Safety and Visibility Issues Associated with Motor -Vehicle Window Transmittance and After-Market Window Tinting

About the project:

In the 2011 session of the Virginia General Assembly, a bill was introduced to allow increased levels of aftermarket window tinting on front driver and passenger side windows.  The bill was tabled amid questions regarding the impact of this change on the safety of law enforcement personnel performing routine traffic stops and their ability to see occupants and objects within the vehicle on approach.  This study will evaluate visibility under differing lighting and approach configurations to determine what the safety impacts are.  Results of this study will be provided to the Virginia State Police and the Window Tint Advisory Committee, which, in turn, will forward them to the General Assembly.

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