AUTHORITIES are changing the law when it comes to a common car window change that can lead to drivers being fined.
Philadelphians could be fined for illegally tinted car windows, whether they’re on the road or not, starting Monday, July 1.
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The new road law targets people’s parked vehicles if they break the rule.
Cars can have tint rated at up to 70% visible light transmittance in Pennsylvania.
This percentage is strictly acceptable for the side windows and rear windshield, local ABC affiliate WPVI-TV reported.
According to the law, vehicle windows must allow 70% of light to pass through.
The city’s auto window tinting place said it knows the laws very well.
“It’s a very clear tint,” said Fred Rivera, owner of Select Auto Glass Plus in Philadelphia.
“Pennsylvania law has always been 70%, but it has not been enforced especially in Philadelphia
“It’s kind of like, ‘Hey, if we can see you, you’re okay.’”
The new law says that, from the beginning of July 2024, vehicles with illegal coloring can be fined even if they are parked.
Lawmakers emphasize that cracking down on illegal window tinting is necessary.
“We are literally just trying to restore order to Philadelphia. One ordinance at a time,” explained Councilman Mike Driscoll, who co-sponsored the ordinance.
“Officers have enough to do just stopping to look at a printed window and that’s dangerous.”
POLICE PARADE
As local officials make this change, some lawmakers share their discomfort regarding increased police stops for certain target demographics.
Because of this concern, Councilman Isaiah Thomas created the “Driving Equality Act.”
The regulation introduced by Thomas focuses on reducing the types of police stops that disproportionately impact minorities.
“I think we’re trying to balance enforcing the laws but at the same time not violating people’s rights,” Thomas said.
He shared that he supports the new approach taken to enforcing “color laws,” but said he still has some related concerns.
CONS OF DARK PAINT
A potential downside to using tint on your car windows is installing a blind that is too dark.
- Obtaining dark shades illegally can get you in trouble with the law, of course.
- Extremely dark shades can also prevent you from seeing potential hazards while driving.
- Films can also harm your vision on a cloudy, rainy or snowy day.
- A shade that is too dark can make it difficult to see your surroundings in low-light environments.
- At night, the combination of a dark night and dark window films can create an intense lack of visibility.
- Tinted window films keep you from being seen.
- Having dark shades can create misunderstandings between you, other drivers and people.
- It is important to have access to make eye contact with other drivers to ensure safe crossing at an intersection.
- Illegally dark tones can hinder police or rescue operations.
- If you are in a car accident, medical and rescue personnel will examine your vehicle to assess its condition.
- They may not be able to see you inside the car if the windows are too dark.
- Visible light transmittance is the proportion of light that passes through window glass.
- The lower the VLT percentage, the darker the shade.
- 100% tint allows 100% of light to pass through and 70% tint means only 30% of light is blocked.
“Maybe someone is coming from New Jersey and they’re getting fined because the color is too dark,” he said.
“Whereas in New Jersey this car is completely legal.”
Drivers stopped for illegally tinted windows can face fines of up to $100 from police and the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
Rivera revealed that some of his clients are already trying to remove the paint to avoid the hefty fine, as for many it is still unclear how the city will prove that the windows have too much paint.
“There are meters that we use to measure VLT,” Rivera said.
“So the concern was, are they using accurate gauges? Are they calibrated?
“They will have to have a meter that will serve as proof of why this vehicle was ticketed.”
Driscoll said there are medical exceptions to the new fines.
The councilor also recommended that enforcers avoid issuing fines right away, instead distributing fines gradually.
‘MOST IMPORTANT THINGS’
Meanwhile, Philadelphia drivers criticized the new fines.
“I think there are more important things they can take care of right now than this, honestly,” one South Philly resident said in May.
“I don’t agree with that,” added a West Philadelphia driver.
Philadelphia Parking Authority officials did not immediately respond to the US Sun’s request for comment.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
