Time to Outlaw Darkened Windows ?

Abraham

Why shouldn't darkened windows in cars be made illegal ?
Just think about uses the lawbreaking brigade engage in without fear of recognition. What about speed cameras? (Ih wasn't me...it was me brudda an he's gone back to India') What about mobile phone use when driving ? Fat chance of seeing the driver on the blower if he/she's got blackened windows. And the geezer who's ducking and diving all along the motorways with no chance of telling if it's an escaped chimpanzee or a 9 year old tending the wheel.
Either that or we should all live in the shade.

Random

Should we all live in glass houses too? While I don't like them I don't see why they should be illegal.

colm_mcm

tinted windows on the windscreen aren't allowed.

I can't see them as being that much of a problem.

Matt Simis

Abraham wrote: »

And the geezer who's ducking and diving all along the motorways with no chance of telling if it's an escaped chimpanzee or a 9 year old tending the wheel.

And how does you determining if its the Chimpanzee or the 9yo in anyway make you safer?

mikemac

Would this include mercs for the ministers?

If a car gets issued a speeding fine and the family members start bitching about who was driving at the time, it's going to fall on whoever owns and registered the car afaik. Someone's gotta pay!

L-M

There's a certain level of tint that's allowed on the front two windows. The arguement that allows us to limo tint from the B post back is that if a commercial jeep can have the side windows blocked, why can't a passenger.

It is unbelievable how little tint is allowed over in the UK. What we would consider very very light, it nearly illegal over there.

bazz26

Tinted windows? Down with this sort of thing!

Tipsy Mac

I think they should be made illegal in taxis. Don't think any other country in the world allows them in taxis, but I suppose left hand drive taxis are legal in this country so f all standards are in place.

colm_mcm

Why is it ok to have them in Limos but not taxis?

Owen

Tinted windscreens aren't legal, so most of the situations you're describing OP really aren't an issue.

Why make the other windows illegal? It's a bit naive to assume they're only for lawbreakers - the majority of customers I see requesting them have kids in the back and want to use them to diminish bright sunlight instead of those half assed stick on blinds you see in Halfords.

Abraham

ned78 wrote: »

Tinted windscreens aren't legal, so most of the situations you're describing OP really aren't an issue.

Not sure I understand that sentence in it's entirety. Maybe someone can explain it to me.

* Mobile phone usage is not a problem ?
* Proper Id of speedsters is not an issue ?
* Inappropriate lane weaving is not an issue ?

On a wider scan, I'm just wondering why is it so illegal and/or restricted by controls in the UK and on the Continent ?

Checked with a Traffic Cop just today and he says that it's quite a problem and that a lot of wanted guys move around town behind dark tinted windows. He also mentioned an incident at a roadcheck where the car pulled around the corner before stopping and the Guard concerned believes that the driver and passenger changed seats before the Guard arrived at the car door. The passenger was 15 years and when asked to step out of the car, he had only one shoe on, the other being in the driver's footwell.
Doesn't think there will be a conviction though because the Guard didn't see anything on account of the darkened windows.

R.O.R

Abraham wrote: »

Not sure I understand that sentence in it's entirety. Maybe someone can explain it to me.

* Mobile phone usage is not a problem ?
* Proper Id of speedsters is not an issue ?
* Inappropriate lane weaving is not an issue ?

On a wider scan, I'm just wondering why is it so illegal and/or restricted by controls in the UK and on the Continent ?

Checked with a Traffic Cop just today and he says that it's quite a problem and that a lot of wanted guys move around town behind dark tinted windows. He also mentioned an incident at a roadcheck where the car pulled around the corner before stopping and the Guard concerned believes that the driver and passenger changed seats before the Guard arrived at the car door. The passenger was 15 years and when asked to step out of the car, he had only one shoe on, the other being in the driver's footwell.
Doesn't think there will be a conviction though because the Guard didn't see anything on account of the darkened windows.

My GOD! That sort of thing is happening??!! One Shoe on someone who's been a paseenger for 15 years :eek:

That's it - no more window tinting of back windows on vans, or side windows on cars for me.

Thanks Abe

[/Sarcasm]

kayos

A certain level of tint is fine and can be a god send when the sun is low and blinding you. How ever I would prefer that the factory tinted glass is used over the aftermarket film.

