What's happening
This bill prohibits tinted windows with less than 70% light transmittance in sport utility vehicles and removes certain exemptions.
Why it matters
Expands strict window tinting rules to include sport utility vehicles (SUVs),. meaning owners of SUVs will now face the same legal limits on window tint as sedans, station wagons, and similar vehicles, potentially requiring removal or replacement of darker tints.
Eliminates a previous exemption for vehicles with dual side mirrors,. so having mirrors on both sides no longer allows for darker rear windows—every rear window must now meet the 70% light transmittance standard.
Aims to enhance law enforcement visibility and road safety,. making it easier for police and other drivers to see into vehicles, which could impact privacy but may improve officer safety and reduce risks during traffic stops.
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Who cares
Sport utility vehicle owners and drivers
The bill would prohibit rear side windows with light transmittance below 70 percent in SUVs.
Vehicle owners relying on side mirrors
The bill would remove the exception allowing rear windows with light transmittance below 70 percent when properly adjusted mirrors on both sides provide a clear view behind the vehicle.
Automotive window-tinting businesses
The bill would restrict tint options for SUV rear side windows and eliminate the side-mirror exception for darker rear windows.
Headline styles
Ban Tinted SUV Windows
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3726
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, GALEF, PAULIN, BENEDETTO, ROSENTHAL, PEOPLES-STOKES -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON, GOTTFRIED, MAGEE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to prohibiting tinted windows in sport utility vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraphs 3 and 4 of paragraph (b) of subdivision 12-a of section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 155 of the laws of 1991, are amended to read as follows:
(3) if it is classified as a station wagon, sedan, sport utility vehicle, hardtop, coupe, hatchback or convertible and any rear side window has a light transmittance of less than seventy percent; or
(4) the rear window of which is composed of, covered by or treated with any material which has a light transmittance of less than seventy percent. [A rear window may have a light transmittance of less than seventy percent if the vehicle is equipped with side mirrors on both sides of the vehicle so adjusted that the driver thereof shall have a clear and full view of the road and condition of traffic behind such vehicle.]
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03436-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.