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Linus Van Pelt

New legislation on window tints...

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...don't know if this applies to anyone on here, but to be forewarned is to be forearmed and all that :wink:

 

 

"Window Tinting - Amendments to Legislation

 

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 (such as those supplied to you by Pentagon) 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. "

 

DtM.

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i wonder if the prime ministers and queens limos will have to take theres off...or any limo come to think of it

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Found this out a couple of weeks ago when I was phoning round to get prices for tints,most places told me this.However thay did say it was up to me if I wanted the drivers and passenger door windows done. 8)

I am still going to get them done in light smoke,which should be light enough not to attract too much unwanted attention(ie.police :!: )

My Audi has tints all round and that is the way it came,there is no way I am having them removed,it would end up looking like a van :!:

Personally I think it looks sh*** with only the rear half done :!:

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Personally I think they looks shit full stop. From reading above about the bike accident then this should be reason enough.

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they will be banning bloody sunglasses next :x

 

LMAO...yeah but at least you can take them off when the sunlight isnt very strong, unless of course your a wanna be "Rock Star"!

 

IMHO I think you should have a decent level of visability through these tints otherwise it gets to a ridiculous level of only one window in the motor is any good for looking out of and considering bikers get knocked off by absent minded plonkas pulling out of junctions on em then believe me he or she aint gonna thank yeh when you say " Erh sorry mate I didnt see yeh", takes one look at your car and then looks back at you thats when the "Red Mist" starts to come down :mad: then my friend you are on yeh own the rest will be for the courts to sort out!!!

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Mine are only smoked, i think look cool

 

CorradoSTORM man, what wheels you got? looking really nice mate!! 8)

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Want to get my C tinted. Light smoke seems to be the way to go. I see loads of pre-cut tinting kits on E-Bay. Does anyone know if these are easy to fit, legal, etc?

 

Also, do they cover the black speckled strip stuff that runs round the bottom of the windows?

 

My passenger side window also has a scratch in it. Will tinting film cover it or will it look shee-it?

 

Cheers!

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Since this has been the law in Germany for I don't know how long, my Mk1 only had the rear quarter and rear window tinted, and no, it does not look like a van. That still depends on the complete car around the tinted windows :lol:.

 

Tempest

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