Window Tints How Legal?
Discussion
I bought my car in april with the 4 side windows having been tinted some time in the past. My missus was stopped today and given 3 points and the usual 60 fine. What is the legality of tints as neither of us had a clue it was illegal the Bib took some kind of light reading and it was 25.5 which means nothing to me.
I am pretty upset about it all as they kept her waiting for around 40 mins while the whole car was checked out and that included under the bonnet. My 18 month old boy was in his car seat in the back and started crying (feeding time) after about 10 mins. I am not one of these people who rant and rave about how bad the persecution of motorists is but when something like this happens I can understand why Bib get a bad name.
My questions are,
Is it worth taking this further complaint, contesting the fine etc
She has to remove the tint within 1 week true or not?
Why did they need to look under the bonnet?
The copper said he wouldn't stop her for a week but his nightshift counterpart probably would and charge her again, he also said he would be looking for her in a weeks time which I would take to be a threat as she is now worried to drive the car.
Craig
I am pretty upset about it all as they kept her waiting for around 40 mins while the whole car was checked out and that included under the bonnet. My 18 month old boy was in his car seat in the back and started crying (feeding time) after about 10 mins. I am not one of these people who rant and rave about how bad the persecution of motorists is but when something like this happens I can understand why Bib get a bad name.
My questions are,
Is it worth taking this further complaint, contesting the fine etc
She has to remove the tint within 1 week true or not?
Why did they need to look under the bonnet?
The copper said he wouldn't stop her for a week but his nightshift counterpart probably would and charge her again, he also said he would be looking for her in a weeks time which I would take to be a threat as she is now worried to drive the car.
Craig
craig2003 said:
I bought my car in april with the 4 side windows having been tinted some time in the past. My missus was stopped today and given 3 points and the usual 60 fine. What is the legality of tints as neither of us had a clue it was illegal the Bib took some kind of light reading and it was 25.5 which means nothing to me.
I am pretty upset about it all as they kept her waiting for around 40 mins while the whole car was checked out and that included under the bonnet. My 18 month old boy was in his car seat in the back and started crying (feeding time) after about 10 mins. I am not one of these people who rant and rave about how bad the persecution of motorists is but when something like this happens I can understand why Bib get a bad name.
My questions are,
Is it worth taking this further complaint, contesting the fine etc
She has to remove the tint within 1 week true or not?
Why did they need to look under the bonnet?
The copper said he wouldn't stop her for a week but his nightshift counterpart probably would and charge her again, he also said he would be looking for her in a weeks time which I would take to be a threat as she is now worried to drive the car.
Craig
you can tint the rear quarter windows as much as you like (think panel van) but IIRC the front quarter windows must transmit 70% light and the windscreen 75% (see here for a VOSA document on window tints.I am pretty upset about it all as they kept her waiting for around 40 mins while the whole car was checked out and that included under the bonnet. My 18 month old boy was in his car seat in the back and started crying (feeding time) after about 10 mins. I am not one of these people who rant and rave about how bad the persecution of motorists is but when something like this happens I can understand why Bib get a bad name.
My questions are,
Is it worth taking this further complaint, contesting the fine etc
She has to remove the tint within 1 week true or not?
Why did they need to look under the bonnet?
The copper said he wouldn't stop her for a week but his nightshift counterpart probably would and charge her again, he also said he would be looking for her in a weeks time which I would take to be a threat as she is now worried to drive the car.
Craig
As she has been given a ticket for this offence, I'd say it's not worth contesting it unless there is some techincality in the issuing of that ticket. It looks as though the offence is complete and they have all the evidence they need - the light transmission reading.
If she has been given a rectification notice then she needs to get the fault sorted, i.e. the tint removed to continue using the vehicle. But you need to get it straight exactly how she has been dealt with:
1) a straight ticket for the offence.
2) A rectification notice for the fault, and a threat of prosecution if the fault is not rectified.
3) Something else.....
Re the check under the bonnet, I'd assume it was a vehicle check conducted by a vehicle examiner and that they were checking for any other dangerous faults.
and Re the threat, it was just that, a threat to try and make sure that the fault is sorted. IMO the car shouldn't be driven any further than necessary to get the tints removed. That's why it's a fault!
Edited by WeirdNeville on Monday 27th August 17:01
vonhosen said:
MOT etc isn't a guarantee of vehicle legality.
As far as I'm aware the MOT or SVA don't require measurement of tint.
I'd be interested to know one or two other examples of vehicle illegality which would not be picked up by an MOT. Do we all need to buy a copy of C&U regs?As far as I'm aware the MOT or SVA don't require measurement of tint.
7.
I do feel the police were a little too quick in issuing the fixed penalty especially as she offered to have the tints removed asap and go to the station to have it confirmed as being removed.
She asked if they could do the checks of the car at the house which was less than half a mile from the point she was stopped so she could get the wee one seen to, rather aggressively was told she wouldn't be moving until they had finished their what they were doing crying 1 year old or not.
Its no wonder the general public have a disliking and distrust of the force I know I have lost a great deal of respect for them after todays carry on.
When you hear people saying get out and do a real job I fully agree.
Class me as another very disgruntled British motorist
She asked if they could do the checks of the car at the house which was less than half a mile from the point she was stopped so she could get the wee one seen to, rather aggressively was told she wouldn't be moving until they had finished their what they were doing crying 1 year old or not.
Its no wonder the general public have a disliking and distrust of the force I know I have lost a great deal of respect for them after todays carry on.
