Posted: 3/11/2009 10:44:37 AM EDT
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If your cruiser registers 15% on the tint meter would you pull someone over for a suspected tint violation.
note in GA tint must be 35% or higher |
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Quoted: If your cruiser registers 15% on the tint meter would you pull someone over for a suspected tint violation. note in GA tint must be 35% or higher I take it there is no exception for LE vehicles in the statutes? If not, I probably wouldn't. Sounds like it's just asking for trouble. "Officer, you stopped my client for illegal window tint. Is it not true that your vehicle is also illegally tinted?" |
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Quoted:
hey rookie, check your Title 40. that is all. 
He appears to be telling you this.... ...Among the exemptions to the window tint law are: adjustable sun visors not attached to the glass; signs or stickers displayed in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the passenger side of the windshield or in a five-inch square in the lower corner of the driver's side of the windshield; law enforcement vehicles;...
Taken from here... I don't see a dilemma. |
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For everyone's review, a posting of the GA window tint law, to the T...
§ 40-8-73.1. Affixing of materials which reduce light transmission or increase light reflectance through windows or windshields (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Light reflectance" means the ratio of the amount of total light that is reflected outward by a product or material to the amount of total light falling on the product or material. (2) "Light transmission" means the ratio of the amount of total light, expressed in percentages, which is allowed to pass through a surface to the amount of light falling on the surface. (3) "Manufacturer" means a person who produces or assembles a vehicle glass-coating material or who fabricates, laminates, or tempers a safety-glazing material, which material reduces light transmission. (4) "Material" means any transparent product or substance which reduces light transmission. (5) "Multipurpose passenger vehicle" means a motor vehicle designed to carry ten persons or less which is constructed on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation. (b) Except as provided in this Code section, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle in this state: (1) Which has material and glazing applied or affixed to the front windshield, which material and glazing when so applied or affixed reduce light transmission through the windshield; or (2) Which has material and glazing applied or affixed to the rear windshield or the side or door windows, which material and glazing when so applied or affixed reduce light transmission through the windshield or window to less than 32 percent, plus or minus 3 percent, or increase light reflectance to more than 20 percent. (c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section shall not apply to: (1) Adjustable sun visors which are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the glass; (2) Signs, stickers, or other matter which is displayed in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver or signs, stickers, or other matter which is displayed in a five-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver; (3) Direction, destination, or termination signs upon a passenger common carrier motor vehicle if the signs do not interfere with the driver's clear view of approaching traffic; (4) Any transparent item which is not red or amber in color which is placed on the uppermost six inches of the windshield; (5) Any federal, state, or local sticker or certificate which is required by law to be placed on any windshield or window; (6) The rear windshield or the side or door windows, except those windows to the right and left of the driver of: (A) A multipurpose passenger vehicle; (B) A school bus, any other bus used for public transportation, and any bus or van owned or leased by any religious or any nonprofit organization duly incorporated under the laws of this state; (C) Any limousine owned or leased by a public or private entity; or (D) Any other vehicle, the windows or windshields of which have been tinted or darkened before factory delivery or permitted by federal law or regulation; (7) Any law enforcement vehicle; (8) Any vehicle that displays a valid special license plate issued to a government official under Code Section 40-2-61, 40-2-63, or 40-2-64; (9) Any vehicle owned or operated by the state or a political subdivision thereof and that displays a valid license plate issued pursuant to Code Section 40-2-37; or (10) Any vehicle operated in the course of business by a person licensed or registered under Chapter 38 of Title 43, relating to private detective and private security businesses. (d) The Department of Public Safety may, upon application from a person required for medical reasons to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun and only if such application is supported by written attestation of such fact from a person licensed to practice medicine under Chapter 34 of Title 43 or a person certified as an optometrist under Chapter 30 of Title 43, issue an exemption from the provisions of this Code section for any motor vehicle owned by such person or in which such person is a habitual passenger. The exemption shall be issued with such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed by the Department of Public Safety. (e) No person shall install any material upon the windshields or windows of any motor vehicle, the installation of which would result in a reduction of light transmission or an increase in light reflectance in violation of subsection (b) of this Code section. (f) The Department of Public Safety is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Code section. (g) Any person who violates subsection (b) or (e) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. |
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Why do we do this to ourselves? We have legislators adopt laws that don't apply to LEOs but do to avg. Joe. I don't think I could give someone a ticket for window tinting if I were to get out of my CV with (what would be for avg. Joe) illegal window tinting. Double standards like this just seem to give the anti-police nit wits more ammo. Except for our far southern brothers I can't see the need to limo tint my car. So what is the need (K9 vehicles excluded)? |
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Quoted:
Why do we do this to ourselves? We have legislators adopt laws that don't apply to LEOs but do to avg. Joe. I don't think I could give someone a ticket for window tinting if I were to get out of my CV with (what would be for avg. Joe) illegal window tinting. Double standards like this just seem to give the anti-police nit wits more ammo. Except for our far southern brothers I can't see the need to limo tint my car. So what is the need (K9 vehicles excluded)? "Protects" the identity of suspects sitting in the back seat....... Lots of exceptions for emergency vehicles/personnel - should we take lights/sirens off emergency vehicles because the general public can't have them should officers be banned from carrying/using to effect arrest OC because the general public can't use OC in an offensive manner? Brian |
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Quoted: Quoted: Why do we do this to ourselves? We have legislators adopt laws that don't apply to LEOs but do to avg. Joe. I don't think I could give someone a ticket for window tinting if I were to get out of my CV with (what would be for avg. Joe) illegal window tinting. Double standards like this just seem to give the anti-police nit wits more ammo. Except for our far southern brothers I can't see the need to limo tint my car. So what is the need (K9 vehicles excluded)? "Protects" the identity of suspects sitting in the back seat....... Lots of exceptions for emergency vehicles/personnel - should we take lights/sirens off emergency vehicles because the general public can't have them should officers be banned from carrying/using to effect arrest OC because the general public can't use OC in an offensive manner? Brian I don't buy the protecting the identity of suspects argument. Arrests are public information. I've never been trained to use OC in an offensive manner, simply as a defensive tool or to help aid in a lawful arrest. Emergency vehicles have lights and sirens, well because they are "emergency" vehicles. Avg. Joe has no need for such equipment. They don't respond to the grocery store in the same manner you or I would to a robbery in progress of said grocery store. Look back at my argument. You are circumnavigating it into something else. I was specifically addressing the issue of tinted windows on LEO vehicles. So what is the need? |
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Quoted: Why do we do this to ourselves? We have legislators adopt laws that don't apply to LEOs but do to avg. Joe. I don't think I could give someone a ticket for window tinting if I were to get out of my CV with (what would be for avg. Joe) illegal window tinting. Double standards like this just seem to give the anti-police nit wits more ammo. Except for our far southern brothers I can't see the need to limo tint my car. So what is the need (K9 vehicles excluded)? I don't have a need, and honestly I wouldn't want them tinted anyhow. I work nights and it makes it way to hard to see. Although, it might make it harder for people to see if your sitting in your car running radar or taking a nap.  |
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Quoted:
or taking a nap.
