Illegal windows?

[lil_rascal]

What's the darkest u can go on the front windows?? A couple of m8s got there front windows dark smoke n limo black on back and it just looks so dark, but also looks really good :) but I Know as soon as I do it I'll get pulled and they will get ripped off :s soo I want to know wot I can do on front windows soo I don't have to worry :)
Thanks

[baker556]

You cant have any.

[lil_rascal]

I thought it has to let a sertain amount of light in???

[Dano]

Simple answer, dont do it

[Sophie123]

I thought it has to let a sertain amount of light in???

It does, and they are pretty much at the limit as standard.

[baker556]

Most cars come out of factory with a very small amount of tint which is the limit.

[Moke]

I think the front 3 are 30%?

Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Phils_VTR]

Back windows can be however black you like but front windows need to let in 70% of light minimum.

[lil_rascal]

So is standard letting 70% or do think I can get away with light smoked on front :)

[rey]

Rear three: Anything you want
Front side: 70% of light through
Windscreen: Nothing

[baker556]

Question...

What is "legal" in terms of tinted windows?

Answer...

In the last five years Total Car Tint have been working with the film manufacturers and the Glass and Glazing Federation to obtain a clear definition on the law of window tinting. We have always believed that a tint film offering thirty-five percent visible light transmission to be a safe level of tint. Unfortunately we have lost our case and as as of 1st January 2004 the government has rewritten the law to incorporate a tint level of seventy percent visible light transmission on the front driver and passenger side windows. With most vehicles this level of tint is incorporated in the glass from the factory, therefore the installation of any additional tinted window film would be an infringement of the law by us, the installer, and by you, the customer.

We have been advised that the authorities will be taking a sympathetic view to motorists who had their windows tinted before the 1st January 2004. As a company we are offering a our customers a subsidised service to remove any offending tint film on the front windows and advise the installation of legal tint films. Below is a detailed statement of the amendments that have been made to the window tinting legislation.

Window Tinting - Amendments to Legislation

Section 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations have been 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 (70% VLT for windows forward of the 'B' pillar)

This will effectively ban the practice in future of applying virtually all tinted films to windows forward to the 'B' pillar 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 safety window tints do not actually conflict with the 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 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 specially 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 till now be viewed as in conflict with 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 and also those that are responsible for installing or selling window tints.

Implications for the installer and motor retailer

From 1st January 2004 , any Motor retailer that sells a vehicle that has window tint films applied which reduce the visible light transmission level to below the prescribed levels forward of the 'B' pillar is committing an offence and runs the risk of prosecution under section 75 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act with reference to Section 41 (which refers to Construction and Use Regulations)

In a similar way, anyone responsible for the fitment of window tints which reduce visible light transmission levels to below prescribed levels on windows forward of the 'B' pillar is committing an offence and can be prosecuted under Section 76 of the Road Traffic Act.

Implications for the vehicle owner

After much discussion, a sympathetic 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 convention with the amendment regulations.

As of January 1st 2004, the owner of a vehicle that has tints applied forward of the 'B' pillar is liable to be challenged by either the Police of by an Inspector from the Department for Transport's Vehicle Inspectorate, where their vehicle is notices being driven on public roads.

Where such a vehicle is stopped and the window tints applied are such that the visible list transmission level, when measured using an appropriate 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 driver or owner of such a vehicle will be required to have the tinted film removed from the window under the direction of a rectification notice or a 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 a Police Officer or Vehicle Inspectorate Office to confirm that the glass has been restored to a compliant condition. Prosecution is unlikely in such circumstances provided the vehicle owner complies fully.

Below 30% Visible Light Transmission (Excessively dark window tints)

The driver or owner of such a vehicle may be issued with an immediate Prohibition Notice and immediately prevented from driving the vehicle on public roads until the tints have been removed and either a Police Officer or Vehicle Inspectorate Office confirms that the glass has been restored to a compliant condition. It is also possible depending on the severity of the offence, that the owner may be prosecuted for driving a vehicle in a non-roadworthy or even dangerous condition with the potential for penalty points and a fine.

Driving such a vehicle on public roads before the tints have been removed and before a Prohibition notice has been lifted will be a serious offence and the owner or driver is likely to be prosecuted.

Clear Security Film

Clear security film that only marginally reduces the visible light transmission levels on windows forward of the 'B' pillar may be considered to be compliant with the amended regulations subject to the quality of the fitment being to a standard that does not result in the vision of the driver being obscured in any way.

Source:- http://www.totalcartint.co.uk/legal.htm

[lil_rascal]

Lol ok man, thanks for your help :) I'm jus going to do light smoked n risk it :)

[Yellow_Saxo_Paul]

I tinted my fronts in the past, biggest mistake ever. Got pulled on M60 by police they were carrying the equipment on board that measures how much light goes through the windows. Carried out the checks and they were illegal because standard windows already have 30% tint on them coming out of the factory so any further tint deemed them illegal. Let me off saying I had to take them off when I got home which I did as they note your plate on the system.

My advice is don't do it. Do your back windows, they look cool when done.

I learnt my lesson from it.

[Tontsy]

Its legal... Use the styling section and look at the stickie i made up, where i was given the information from vosa themselfs.

Use the search button

Kthnxbai! X

[Sammyboy27]

ouch man :( i was pulled once without declearing Mods :( :(... we all have to learn someway lol shame for us it was the hard one