| Releases
& Statements
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 25, 2007
Contact: Sarah Krauss
(212) 669-4193; (917) 541-0936
Release #: 036-2007
Public Advocate Gotbaum, CouncilMember Vallone Call for New Crackdown on Excessively Tinted Windows to Protect Police Officers
- Strengthened state law would help protect cops from walking blindly into dangerous situations -
MANHATTAN – New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and Council Member Peter Vallone today called for a new crackdown on illegally tinted windows, saying that blacked-out windows force police officers to walk blindly into life-threatening situations. The elected officials called for strengthening the state law to include the back window as well as rear driver and rear passenger side windows under the New York State tinting law. Currently, nothing prevents criminals from hiding weapons or illegal behavior behind blacked-out rear windows.
The elected officials also called for a new state-mandated check of window tint during annual safety inspections and an increase in penalties for violating the anti-tinting law, including a surcharge of $250 that would go into a fund to train and equip police officers.
The proposal comes just days after New York City Police Officers Herman Yan and Russel Timoshenko were shot multiple times in Brooklyn during a nighttime stop of a stolen SUV with tinted windows. Tragically, Detective Timoshenko died last Sunday.
Public Advocate Gotbaum said, “Every time a cop approaches a car with blacked-out windows, he is doing something no cop should have to do: walk blindly into a potentially life-threatening situation. We need to crackdown on illegally tinted windows - before they are on our streets - so we can protect law enforcement officials and help them do their jobs safely.”
Council Member Vallone, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, said, “Whether hiding drugs or pointed loaded weapons, tinted windows help criminals and hurt police. Car stops are dangerous enough without officers being blind to the occupants in the car.”
Currently, police officers can pull over and ticket cars if they believe the front driver and passenger windows exceed the legally allowed level of tint. However, there is no annual check to enforce the tinting restrictions before cars are allowed on the streets.
The test for window opaqueness is simple and inexpensive. During routine annual safety and emissions inspections required by state law, technicians would also test auto glass with a "tint meter," which measures the amount of light that passes through the glass. Owners of the 10.5 million vehicles registered in New York State, including 1.8 million of them in New York City, would pay a surcharge of one dollar to businesses to offset the cost of labor, training and equipment. A current inspection costs ten dollars for the safety evaluation and $27 for the emissions evaluation.
Section 375 (12-a) of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law prohibits overly dark windshields or dark front side windows, which must admit at least 70 percent of available light. It is illegal to sell, install or drive with auto glass that does not comply with this law. If a medical condition warrants a different standard, the vehicle owner may request an exemption.
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