Certainly all kinds of people would have a shit storm over that but honestly I used to see some officers 'doing paperwork" almost nightly and it was just fine with me. When we lived out in the county, the small town PD night crew would often park on the property next to us to catch up on that paperwork
So when I was away I knew a patrol car was often parked right next door where my spouse was alone. Better than Brinks for deterrent, LOL. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Why do we do this to ourselves? We have legislators adopt laws that don't apply to LEOs but do to avg. Joe. I don't think I could give someone a ticket for window tinting if I were to get out of my CV with (what would be for avg. Joe) illegal window tinting. Double standards like this just seem to give the anti-police nit wits more ammo. Except for our far southern brothers I can't see the need to limo tint my car. So what is the need (K9 vehicles excluded)? "Protects" the identity of suspects sitting in the back seat....... Lots of exceptions for emergency vehicles/personnel - should we take lights/sirens off emergency vehicles because the general public can't have them should officers be banned from carrying/using to effect arrest OC because the general public can't use OC in an offensive manner? Brian Also used on UC and CI vehicles, K-9 vehicles, etc. does not relegate itself to merely patrol use vehicles. |
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I would not write cites for equipment violations that existed on my patrol car.
I also don't take a car out that is jacked up and in need of repairs. P.S. - Equipment violations are a good starting point to establish probable cause in getting the dope and guns rolling on the street; but we knew that already. |
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Quoted:
I don't buy the protecting the identity of suspects argument. Arrests are public information. I've never been trained to use OC in an offensive manner, simply as a defensive tool or to help aid in a lawful arrest. Emergency vehicles have lights and sirens, well because they are "emergency" vehicles. Avg. Joe has no need for such equipment. They don't respond to the grocery store in the same manner you or I would to a robbery in progress of said grocery store. Look back at my argument. You are circumnavigating it into something else. I was specifically addressing the issue of tinted windows on LEO vehicles. So what is the need? OK, let's say you're involved in a fight, legitimately defending yourself, and we arrest/separate both combatants until we figure it out. While you're sitting in the back of my car, media rolls up and begins to roll tape. They run their own version of the story, complete with bystanders id'ing you as a perp. And there you are, squirming around to hide your face from the camera. Maybe you don't care about being video'd cuffed in the back seat, but many others do. Yeah, arrests are public info, but not always in time for the run-once news story that evening. Let's say you're a witness to, or victim of, a violent a crime. We roll you by to ID the suspect, a violent felon who lives in your hood. You have to get close enough for positive ID. Would it be best that the subject not know who you are, especially if your a victim using a pseudonym or a confidential informant w/protected ID? Let's say I have gear or evidence in the vehicle I don't want others to see or otherwise be tempted to smash/grab. Heat in the south is the same as heat in the north during summer. Summer sunlight (especially snow?) is the same year 'round, and I do appreciate the comfort of that tint. I also like the privacy when I have to sit out in public and do paperwork. I hate the sitting duck feeling, but everyone wants us out, visible rather than legitimately focused on paperwork at the station. |
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Quoted:
I would not write cites for equipment violations that existed on my patrol car. I also don't take a car out that is jacked up and in need of repairs. P.S. - Equipment violations are a good starting point to establish probable cause in getting the dope and guns rolling on the street; but we knew that already. If there is an emergency vehicle exemption you are by definition legal. Brian |
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Quoted:
I don't buy the protecting the identity of suspects argument. Arrests are public information. That's fine - I was just throwing it out there. I've never been trained to use OC in an offensive manner, simply as a defensive tool or to help aid in a lawful arrest aid lawful arrest is "offensive". Emergency vehicles have lights and sirens, well because they are "emergency" vehicles. Avg. Joe has no need for such equipment. They don't respond to the grocery store in the same manner you or I would to a robbery in progress of said grocery store. Look back at my argument. You are circumnavigating it into something else. I was specifically addressing the issue of tinted windows on LEO vehicles. So what is the need? Surveillance, K9, suspect ID, etc, etc. Our patrol cars are not tinted, UC/Detective cars are. CA law allows window tint on everything behind the front seats. Brian |