As I drive around, I notice the window tint on vehicles is getting darker and darker. Not only are the side windows dark; now many of you are tinting your windshields, which in most instances is illegal. Let’s talk.
In Texas, windshield tint rules generally allow a non-reflective tint strip above the AS-1or, if there is no AS-1 line, above five inches from the top of the windshield. Many of us refer to this strip as an eyebrow, which blocks out a lot of the sun, making driving a little easier. Tint applied below that area is generally not allowed except for permitted medical exemptions.
The rule of thumb in Texas is that the rear passenger door windows and the back glass can be darker than 25 percent. However, the driver and front passenger windows are limited to 25 percent. I see many of the vehicles with windows that are completely blacked out, making visibility into the vehicle almost impossible.
These tints, when I check them with a tint measuring device, generally measure at 5 percent or less, which is well below the legal 25 percent. Many of you don’t take into account that many of the windows are already tinted at the factory when installed. The extra film is added to the windows, significantly dropping the visible light transmission below 25 percent. Anything below 25 percent is a traffic violation and a ticketable class-C misdemeanor offense.
Many times, I can’t tell if there is anyone in the vehicle. The dark tints also make visibility at night-time labored and difficult for the driver and passengers. This causes many of you to have to roll down a window just to see when pulling away from a stop sign, intersection, and/or your driveway. The darker tint also makes it harder for you to be able to monitor other traffic in your side & rear-view mirrors.
Now the rave is windshield tint, which I’m sure makes daytime travel easier in the Texas’ extreme heat and, on some of the vehicles, dresses the vehicle up. However, a driver’s visibility during cloudy, overcast days or at night is complicated as a result of the darker tints being applied, especially to the windshield.
I'm not sure the juice is worth the squeeze. The darker tint puts you and other motorists at risk of not being seen, potentially leading to a crash.
Call us if you need us.
Steven Jeter is Chief of Police in Trinity.
