Factory fitted privacy glass tint level illegal
Discussion
The tint laws are clear as day, pun intended.
Up to 1 April 1985 all glass forward of the b pillar must allow 70% VLT. After that date the windscreen must transmit 75% and front door glasses (including little front 1/4's like on the old Picasso) must transmit 70% VLT.
The numbers always refer to the visible light transmission (VLT) so 70% blocks 30%.
Clear glass will transmit ~80% VLT, to my knowledge there are no main stream manufacturers making clear glass for standard production models anymore. Everything is tinted, usually green but can be blue, grey or bronze.
The glasses behind the B pillar can be as dark as you like, think vans.
OP, it sounds to me like your windows have been tinted, maybe it was a sales man's demo and he had it done. Done right it's almost impossible to tell unless you know what to look for. Try scratching the inside with a knife or key.
I wold love to know where these fictitious "you can get away with less than the legal minimums" come from. If you're doing 32 in a 30 you can be prosecuted, if it's measurable and you are beyond the legal limit you can be prosecuted simple.
Up to 1 April 1985 all glass forward of the b pillar must allow 70% VLT. After that date the windscreen must transmit 75% and front door glasses (including little front 1/4's like on the old Picasso) must transmit 70% VLT.
The numbers always refer to the visible light transmission (VLT) so 70% blocks 30%.
Clear glass will transmit ~80% VLT, to my knowledge there are no main stream manufacturers making clear glass for standard production models anymore. Everything is tinted, usually green but can be blue, grey or bronze.
The glasses behind the B pillar can be as dark as you like, think vans.
OP, it sounds to me like your windows have been tinted, maybe it was a sales man's demo and he had it done. Done right it's almost impossible to tell unless you know what to look for. Try scratching the inside with a knife or key.
I wold love to know where these fictitious "you can get away with less than the legal minimums" come from. If you're doing 32 in a 30 you can be prosecuted, if it's measurable and you are beyond the legal limit you can be prosecuted simple.
Sheepshanks said:
If it was supplied new like this then it can't be illegal - EU whole vehicle type approval trumps everything.
Just because the car submitted for type-approval was to a legal spec, doesn't mean a cock-up in the factory saw the wrong front glass fitted - out-of-spec, and illegal.Cat said:
The guidelines we work to are
=>70% - legal
50% to 69% - illegal. Warning
30% to 49% - illegal. Non-endorsable FPN (£50)
<30% - illegal. Endorseable FPN (3pts/£100). Vehicle can also be issued with an immediate prohibition preventing from being driven until the tints are removed and it has been re-checked.
I would guess that if the OP was told his windows needed to let through 25% more light it meant that they were only letting 45% light through.
Cat
Ah makes sense, was a bit drunk and tired, my last post made sense in my head lol. I'm still surprised that it isnt black and white though, if it fails to let enough light through then £100/3 points as oppose to this staggered punishment. =>70% - legal
50% to 69% - illegal. Warning
30% to 49% - illegal. Non-endorsable FPN (£50)
<30% - illegal. Endorseable FPN (3pts/£100). Vehicle can also be issued with an immediate prohibition preventing from being driven until the tints are removed and it has been re-checked.
I would guess that if the OP was told his windows needed to let through 25% more light it meant that they were only letting 45% light through.
Cat
55palfers said:
Is there a similar rule for motorbike visors a la Stig?
Or wearing sunglasses after dark to look cool?
Bikes tent to be if it's day time and you've got a spare then no issue, sadly theres no rules on sunglasses as far as I know, no doubt some plonkas do drive round with them on at night. Or wearing sunglasses after dark to look cool?
CaptainMorgan said:
Ah makes sense, was a bit drunk and tired, my last post made sense in my head lol. I'm still surprised that it isnt black and white though, if it fails to let enough light through then £100/3 points as oppose to this staggered punishment.
It's a bit like speeding. Staggered punishments for the severity of the offense.CaptainMorgan said:
Cat said:
The guidelines we work to are
=>70% - legal
50% to 69% - illegal. Warning
30% to 49% - illegal. Non-endorsable FPN (£50)
<30% - illegal. Endorseable FPN (3pts/£100). Vehicle can also be issued with an immediate prohibition preventing from being driven until the tints are removed and it has been re-checked.
I would guess that if the OP was told his windows needed to let through 25% more light it meant that they were only letting 45% light through.
Cat
Ah makes sense, was a bit drunk and tired, my last post made sense in my head lol. I'm still surprised that it isnt black and white though, if it fails to let enough light through then £100/3 points as oppose to this staggered punishment. =>70% - legal
50% to 69% - illegal. Warning
30% to 49% - illegal. Non-endorsable FPN (£50)
<30% - illegal. Endorseable FPN (3pts/£100). Vehicle can also be issued with an immediate prohibition preventing from being driven until the tints are removed and it has been re-checked.
I would guess that if the OP was told his windows needed to let through 25% more light it meant that they were only letting 45% light through.