What’s next every van having to have glass sides in case someone is in the back doing something they shouldn’t?

Abraham

Abraham wrote: »

* Proper Id of speedsters is not an issue ?
* Inappropriate lane weaving is not an issue ?

* speed camera photos are either from the front which cannot be tinted or from the rear which dosnt matter as you cant ID of the back of someones head.

* How on earth will outlawing tinted windows stop somebody weaving on a motorway?

Owen

Abraham wrote: »

ned78 wrote: »

Tinted windscreens aren't legal, so most of the situations you're describing OP really aren't an issue.

Not sure I understand that sentence in it's entirety. Maybe someone can explain it to me.

To catch someone doing that sort of stuff on camera, you need to photograph through the front windscreen, and as no one will tint those, factory, or aftermarket, then it's not an issue to have tinted windows.

Jesus, this forum's gone mad. Fog lights are bad, boo hiss. Tinted windows are bad, boo hiss. What's next, breathing? Mad I tell you, MAD!

djrlittleton

look if its a tint on a mini or a merc or a bmw, if it makes the owner happy wat harm does it really do?

you are a another boy racer hater!
as said windscreen is illeagal, sides and rear are fine, sunvisors that go down halfway down the windscreen are stupid also
i have had mirror tint, light smoke and full limo tint on various cars i have had, i wud not go full limo again, as it is a hazard in bad weather at junctions etc, just used to wind down the window..

i think you are middle aged and own an anvensis.. and genrally have no intrest in styling of a car, i am 28 and still throwing money into cars just to make ME happy.. i am a car enthusaist:cool:

a lot of the statements on this thread are pure garbage.

this is just my opnion and if you dont like i dont care. i will prob still have tints on a bently when i am well into my retirement:D

Abraham

djrlittleton wrote: »

look if its a tint on a mini or a merc or a bmw, if it makes the owner happy wat harm does it really do?

you are a another boy racer hater!
as said windscreen is illeagal, sides and rear are fine, sunvisors that go down halfway down the windscreen are stupid also
i have had mirror tint, light smoke and full limo tint on various cars i have had, i wud not go full limo again, as it is a hazard in bad weather at junctions etc, just used to wind down the window..

i think you are middle aged and own an anvensis.. and genrally have no intrest in styling of a car, i am 28 and still throwing money into cars just to make ME happy.. i am a car enthusaist:cool:

a lot of the statements on this thread are pure garbage.

this is just my opnion and if you dont like i dont care. i will prob still have tints on a bently when i am well into my retirement:D

Aaaah You are such a naughty boy. I can feel your testosterone and babyish intolerance coming across big time. No doubt your Mammy had a hard time keeping the toys in your pram.
But then again I'm glad you are letting it all out here and not attacking some of the senior citizens in public places.

When I was your age, I knew how to sort the world too however they just wouldn't listen. But this exchange is lopsided and unfair to you and I'll admit that straight away because I've been where you are whereas you haven't been where I am so how can I expect you to have better understanding ?

Maybe the only garbage here is to be found in your post considering the inaccuracies, misspellings, and omissions. I do hope your road behaviour is not modelled along similar lines.

Now back to my question.....how come tinted windows are heavily legislated against on the Continent but not here ?

Owen

Abraham wrote: »

Now back to my question.....how come tinted windows are heavily legislated against on the Continent but not here ?

They're not legislated against in other countries. In the UK for example, you're allowed to have them as dark as you want in the rear half of the car, but the front drivers side, and passenger side are allowed to be tinted to a certain degree. No harm to do some research before making a broad sweeping statement like that.

Anan1

Abraham wrote: »

Now back to my question.....how come tinted windows are heavily legislated against on the Continent but not here ?

Because car windows are for looking out?

Traumadoc

Really do not understand what the problem is with tinted windows, same stupid arguments could be made about sunglasses or baseball hats or hoodies,
Are you Ivor Callely?

