Relating to the minimum standard of transparency for motor vehicle window tint, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable

Under current law, a person is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle equipped with a front windshield, a side window to the immediate right or left of the driver, or a sidewing forward of and to the left or right of the driver which is excessively dark or reflective so that it is difficult for a person outside the motor vehicle to see into the motor vehicle through the windshield, window, or sidewing.7), “excessively dark or reflective” means the windshield, side window, or sidewing does not meet a minimum standard of transparency of percent light transmittance. This bill prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle equipped with a front windshield, a side window to the immediate right or left of the driver, or a sidewing forward of and to the left or right of the driver which does not meet a minimum standard of transparency of percent light transmittance. The bill also strikes the provision requiring the department of transportation to adopt rules establishing a minimum measurable standard of transparency. A violation of this provision of the bill is punishable by a scheduled fine of $50. The bill also provides that if a peace officer stops a motor vehicle equipped with a side window to the immediate right or left of the driver which has a transparency of percent light transmittance or less, the driver must lower the side window on the side of the officer’s approach of the vehicle to the side window’s lowest possible position prior to the completion of the officer’s approach of the vehicle, and must keep the side window in the lowest possible position for the duration of the stop unless otherwise instructed by the officer. A violation of this provision of the bill is punishable by a scheduled fine of $20. However, if the violation is a person’s first violation, and the person has not previously been issued a warning memorandum for a similar violation, the officer is required to issue a warning memorandum to the driver in lieu of a citation.