going to tell how dark your windows are when its pitch black anyway, bit stupid really.

Paul

were they traffic police and did they have a light meter ??

they might have just seen the tints and used that as an excuse to pull you over, it was early in the morning and you might have been over the limit, they might have just wanted to check

Curious

My Rangy has Factory Fitted Privacy Glass from new, the vehicle has been supplied from new with the Privacy Glass and i have the origonal purchase receipt to proove it, Does this still render them illegal ??

Any feedback would be appreciated peeps

how dark are the front sides ranger jay? the back and back sides are legal mate so dont worry bout them

Judgin by this pic jay mate,they look as light as shreks at the front and shreks were 100% legal. Proven by the

who attented my crash

Get em checked tho fella

You need to get them checked mate. As a friend of mine got a megan with tinted glass as one of the options. the glass was meant to be road legal, but when test by the police it was not. The only thing is, as it was fitted by the car company they the police gave me friend time to get the car company to sort it out. As this was proberly a one off, but better to be safe than sorry.!!!!!

I'm thinking about getting tints this week, all round.. I was wondering on limo tint for the back three and smoked for the front.. but then again would smoked all round look better? Is smoked even legal ? depends on the density, right?

The windscreen has got to let 75% of the light through. The front side windows have got to let 70% of the light through. The back windows can be anything you like, this is bacause it would act like a van so to speak.

Quote

Originally posted by Scooby:
[b]BLACKOUT BLITZ

VOSA, working with a number of police forces, has begun a blitz on
drivers with illegally tinted windows.

The crackdown follows concerns over the
number of vehicles being driven with heavily
tinted windscreens and front side windows.
These restrict the driver’s vision, especially in
dark conditions.
Stopping drivers
Both the police and VOSA are now stopping
vehicles with tinted windows and checking the
Visual Light Transmission (VLT) through
windscreens and side windows. If the light
getting through is less than is legally required,
the driver may be prohibited from using the
vehicle until the tint is removed. Motorists who
don’t rectify the problem may be prosecuted.
The legal limits for window tinting are a
minimum of:
● 70 per cent VLT for side windows
● 75 per cent VLT for windscreens on
vehicles first used after April 1985 and
70 per cent VLT for those first used prior
to that date.
VOSA Enforcement Examiners will normally
remove prohibitions of this nature at Goods
Vehicle Test Stations by prior arrangement
with the owner. This is a departure from the
normal clearance procedure of putting
vehicles through an MOT.
Stopping retailers
Any retailer displaying vehicles with
over-tinted windows for sale is committing
a number of offences. Neil Cumming,
Roadworthiness Project Manager for VOSA,
points out, ‘Section 77 of the Road Traffic
Act 1988, as amended, makes it an offence
for any person to supply or offer for sale a
motor vehicle in an unroadworthy condition.’
Neil went on to explain, ‘Section 76 makes it
an offence for any person to fit, or cause or
permit to be fitted, a vehicle part which
would, by reason of the fitting of that
part, constitute a contravention of any
construction and use requirements.’ So some
retailers and tinting companies could find
themselves with a prosecution on their hands.
The simplest solution
But why is tinting not included in the MOT
test? Alan Wilson, head of VOSA’s Testing
Standards Policy and Strategy branch advised,
‘Excessively tinted glass is seen as a marginal
issue currently affecting a small number ofvehicles in relation to the 24 million tested
annually. To impose the £300 to £500 cost of
equipment on each of the 18,000 garages
could be seen as disproportionate in road
safety benefit terms. The time taken to test all
cars would have to increase and so would the
MOT fee, to account for the additional time
and investment in specialist equipment.’ For
this reason, VOSA has chosen to target
problem vehicles at minimum inconvenience
to compliant road users.
Spread the message
If you know a tinting company who fits tints
to front windows, or a retailer that sells these
vehicles, pass the message on or they may find
themselves prosecuted. If one of these vehicles
comes in for test, let the driver know – you
may save someone’s life on a dark night.

Quote

For information leaflets on tinted
windows for your customers or your
noticeboard, call our national number
on 0870 60 60 440

WHATS YOUR OPINIONS ???? [/b]

Just to put other drivers in the picture. When companies like Pilkingtons buy the bottles from these bottle banks. The clear bottles are melted down until they reach a visual light transmission of say 70%. The company will turn off the gas as it is too expensive. They will roll out the molten glass and then cut out loads of windows and these will be the side windows. They do the same to the windscreen until it reaches 75% VLT. Again they will turn the gas off and stamp out thes windows to be used as windscreens. So in effect nearly all companies ( and Pilkingtons are the biggest ) who make car windows make them to minimum VLT. If you put any kind of film on a window then it will make it illegal. Companies who sell film or claim that they are doing a legal service will say to you that the minimum level of VLT is 70% on the side windows so "i'll sell you a film of 30%" claiming that 30% from 100% is 70%. Then they will say to you that your windows are ok.
WRONG. Your windows normally come from Pilkingtons with a 70% tint anyway as it is too expensive otherwise.

Done get caught out.

are you a copper mate?

or a glass expert more like!

