#1: Fined for Window Tints Author: vintageoriginal, Location: London, UKPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:34 pm ---- Hi all,
So tonight I was fined £30 for having my front windows tinted beyond legal limits. Now before you're quick to judge, I'm not one of these mugs that drives around with black limo tints on the front windows - I agree that this is plain stupid from a safety perspective. I had ultra light window tints applied to the front windows not for looks, but more because my car was broken into twice in the space of 2 months, and the film helps to secure the glass if it's broken. My front windows were tinted by 10%. The law states that the windows must allow 70% of the visible light through, and when tested with the policeman's meter mine registered 58.1%, so fair enough they're illegal (just!) and I was fined accordingly.
However, the incident occurred at Heathrow airport whilst I was waiting to pick a passenger up. After issuing me the ticket, the policeman then forced me to remove the tints there and then, 'use your ignition key to get started' he said. So after twenty minutes of embarrassment I got the films off, leaving scratches and the horrible sticky glue. My question is this - are the police legally allowed to force you to remove the tints by the roadside? I was completely fair with the guy, didn't kick up a fuss of any kind, admitted my guilt and accepted the fine, but I found the whole experience embarrassing, degrading and incriminating.
I am not looking for any comments like 'you're an idiot for having your windows tinted in the first place', but any real information would be helpful.
#2: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: wagsy206, Location: Coatbridge, LanarkshirePosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:37 pm ---- yep. they can. if the vehicle is found to be unsafe (even tints) you're not permitted to drive it until it's safe to do so.
it is a shame that it happened though, but there is some clear film which does the same thing.
#3: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: NorthantsBen, Location: Raunds, NorthamptonshirePosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:38 pm ---- I got told by tinting shop last week that you can't have any on the front now ?? Just going on what they said
don't forget there might be factory tint on the windows too
on itv tonight they were making people remove or they will take the car Last edited by NorthantsBen on Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:45 pm; edited 3 times in total
#4: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: meady, Location: basingstokePosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:38 pm ---- ive seen them just tell u to peel a bit off the top corner so they no your guna remove them as it would look silly otherwise but not the whole tint
#5: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: Golfguy206, Location: PeterboroughPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:39 pm ---- Dont think they can MAKE you do it there and then.
I know they can give you a rectification order or someithing like that. This makes you take it off in the next 7 days or something + the fine.
I would have said that the distortion in your vision caused by the glue on the glass now makes your vehicle a hazard to use now that they made you take it off - it would have been safer to drive home with your front windows down!!
#6: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: bradste79, Location: bradfordPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:39 pm ---- on traffic cops, i remember a woman been stopped in a range rover and the officer got her husband to start to remove the tints..... so i would guess he was within his rights
I would have said that the distortion in your vision caused by the glue on the glass now makes your vehicle a hazard to use now that they made you take it off - it would have been safer to drive home with your front windows down!!
I totally agree, it was a state. After I'd finished he said 'By the way, don't try and put the windows down again until you wipe that off with meths or you'll burn the electric motor out.' I found the whole thing completely ridiculous.
#8: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: pug_quiksilver, Location: Bognor Regis, West SussexPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:59 pm ---- They are quite within their powers to tell you to remove it there and then because as long as you drive it with that you are committing a moving traffic offence.
#9: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: Iain, Location: Aberdeen, ScotlandPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:03 pm ---- You can't have ANY tint on the fronts, they come already tinted pretty close to the legal limit.
#10: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: Razpulsedj, Location: Partying with the Info ShufflersPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:10 pm ---- Sat watchin police camera action and someone had over the limit tints and the police do have the power to make you remove them, end of the day if they let u go, how'd they know you ain't gonna leave them on? Agree with what your saying totally about you having them because of the break ins, but in the police eyes they can just tell you to get a better alarm and to keep anything in the car hidden. Police should be out there fighting crime instead of this lark imo
#11: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: Howey, Location: Kings LynnPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:14 pm ---- Unlucky mate I think the are within their rights to tell you to get them off on the street
Foliatec do clear security film, so if you are worried then you can buy that instead... Foliatec is also called "eurostyling" as well if you cant find it
#12: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: pug_quiksilver, Location: Bognor Regis, West SussexPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:18 pm ----
Razpulsedj wrote:
Police should be out there fighting crime instead of this lark imo
That's why we have traffic officers dedicated to fighting crime on the roads and neighbourhood response officers dedicated to fighting general crime.
#13: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: vintageoriginal, Location: London, UKPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:22 pm ---- Ok, thanks for clearing this up. I'm going to look into having some (EVEN) clearer tints fitted though, I think they deter thieves as they make the glass more difficult to peer through (I never got a break-in since having them fitted). The policeman completely patronized me going, 'yeah, they look wicked, isn't it, bruv, safe' - I'm not a chav at all and he clearly didn't understand the other benefits.
Foliatec do clear security film, so if you are worried then you can buy that instead... Foliatec is also called "eurostyling" as well if you cant find it
Thanks Howey, will look into it.
#15: Re: Fined for Window Tints Author: mattievrs, Location: LeicesterPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:25 pm ---- a guy on the old site (phillspug) got pulled for his limo tints and made to remove them there and then.When you have the fronts tinted you sign a disclaimer (at tintcentres anyway) to say you admit theyre illegal on the front windows.
Most front windows are tinted from factory close to the legal limit aswell.
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I think the are within their rights to tell you to get them off on the street 
