Maysville, KY - 
SimplytheBest.net
Correction
The community shower sponsored by the Maysville Younger Women's Club to benefit the Buffalo Trace Women's Crisis Center has been changed from April 21 to April 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
« Home     |     Local News   |   Web Features   |   State News   |   National News    |   Sports   |   Opinion   |   Lifestyles   |   Obituaries   |   Classifieds

 
  Advanced Search

Local News

Local law enforcement cracks down on excessive window tinting
Tuesday, April 18, 2006 9:05 PM EDT Print this story | Email this story
Summer brings rays of sun, which in turn brings various methods of protection. One of those methods -- tinted car windows -- is about to receive the attention of local law enforcement.

There is a legal limit to the darkness of car window tints, according to Kentucky law. Front windows can have no less than 35 percent light transmitted by tinting and back windows can have no less the 18 percent light or about the tint of sunglasses.

The Maysville Police Department is stepping up efforts to crack down on excessive tinting with a new gadget, the Tint Meter 200. The device comes in two pieces, each about the size a large calculator. Officers calibrate the machine with small glass samples. Then they take the pieces and put one on each side of the window to measure the percentage of tinting.

"Front windows will read about 75 to 78 percent," said Officer Trippy Gooding.

Car windows come from the factory with that amount of tinting, Gooding said. Any extra tinting makes the vehicle unsafe to drive.

"You can't see out," Gooding said. "I've seen people roll down the window to make a turn because the window is so dark they can't see."


Maysville Police Officer Trippy Gooding looks at the tint meter Tuesday morning on a test vehicle near the Maysville Police Department. Officers were learning how to use the meter that was recently acquired by the city. Terry Prather/Staff
The darkness of windows is also a safety issue for officers. Gooding said that officers can't see inside dark windows when they make routine stops. Gooding and training coordinator Sgt. Leo McKay said when an officer can't see into a vehicle, that poses a danger for the officer.

McKay said in the past if officers couldn't see the drivers' license through the window, the window was too dark. Now with the tint meter, checking the tint becomes a science. Readings of a meter also fare better in court when officers ticket those whose windows are too dark.

"We wanted something to hold up in court," McKay said.

Officers will offer free tinting readings at the station in next few weeks. Gooding said anyone wishing to have tinted windows checked can park in the lot behind the police station.

"They can come in and get one of the officers on duty to check the windows," Gooding said.

The offer comes before officers start giving citations for excessive window tinting.


According to law, SUVs and vans can have a higher tinting on the back windows than is allowed for cars.

"The back window of a vehicle can be completely dark, if side view mirrors are on the car," Gooding said.

If vehicle owners are in doubt about tinting around the top of windows, Gooding said they can check the AS/1 line on the windshield. The small letters are located about 5 inches down from the roof of the car. Tinting below that mark has to transmit 35 percent of light into the vehicle.

Contact Danetta Barker at Danetta.Barker@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 272.

Reader Comments

Comments are limited to 200 words or less.

jack wrote on Apr 29, 2008 1:32 PM:

" You are quite confused on the law in Kentucky. The rear of MPV's can use tint as dark as 8%. The rear of cars can use tint as dark as 18%. The driver and passenger window's tint can be no darker than 35%. Nothing is allowed lower than the AS/1 line on the windshield. Now, here is where the problem comes in... Kentucky's law is very poorly written. It reads (the film) must be at least the designated amount of VLT, NOT the total read by the meter in conjunction with the glass on the vehicle. The film has to be removed in order to truely regulate this law. That seems an unlikely event to take place. Attempts to get the law written correctly whereas it could be properly enforced have been unsuccessful. Good luck to all in Maysville Kentucky, your headaches are about to begin. Owensboro had the same problem with it's enforcement of the law. "

John wrote on Apr 29, 2008 1:02 PM:

" This article is erroneous in many ways and it is obvious the officers do not understand the Kentucky statute that governs window tinting. Kentucky law does not take into account the factory tinting on a vehicle as it deals strictly with window film VLT as measured when applied to clear 1/8" glass, therefore the tint meters will always be inaccurate and will not hold up in court. Furthermore, NO tinting is allowed on a windshield below the AS1 line. "


Add your own comments:

(optional)
   


Copyright © 2008 Maysville Newspapers, Inc., A Lee Enterprises Publication

This site is protected by applicable copyright laws and no part may be reproduced, transmitted or used in any way other than its intended purpose without the prior written permission of The Ledger Independent.
Click here to view The Ledger Independent's privacy policy.


  Photo Galleries
  Local Links
  Calendar
  Yellow Pages
  Showcase of Homes
  Kentucky Crosswords
  Movie Listings
  Kentucky Lottery
  Ohio Lottery

  Subscribe
  About Us
  Place a
Classified Ad

  Birth Announcement
  Engagement Announcement
  Wedding Announcement

  Adams County
  Bracken County
  Fleming County
  Georgetown, Ohio
  Lewis County
  Ripley, Ohio