When you hear people saying get out and do a real job I fully agree.
Class me as another very disgruntled British motorist
craig2003 said:
I do feel the police were a little too quick in issuing the fixed penalty especially as she offered to have the tints removed asap and go to the station to have it confirmed as being removed.
She asked if they could do the checks of the car at the house which was less than half a mile from the point she was stopped so she could get the wee one seen to, rather aggressively was told she wouldn't be moving until they had finished their what they were doing crying 1 year old or not.
Its no wonder the general public have a disliking and distrust of the force I know I have lost a great deal of respect for them after todays carry on.
When you hear people saying get out and do a real job I fully agree.
Class me as another very disgruntled British motorist
Absolutely agree. Traffic officers taking dangerous vehicles off the road and dealing with construction and use offences is outrageous...She asked if they could do the checks of the car at the house which was less than half a mile from the point she was stopped so she could get the wee one seen to, rather aggressively was told she wouldn't be moving until they had finished their what they were doing crying 1 year old or not.
Its no wonder the general public have a disliking and distrust of the force I know I have lost a great deal of respect for them after todays carry on.
When you hear people saying get out and do a real job I fully agree.
Class me as another very disgruntled British motorist
craig2003 said:
I do feel the police were a little too quick in issuing the fixed penalty especially as she offered to have the tints removed asap and go to the station to have it confirmed as being removed.
She asked if they could do the checks of the car at the house which was less than half a mile from the point she was stopped so she could get the wee one seen to, rather aggressively was told she wouldn't be moving until they had finished their what they were doing crying 1 year old or not.
Its no wonder the general public have a disliking and distrust of the force I know I have lost a great deal of respect for them after todays carry on.
When you hear people saying get out and do a real job I fully agree.
Class me as another very disgruntled British motorist
Yeah, people who commit offences invariably consider their offending not important enough to be dealt with, only other people's.She asked if they could do the checks of the car at the house which was less than half a mile from the point she was stopped so she could get the wee one seen to, rather aggressively was told she wouldn't be moving until they had finished their what they were doing crying 1 year old or not.
Its no wonder the general public have a disliking and distrust of the force I know I have lost a great deal of respect for them after todays carry on.
When you hear people saying get out and do a real job I fully agree.
Class me as another very disgruntled British motorist
craig2003 said:
Its no wonder the general public have a disliking and distrust of the force I know I have lost a great deal of respect for them after todays carry on.
The next car they stop with tints and check might have no brakes, no MOT and be uninsured. What if that car ran into your wife and child?
Your car was illegal and ignorance of the law is no defence. Personally I'm very happy to see the BiB spending time doing this rather than hiding behind hedges on open roads looking for 67 in a 60!
The point I am trying to make here has maybe missed, surely a bit of discretion could have been used here I fully agree with getting punished for doing wrong but a FP when it was clear that she had no idea wrong was pretty harsh, she offered to get them removed asap, which by the way has been done this afternoon and also offered to prove it.
Are the police now using a zero tolerance approach to all their work or is it just to get another score on their book.
They passed her going the opposite direction in a 30 mph limit which she was at and appeared behind her just as she was pulling to a stop. No blue lights or sirens were shown or heard at any time.
Is it ok for the police to speed through a busy area with no warnings to other road users?
Are the police now using a zero tolerance approach to all their work or is it just to get another score on their book.
They passed her going the opposite direction in a 30 mph limit which she was at and appeared behind her just as she was pulling to a stop. No blue lights or sirens were shown or heard at any time.
Is it ok for the police to speed through a busy area with no warnings to other road users?
biglepton said:
craig2003 said:
Its no wonder the general public have a disliking and distrust of the force I know I have lost a great deal of respect for them after todays carry on.
The next car they stop with tints and check might have no brakes, no MOT and be uninsured. What if that car ran into your wife and child?
Your car was illegal and ignorance of the law is no defence. Personally I'm very happy to see the BiB spending time doing this rather than hiding behind hedges on open roads looking for 67 in a 60!
Santa Claws said:
biglepton said:
craig2003 said:
Its no wonder the general public have a disliking and distrust of the force I know I have lost a great deal of respect for them after todays carry on.
The next car they stop with tints and check might have no brakes, no MOT and be uninsured. What if that car ran into your wife and child?
Your car was illegal and ignorance of the law is no defence. Personally I'm very happy to see the BiB spending time doing this rather than hiding behind hedges on open roads looking for 67 in a 60!
No comments so far on the police speeding to catch her through a residential area I see
craig2003 said:
They passed her going the opposite direction in a 30 mph limit which she was at and appeared behind her just as she was pulling to a stop.
I think you should, in the most delicate terms possible, bestow upon your good lady wife a more disciplined approach to mirrors.craig2003 said:
No blue lights or sirens were shown or heard at any time.
Is it ok for the police to speed through a busy area with no warnings to other road users?
It can be, yes.Is it ok for the police to speed through a busy area with no warnings to other road users?
Sheriff JWPepper said:
Craig2003 I think you're onto a loser with this thread. 
Well he shouldn't be! He has acknowledged that the car was illegal, and rectified it as soon as possible. What he is complaining about is the manner in which it was dealt with. He does not need the sort of sanctimonious rubbish that he is getting from certain posters. What should have been exercised at the scene was a bit more discretion. The way the situation wsa handled, and the attitude from certain posters on here, has yet again reinforced my dim view of road policing.Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff