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Window Tinting Films
Window tinting looks cool, keeps your vehicle interior cool, or hides your vehicle contents from potential thieves. The drawback with tinting certain windows is that it limits the driver's ability to see and be seen. It is also illegal and may result in enforcement action in the form of either a ticket or a repair order.
One of the rules of defensive driving is to make eye contact with other drivers. A wise pedestrian will also make eye contact with a driver to insure that they have been seen before walking in front of a vehicle. This is impossible for other drivers and pedestrians if you have darkened side windows.
Studies indicate that seniors are particularly affected by window tinting. Their ability to identify and react to low contrast targets is significantly compromised by the light transmission restriction of the film. This applies to a lesser extent to all of us, regardless of age.
The Motor Vehicle Act Regulations are very specific about any film that reduces the light transmitted by a window. You will note that there is no mention of how light or dark the film is. If it reduces the light transmitted in any way, it may only be applied on certain windows of the vehicle.
Film may be applied to the top three inches of the windshield or to any of the side windows behind the driver's shoulders. The film may also be applied to the rear window if the vehicle is equipped with an outside mirror on both sides. Film must not be applied to the windows of the driver and front passenger doors.
Reference Links:
Division 7.05 Motor Vehicle Act Regulations - Windshields and Windows
Section 219 Motor Vehicle Act - Equipment of Motor Vehicles
Section 222 Motor Vehicle Act - Sale of Vehicle/Equipment Contrary to Act & Regulations
Comments
Submitted by E-mail
I am amazed that the RCMP past or present would enforce a law that is such a double standard. My case and point.
A few years ago in Kelowna I was driving with my son when we were stopped at a seatbelt check. After the Member confirmed that Both of us were wearing our belts,he proceeded to advise me that I was going to be given a ticket for the side window film in my 1979 Fully Restored Chevrolet Silverado 4X4.I asked the member as to why, as he explained to me, (almost in your own words) the reasoning for not having side window tint, Which I fully agreed to. I then pointed out that my side window tint was the very minimum tint available, it was more of a protection from UV rays for the vehicles interior, and as I had shown the member, pedestrians could very easily see me in the vehicle if I were either moving or stopped.The member stuck to his guns and said, I do not write the laws, I just enforce them.
At this point I knew his mind was made up. I had a look in my rearview mirror to see how many people I was delaying, when I noticed a brand new Chevrolet Silverado directly behind me, which I know can be purchased (and this one was) with Full Black window tint on the Driver and passenger front side windows.I pointed out to the member that the truck behind me had better be ticketed as well, and that is when his convincing reason for ticketing me in the first place began to unravel.
I was now advised that since the newer cars and trucks can now come from the factory with full side window tint available this law does not apply to them.(so much for the poor pedestrian theory). I took the ticket and headed to the RCMP Office and spoke with the Watch Commander,I explained to him the issue and he laughed, saying someone must be having a bad day, and he was not referring to me.He told me he would reduce the ticket to a warning If I removed the tint (which I did) and Also advised me he was surprised the ticket was written in the first place as he could not even tell my windows were tinted from where I was parked across the street, And that was the first time he had heard of someone getting a ticket for window tint.
Film vs Tint Incorporated Into the Glass
There are two ways of tinting glass, one is by applying something to the glass and the other is incorporating the tint into the glass. When you speak of factory tint, it is tint incorporated into the glass and it is subject to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act Regulations which require the glass to meet ANSI Z26 safety standards. The glass is marked with AS grades and front side windows must be AS-1, AS-2, AS-10 or AS-11. This is NOT full tint, and anything other than these grades is subject to enforcement action.
Part of the problem is that vehicles are often diverted to companies that modify vehicles between the factory and the dealership. People see something that has been illegally modified on display in a dealership as a new vehicle and automatically assume that what they are seeing is legal.
Unfortunately, our watch commander is part of the problem as well. He has no business making the decision he did without the agreement of the constable that wrote the ticket. It is also very poor form to make the comment that he did. I had something similar happen to me where the watch commander had extensive experience with drug enforcement and none with traffic enforcement. I went to him and suggested that if someone ever asked me for advice about drug enforcement, I would defer to him as he had the experience, and not minimize the advice he would give. I also said that I would expect him to do the same with me for traffic related matters. I think I made an impression.