What's happening
This bill tightens restrictions on motor vehicle window tinting to require at least 70% light transmittance and funds tint meter purchases for law enforcement.
Why it matters
Expands strict 70% light transmittance requirement to all rear side windows. previously, certain vehicle types (like SUVs or station wagons) had more lenient standards for these windows; now, all vehicle types must comply, potentially impacting vehicle customization and privacy preferences.
Makes rear window tinting rules more consistent. all vehicles’ rear windows must also meet the 70% standard unless both side mirrors provide a clear view behind, addressing safety concerns for law enforcement and other drivers.
Provides funding for law enforcement to purchase tint meters. allocates $50,000 to help police acquire the tools necessary to enforce these stricter standards, which could lead to increased enforcement and more citations for non-compliance.
Includes a “grandfather” clause. vehicles manufactured in or before the model year when the law takes effect are exempt if their window tinting was legal under previous rules, which may ease concerns for current vehicle owners but means eventual universal compliance as older vehicles are retired.
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Who cares
Drivers of vehicles outside the listed passenger-car classifications
The bill would extend the 70 percent light-transmittance requirement to their rear side windows, while exempting qualifying vehicles from the effective model year or earlier whose windows complied with prior law.
Local law enforcement agencies
The bill would provide funding to purchase tint meters to enforce the 70 percent light-transmittance standard.
Division of Criminal Justice Services
The bill would make up to $50,000 available to the division for distribution to local law enforcement agencies for tint-meter purchases.
Headline styles
Set Car Window Tint Limits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2154
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GANTT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to tinting on motor vehicle windows and making an appropriation therefor
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 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, is amended to read as follows:
(b) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public highway, road or street:
(1) the front windshield of which is composed of, covered by or treated with any material which has a light transmittance of less than seventy percent unless such materials are limited to the uppermost six inches of the windshield; or
(2) the sidewings or side windows of which on either side forward of or adjacent to the operator's seat are composed of, covered by or treated with any material which has a light transmittance of less than seventy percent; or
(3) [if it is classified as a station wagon, sedan, hardtop, coupe, hatchback or convertible and any] the rear side [window] windows of which are composed of, covered by, or treated with any material which 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00439-01-9
A. 2154 2
§ 2. The sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes account, not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately available to the division of criminal justice services for distribution to local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of purchasing tint meters to carry out the provisions of this act relating to the seventy percent light transmittance standard. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved in the manner prescribed by law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, the provisions of this act shall not apply to persons operating that model year vehicle or earlier model year vehicle if the windows on said vehicle were in conformity with the provisions of paragraph (b) of subdivision 12-a of section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law as such paragraph existed on the day preceding the effective date of this act.
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.