Cat
A friend of mine used to run a window tinting company and did work for all of the main dealers. If a customer speccs a new, prestige car with tinted windows it doesn't necessarily come from the manufacturer like that, it may well have been supplied by the manufacturer un-tinted and had an after market tint applied.
crossy67 said:
The law is B&W 70% front door glasses, 75% windscreen. Anything less is illegal, no ifs, no buts but there are people who think the law is flexible which it is not. I'd love to see some proof of what's written in the post above.
It's like speeding. Yes, 61 in a 60 is illegal, but you can imagine the outcome if it was enforced that strictly.crossy67 said:
The law is B&W 70% front door glasses, 75% windscreen. Anything less is illegal, no ifs, no buts but there are people who think the law is flexible which it is not. I'd love to see some proof of what's written in the post above.
Unless it's a US import, in which case the windscreen is legally 72%.crossy67 said:
CaptainMorgan said:
Cat said:
The guidelines we work to are
=>70% - legal
50% to 69% - illegal. Warning
30% to 49% - illegal. Non-endorsable FPN (£50)
<30% - illegal. Endorseable FPN (3pts/£100). Vehicle can also be issued with an immediate prohibition preventing from being driven until the tints are removed and it has been re-checked.
I would guess that if the OP was told his windows needed to let through 25% more light it meant that they were only letting 45% light through.
Cat
Ah makes sense, was a bit drunk and tired, my last post made sense in my head lol. I'm still surprised that it isnt black and white though, if it fails to let enough light through then £100/3 points as oppose to this staggered punishment. =>70% - legal
50% to 69% - illegal. Warning
30% to 49% - illegal. Non-endorsable FPN (£50)
<30% - illegal. Endorseable FPN (3pts/£100). Vehicle can also be issued with an immediate prohibition preventing from being driven until the tints are removed and it has been re-checked.
I would guess that if the OP was told his windows needed to let through 25% more light it meant that they were only letting 45% light through.
Cat
Although less than 70% light transmission is illegal the penalty varies depending on the severity of the tint. It is no different to, for instance, speeding which can be dealt with by a warning, FPN, summons (meaning more points/higher fine) or disqualification depending on how far over the limit you are.
Cat
TooMany2cvs said:
Just because the car submitted for type-approval was to a legal spec, doesn't mean a cock-up in the factory saw the wrong front glass fitted - out-of-spec, and illegal.
And just because a car is in spec with one highly controlled test on well calibrated equipment doesn't mean that it won't be out of spec in an ad hoc roadside test.Cat said:
You've clearly missed the part of my post where I pointed out that any tint which allows less than 70% light transmission is illegal so I've highlighted it for you.
Although less than 70% light transmission is illegal the penalty varies depending on the severity of the tint. It is no different to, for instance, speeding which can be dealt with by a warning, FPN, summons (meaning more points/higher fine) or disqualification depending on how far over the limit you are.
Cat
Ok pal, you know the law. At what speed can I safely drive in a 30 and just get a warning? It's a law, it's measurable therefore it's enforceable. And not just with a telling off my plod. You can be prosecuted, not saying you will. In my experience you tend to get told to remove it and little more the 1st time unless it's silly dark. The 2nd time if you're unlucky enough to get pulled by the same officer you'll get prosecuted (or 1st time if you're under 30 years old).Although less than 70% light transmission is illegal the penalty varies depending on the severity of the tint. It is no different to, for instance, speeding which can be dealt with by a warning, FPN, summons (meaning more points/higher fine) or disqualification depending on how far over the limit you are.
Cat
As I said earlir, do you have any proof of your claim? I have the word of law to back my claims up.
crossy67 said:
Cat said:
You've clearly missed the part of my post where I pointed out that any tint which allows less than 70% light transmission is illegal so I've highlighted it for you.
Although less than 70% light transmission is illegal the penalty varies depending on the severity of the tint. It is no different to, for instance, speeding which can be dealt with by a warning, FPN, summons (meaning more points/higher fine) or disqualification depending on how far over the limit you are.
Cat
Ok pal, you know the law. At what speed can I safely drive in a 30 and just get a warning? It's a law, it's measurable therefore it's enforceable. And not just with a telling off my plod. You can be prosecuted, not saying you will. In my experience you tend to get told to remove it and little more the 1st time unless it's silly dark. The 2nd time if you're unlucky enough to get pulled by the same officer you'll get prosecuted (or 1st time if you're under 30 years old).Although less than 70% light transmission is illegal the penalty varies depending on the severity of the tint. It is no different to, for instance, speeding which can be dealt with by a warning, FPN, summons (meaning more points/higher fine) or disqualification depending on how far over the limit you are.
Cat
As I said earlir, do you have any proof of your claim? I have the word of law to back my claims up.
Just take a chill pill and a few deep breaths - this level of anger and confrontation cannot be good for you.
reading your post, you have a lot of experience about being stopped for window tints - do tell.
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