BrookieD

you know thatnks to this thread it really has opened my eyes to tinted windows. So i will be off to get my car done this weekend. cheers for that ;-)

peasant

Abraham warned to leave off the condescending insults

Anan1

Traumadoc wrote: »

Really do not understand what the problem is with tinted windows, same stupid arguments could be made about sunglasses or baseball hats or hoodies

The same argument could certainly be made about wearing sunglasses at night, in the rain.;)

Yakult

Abraham wrote: »

Why shouldn't darkened windows in cars be made illegal ?
Just think about uses the lawbreaking brigade engage in without fear of recognition. What about speed cameras? (Ih wasn't me...it was me brudda an he's gone back to India') What about mobile phone use when driving ? Fat chance of seeing the driver on the blower if he/she's got blackened windows. And the geezer who's ducking and diving all along the motorways with no chance of telling if it's an escaped chimpanzee or a 9 year old tending the wheel.
Either that or we should all live in the shade.

Ever hear of the car make/reg?? Hmm, I believe those are used to report those sorta things.
Honestly, shouldnt you be focusing on the road ahead instead of trying to get a look at a driver who is on a fone. :rolleyes:

Berty

Parents have tinted windows to stop people looking at their kids.

Vans have tinted windows so you cannot see their stuff.

Sales reps have tinted windows(most of the time) because they always have stuff strewn around the back seats.

Most cars come with tinted windows as standard from the B Pillar. Heck even the entry level golf comes with "green"tint.

It can also stop the heat on the inside of your car building up, fading your seats and dash and burning your skin. In the event of a crash the laminate will stop the glass from hurtling into your face.

I would like to put light smoke on my B pillar and rear screen but Im sure my boss would have a heart attack so I wont.

Matt Simis

Between djrlittleton and Abraham, its hard to choose which is my favorite zealot newcomer stereotype on boards..

Traumadoc

Traumadoc wrote: »

Really do not understand what the problem is with tinted windows, same stupid arguments could be made about sunglasses or baseball hats or hoodies,
Are you Ivor Callely?

or beards. Judge that wasnt me driving sure I dont have a beard!:rolleyes:

for fecks sake this thread is a bit ridicules.

fryup

Ban tinted windows!!:eek:.......are u crazy??

they're a great invention,

brilliant when havin **** in the backseat and when havin a quick ****

Abraham

Thousands of motorists are being prosecuted in the UK each year for unacceptable window tints.
The current standard fine in the UK is £60 and 3 points on the licence for excessively tinted windows. Approx 1000 were prosecuted in the Manchester area last year. Now that level of prosecution would not lend itself to the idea of trumped up prosecutions. They regard it as a serious road hazard. Overall in the UK, there is a vigorous crackdown on excessively tinted car windows with insurance companies getting involved as well.

In the Leicester area, the police are operating a discretionary policy of asking the driver to remove the offending film at the roadside (if possible) or for the car to be produced without the film within a number of days otherwise prosecution follows. Other areas pursue other initiatives.

That being the case, how come we see it differently here ?

L-M

We don't, they're only making them take it off the front two windows which was already said. I'm fairly sure there is a similar law over here for the front two.

I'm fairly sure i saw exactly what you are quoted on some tv, Road wars or the likes.

mumhaabu

What next will Microsoft come up with??? Really I think we should outlaw them. :pac::pac::pac:


I'd say ban them when some numpty comes along in the outer lane at a junction or roundabout and invariably always encroach far ahead of me blocking my view of oncoming traffic, this similary happens with large SUV's. With ordinary glass I can see through the car and allowing for me to move off when it is clear beside waiting for him to move before I can see, this makes the difference between slotting into traffic or not especially at roundabouts where you could be waiting and waiting and waitng...... you get the picture. It should be immediate NCT failure if they are fitted.

Honey-ec

Berty wrote: »

Parents have tinted windows to stop people looking at their kids.

Why, are they really fugly or something?

djrlittleton

Abraham wrote: »

Maybe the only garbage here is to be found in your post considering the inaccuracies, misspellings, and omissions. I do hope your road behaviour is not modelled along similar lines.

my car is always maintained to the highest condition with handling modifactions and strut bars etc, all tuv approaved products. which if anything will make it safer on a day to day basis/ and i have no points etc.
i do belive in private property and trackdays.. for having fun etc.
as for my spelling i dont think that was the point of the thread at all.

