Window Tinting - Illegal to Tint Rear Windscreen?

[pammy]

Confirmed with Mr P that for cars, your rear screen and windows aft of the B pillar can be tinted as much as you like as you will have wing mirrors on both sides. For Vans - if you cannot see through the rear then you must have a nearside wing mirror fitted.

Offside mirrors are compulsory for all vehicles.

 

[whitenemesis]

Thanks Pammy

Strange wording on the PNLD site though! Guess it's just a cover-all

 

[DaveK]

If plod says your windows are not Ok even though they are, what can you do about it ?
Few of us have the funds to take it through the courts, hence you are screwed

 

[Sp!ke]

Plod has to prove that they do not conform to legal requirements and not the other way around. (thankfully)

 

[DaveK]

Nice idea spike but in the real world, it's your word against theirs . You don't accept the fixed penalty and the next thing you know, they have the power to stop you driving the car any further as they can prohibit it from being driven until the windows are ' legal in their opinion "

 

[Sp!ke]

No, they have to have calibrated light measuring equipment or they have no case.

 

[whitenemesis]

Agreed but on which windows might they apply their judgment?

 

[DaveK]

Here's an interesting case. Friend has a P38 range rover which came off the production line with tinted windows. He had a dark film applied to the rear sides and the back. The firm that did the work applied a film to the front sides so that they let through exactly the same amount of light as the windscreen.Plod says they can't do that. Then issues ticket on the basis that the windscreen is ok because it left the factory like that but the front sides were added after.

 

[ibrar]

I agree whole-heartedly

But I don't think MOT are equiped with light meters?

Its only a simple device. Even the police carry them!

 

[whitenemesis]

Its only a simple device. Even the police carry them!

Simple it may be but I've never seen or heard of it being used in an MOT station.

It must be calibrated and maintained and this will not be cheap...

 

[tudu]

Confirmed with Mr P that for cars, your rear screen and windows aft of the B pillar can be tinted as much as you like as you will have wing mirrors on both sides. For Vans - if you cannot see through the rear then you must have a nearside wing mirror fitted.

Offside mirrors are compulsory for all vehicles.

Thanks Pammy. I must admit when i had my car done from the b pillars back i did check with my local C/Supt whose a friend. Although police don't favour it, it is legal to black out rear windows and rear windscreen as Pammy say's. Benefits are my 2 kids love it plus keeps then cool when sun hits the car and they can play there nintendo's etc with no problems. I like it because my car is black and the dark tint suits it. I can well understand the safety reasons re the front windows as i have seen a couple of accidents where an idiot with the most darkest tints allround has pulled out in front of another car. Deserves to have the maximum fine and loss of points possible.

 

[pammy]

Indeed the Police do have a gizmo that checks how much light gets through. I've seen and played with it - called Tintman. If your windows fail the test expect a ticket, it's not done on judgement.

I don't think it is part of the MOT test though.

 

[DaveK]

Sorry but I think you are being a bit naive there pammy. If your windows pass and the police don't like you, expect a ticket. They know only to well that few people can afford to argue their case in our courts, bearing in mind the costs of solicitors ( or barristers if it gets to crown court ) , time off work and the other associated costs.

 

[glojo]

I find it crazy that an MOT Test Centre does not have these calibration gadgets. I'm not talking about the rear windows and fully agree about the wing mirror points that have been mentioned. My observation is solely about the windscreen and both front side windows. These issues should not be about personal interpretations or opinions and from what I have read the police should only report offenders when the issue is 'black and white' Or to be more exact, they have used a tintman type gadget.

As an aside the rear view mirror aspect might well be old fashioned styled legislation as more vehicles get fitted with rear view camera's.

Regards
John

 

[DaveK]

'Although police don't favour it, it is legal to black out rear windows and rear windscreen'.......
I take it they don't favour curtains on your house windows because they can't see in to your property.
We really are becoming a state ruled by what the police like and dislike.

 

[crockers]

Sorry but I think you are being a bit naive there pammy. If your windows pass and the police don't like you, expect a ticket. They know only to well that few people can afford to argue their case in our courts, bearing in mind the costs of solicitors ( or barristers if it gets to crown court ) , time off work and the other associated costs.

And risk their jobs on a discrimination charge..??? I somehow doubt that very much indeed...why not then pull over who ever they dont like and give them speeding tickets.....parking fines.....driving without due care and attention tickets.....using a mobile phone ticket......driving without a seatbelt ticket.....eating / drinking whilst in control of a car ticket....being a paininthe **** ticket...et etc etc

 

[pammy]

Sorry but I think you are being a bit naive there pammy. If your windows pass and the police don't like you, expect a ticket. They know only to well that few people can afford to argue their case in our courts, bearing in mind the costs of solicitors ( or barristers if it gets to crown court ) , time off work and the other associated costs.

Sorry Dave - that's rubbish. It's done by testing with Home Office approved and sepcially caibrated equipment - Tintman. The officers have to be trained to use the equipment which is very expensive.

In the case of film being applied, VOSA may seize the vehicle if the owner chooses not to remove the offending film there and then. But this is after it's failed the Tintman test. It's VOSA that have the power over this not the Police. The police simply apply the legislation with the specialist equipment at the roadside if the situation presents itself. However the Police could seize the vehicle under a PG9 if the officer/s consider it to be dangerous.

The Police do not give tickets because they don't like you. If your vehicle is considered to be unsafe, ie you cannot see other road users, including pedestrians, then expect problems. You know if your vehicle does not conform to the required standards. Check out the highway code!

 

[pammy]

'Although police don't favour it, it is legal to black out rear windows and rear windscreen'.......
I take it they don't favour curtains on your house windows because they can't see in to your property.
We really are becoming a state ruled by what the police like and dislike.

When was the last time you saw a house careering down the road at stupid speeds about to pile into another one coming the other way

 

[DaveK]

So all people with tinted windows drive dangerously ?
Only cars with blacked out windows commit crimes...?

Your not a Plod are you ?

 

[pammy]

So all people with tinted windows drive dangerously ?
Only cars with blacked out windows commit crimes...?

Your not a Plod are you ?

MMMM - no one said that at all.