So, what about factory tinted windows?

Are they just legal when clear and then Illegal when they add the tint?

TBH I thought coloured glass was recycled to make more coloured glass - after all its not expensive, glass is just melted sand

I think Mr egg is talking balls. I had my front windows tinted to light smoke on the greenun and they passed the light checks,so if they were 75% VLT beforehand that means the tint stoppped no light if they were 75% after? Also,look at standard side window glass,looks pretty damn clear to me,its no way 30% tinted.some cars come with a anti glare glass that appears bluey green.thatll stop a tiny bit of light. Factory tinted windows arent illegal as they hardly tint the front sides

Quote

Originally posted by eggsjan:
WRONG. Your windows normally come from Pilkingtons with a 70% tint anyway as it is too expensive otherwise.

Key word being "Normally" Scoop

Meaning Not everyone single one.

It makes economical sense to turn the gas off.
I'm assuming its more heat to create Clear?

As i understand it,
It is the Manufactures of the Car Say ford to check that the vehicle is road worthy and legal
coming off the production line.
As it should conform to a Approved Check by VOSA.

There have been instances with the Light Meter
where a car from the Manufactures Has been Ilegal. Failing the Light Meter.

If this is so then its the fault of First the Retailer would has sold you an Un Road worthy car. (Not Legal).

Who would then take it up with the Maunufacture.

I cant remember off hand when this was part of the checking process. (The year it became relevant)?

So its fair to say that, an older car could have possibly had Ilegal tinted glass fitted.
And fail.

Its less lighly that a moden car would fail these checks now.

I think eggsjan was just highlighting that more often than not people forget when ordering
Tint Film that there side windows may already be tinted pushing them over the limit.

That's how i understood it anyways.
And good advice to a newbie reading up.

well, i had mine done a while ago

basicall, you cant have any tint on the front windows, as the copper tested the window with no tint and it only just passed.

speaking of window tinting, whats a good company to tint my windows for me? to VOSA specification obviously

I recommend advanced autotints in wrexham, nuff sed,about 40% more expensive than xxxx xxxxxbut a million times better. (my experience anyway)

I had my 5 door scort done at adv autotints,all windows and a great interior sunstrip tint all for 250 quid,

my bro had a 3 door corsa done a month later at xxx xxx and for 150 notes he came back with film that was still soaking,full of bubbles and a fair few creases.he took it back,they done the front windows again to an acceptable standard but all windows were not flawless,like my 5 door was

Admin Edit : Company Name Removed Legal issue

Fellas,
The law relating to the window tints are for every vehicle except bikes etc.( Cos there aint no windows on these )
The two front side windows of a vehicle be it bus, van , car , limo, whatever must have 70% of light coming through. The front screen needs to have 75%.
In essence you cannot get a film that will be legal as nearly every car i have checked has the minimum of light allowed through anyway. This is due to manufacturing costs etc, so if a garage says to you he has got a lighter tint, dont go for it just tell him to do the two rear windows and the back screen. ( This can be as black as you want as it is not an offence). If you do get the front windows tinted and get pulled over, the plod will do one of a number of things if they have the light meter.
Firstly, if the light coming in is less than 30% the offence can then become "Dangerous Parts" 3 points and £60.00.
If it is more than 30% but less than 45% the plod can give you a £30.00 fine for windows not as prescribed.
If it is more than 45% then the plod can ask you to get them removed and give you a VDRS.

The law is sometimes an ass but if you piss a plod off then you may end up with 3 points or going to court. You will not win as the meter the two Wirral biker bobbies is calibrated by VOSA and is accurate.

Be warned.

PS.
If the plod wants to he can seize the vehicle and have it examined by either VOSA or the two biker plods on Wirral. That means no car for you for a few days and by the way, You pay for the costs of storage for the time it is in the garage.

Scoops,

Have a look at the side windows of i think Fords or Vauxhall's it says VLT 75%.
It stands to reason that if you put anything on the glass it will reduce the tint to below the limit.

If people are unsure,and have had the tints done, contact the two Bobbies who are on the bikes in Wirral. They will come down and give you a definitive "yes or No". I do know it is an offence for a garage to fit or offer for sale a vehicle that is unroadworthy so in effect if the tint is illegal you do have recompense from the garage you had the tints done by.

I have heard that the two rozzers on the bikes on Wirral are going to start cracking down on tints on windows starting soon. There seems to have been a fair bit of press about it lately and theyve said anyone under the limit of 30% Visual Light the're getting 3 points for dangeous parts.!!!!!!!!!!

So if a ford front side windows are 75% and they "look" clear to me,then what are factory tinted range rover front windows then???

I cannot see that standard tinted windows on cars only let 75% of light in they are virtually clear on most cars.When i had my tints done was gonna have a light smoke on front windows an garage that did them had light meter an said i would be ok an the scoobys windows are tinted anyway

When i got pulled a while ago there was a voyager thingy pulled at the same time. The rozzas told the driver the windscreen and front windows had to be replaced as they failed the light test. The windows were very light tint and factory fitted, they all come like this so there are issues over these light meter tests.

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