Matt Simis wrote: »

Between djrlittleton and Abraham, its hard to choose which is my favorite zealot newcomer stereotype on boards..

not trying to stir anything but just giving a viewpoint is all i just dont think arbraham likes my intrests



There seems to be alot of but the guard said this...my Friend said that about car mods... I will try run down through as many as i can and i will add more as questions arise.


1. Window tints.

There is NO law to state that tinting your windows is illegal. However it is illegal to have anything on your windows that abstructs your view of the road. Ie Limo tint on the two front windows. If you can see the road without winding down the window its not illegal full stop.

taken from one of ireland leading car forums as dicussed with the department of transport..

ned78 wrote: »

No harm to do some research before making a broad sweeping statement like that.

i agree with you entirely

Abraham wrote: »

Now back to my question.....how come tinted windows are heavily legislated against on the Continent but not here ?

well why do we pay higher taxes than other eu members. quite simply this is ireland not the continent..and irish laws apply to ireland. if perhaps you prefer the laws in another country you know what to do

i hope this clears up the question for you.. and if you feel like launching another unslaught on myself and so forth please back it up with some facts.. i gave a point of view is all, maybe you disagree with it thats fine with me..

towel401

Berty wrote: »

Parents have tinted windows to stop people looking at their kids.

so thats why all those people carriers have tinted windows everywhere except the front row. i always thought those yokes looked odd like if you're going to get tinted windows you might as well get the whole thing done

but really its so the guy driving past in the pedo van doesn't see their daughter's squish mitten

CharlieCroker

By law, the front windscreen is the only piece of glass you cant tint.

Front windows must allow a minimum of 75% of UV light through the tint.

After the B pillars, you can have it as black as you want.

Owen

towel401 wrote: »

really its so the guy driving past in the pedo van doesn't see their daughter's squish mitten

I think this is THE motors post of 2009 right here. Tremendous!

TheParrot

Abraham wrote: »

Why shouldn't darkened windows in cars be made illegal ?
Just think about uses the lawbreaking brigade engage in without fear of recognition. What about speed cameras? (Ih wasn't me...it was me brudda an he's gone back to India') What about mobile phone use when driving ? Fat chance of seeing the driver on the blower if he/she's got blackened windows. And the geezer who's ducking and diving all along the motorways with no chance of telling if it's an escaped chimpanzee or a 9 year old tending the wheel.
Either that or we should all live in the shade.

Yeah mate. And lets all have governemnt installed CCTV in all our houses. You never know what might happen.

Gumbo

Abraham wrote: »

Thousands of motorists are being prosecuted in the UK each year for unacceptable window tints.
The current standard fine in the UK is £60 and 3 points on the licence for excessively tinted windows. Approx 1000 were prosecuted in the Manchester area last year. Now that level of prosecution would not lend itself to the idea of trumped up prosecutions. They regard it as a serious road hazard. Overall in the UK, there is a vigorous crackdown on excessively tinted car windows with insurance companies getting involved as well.

In the Leicester area, the police are operating a discretionary policy of asking the driver to remove the offending film at the roadside (if possible) or for the car to be produced without the film within a number of days otherwise prosecution follows. Other areas pursue other initiatives.

That being the case, how come we see it differently here ?

please for your own sake, do some research before you attempt to moan about it! all them prosecutions are for illegal window tinting, legal tinting is perfectably acceptable.

ive had various levels of tints throughout my motoring life too, and will continue to do so in the future.

Seth Brundle

CharlieCroker wrote: »

By law, the front windscreen is the only piece of glass you cant tint.

Front windows must allow a minimum of 75% of UV light through the tint.

After the B pillars, you can have it as black as you want.

Can you provide a source or link to the relevant legislation?
Whilst I stand to be corrected (as always), I have a strong feeling that there is nothing as specific within our legislation.

fonda

Is all glass in cars not slightly tinted! I wasn't aware you could get 100% clear glass on a car!

Also should we make dirty cars illegal as if your windows are all covered in dirt and sh!t you wont be able to see out them.

peasant

kbannon wrote: »

Can you provide a source or link to the relevant legislation?
Whilst I stand to be corrected (as always), I have a strong feeling that there is nothing as specific within our legislation.

I would strongly suspect that this falls within EU manufactureers guidelines.

Most cars these days come with tinted windows from the factory ...but from my time in vehicle glass making I seem to remember that a 10% tint was the max allowable for windscreens and front side windows.

As normal, clear glass already filters ~3 % of the available light (in all spectrums) there isn't much of a tint that you can legally put in the glass in those areas.

Abraham

kceire wrote: »

please for your own sake, do some research before you attempt to moan about it! all them prosecutions are for illegal window tinting, legal tinting is perfectably acceptable.

ive had various levels of tints throughout my motoring life too, and will continue to do so in the future.

kceire
I really don't know if you and I are speaking the same language. You cannot have read my previous post at all. If you had I'm sure you would have noticed that I said 'unacceptable window tints' and 'excessively tinted windows'. Doesn't that mean I'm referring to the illegal aspect of window tinting ?

Research is warranted alright but maybe correct interpretation should come first ?

Del2005

At the moment we have no laws specifically for window tinting, bar the front window not being allowed. In the UK and some other places they have limits for the amount of light that can be blocked. We have a similar law in that if a Garda thinks you have obscured your window they can do you, I've heard about Gardai making peopele remove their tints as they are a hazard when driving. But like most laws in this country they aren't used as much as they should. And I think the Gardai should sort out a lot of other issues, such as obscured number plates, before having a clamp down on this.

smash

This thread is stupid, I think over opinionated idiots should be illegal...

Someone bring the OP the John of Gods so he can sort out his issues please!

Anan1

Del2005 wrote: »

And I think the Gardai should sort out a lot of other issues, such as obscured number plates, before having a clamp down on this.

I'd be more worried about the single headlight brigade myself. That said, anyone stupid enough to obscure their vision should be done - it can be hard enough to see in bad weather at night anyway without darkening the front side windows. Does anyone honestly believe people should be allowed drive around like this?

djrlittleton wrote: »

i wud not go full limo again, as it is a hazard in bad weather at junctions etc, just used to wind down the window..

Gumbo

Abraham wrote: »

kceire
I really don't know if you and I are speaking the same language. You cannot have read my previous post at all. If you had I'm sure you would have noticed that I said 'unacceptable window tints' and 'excessively tinted windows'. Doesn't that mean I'm referring to the illegal aspect of window tinting ?

Research is warranted alright but maybe correct interpretation should come first ?

op = Why shouldn't darkened windows in cars be made illegal ?

your post is just like saying why arent class A drugs against the law???
they are.

you cant argue your point and using and already accepted illegal practice as back up of your opinion.

window tints are legal, excessive legal tints are illegal.

peasant

On a related note:

Am I the only one who finds it a bit stupid that by law you HAVE to block out the rear windows on a car van or other commercial vehicles?

Should be enough to take the seats out but leave the windows in (if they are there), it would be much safer that way ...especially at junctions and during overtaking maneuvres.

positron

Abraham wrote: »

(Ih wasn't me...it was me brudda an he's gone back to India')

Research is warranted alright but maybe correct interpretation should come first ?

Since you mentioned research, may be you want double check your facts on countries, accents, people profiles etc too..!

R.O.R

peasant wrote: »

On a related note:

Am I the only one who finds it a bit stupid that by law you HAVE to block out the rear windows on a car van or other commercial vehicles?

Should be enough to take the seats out but leve the windows in (if they are there), it would be much safer that way ...especially at junctions and during overtaking maneuvres.

It does make quite a difference, I think more so on the car based vans rather than 4x4 based - due to the size of the wing mirrors. Proper vans and most of the 4x4's I've driven have fairly large wing mirrors to make up for the lack of all around vision. Car based vans only have the standar wing mirrors so not as much available vision.

We had a Passat Estate Van conversion in last week and it was such a PITA to manouvre in the garage - much more so than a LWB Sprinter or Transit.

Furp

Last night on teh way home I saw an unmarked Toyota Camry Garda car with jet black tinted windows thought it was strange. Might have been a diplomatic vehicle as they where using their blue lights to skip the queue getting into the Phoenix park.

Anan1

I can think of a few good reasons why a Garda car might have them.