Legal nuances of using glass tinting: what is allowed?

Finding out if car tinting is allowed and in what cases will certainly be useful for many car owners. Motorists love this glass coating, not only because it helps to hide the interior and all passengers. Tinted windows increase resistance to mechanical damage, soften the harsh illumination of oncoming cars, and protect the interior from burnout.

Pros of toning

The undoubted positive aspects in the use of tinted glass include:

1. One hundred percent reflection of ultraviolet rays is a guarantee against burnout of the interior "decoration" of the car.
2. The salon does not overheat in the heat, since 70% of the heat rays do not penetrate into the car, delayed by tinting.
3. Protection of the windshield from the blinding headlights of oncoming vehicles.
4. Increasing strength and resistance to mechanical stress (impact, hitting objects, etc.).
5. Hiding from the eyes of potential criminals valuables, keys, documents in the car.
6. Reducing the impact on the driver of the glare of the sun, which increases traffic safety at times.

Regulations

Despite the visible advantages, car window tinting is a controversial topic. Whether tinting is allowed can be found by referring to the legislative acts regulating this issue. The rules of the road say that any type of glass coating (front, side, rear), which changes (for the worse) their transparency, may become the basis for a ban on the use of a car.

The main regulatory document for automotive glass coating is the Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles”. This technical regulation was adopted for execution on January 1, 2015.

The requirements of past documents for car windows remained practically unchanged, although most car owners were waiting for some mitigation in this area.

Here is how the fourth section of the technical regulations interprets the main provisions regarding the visibility of automotive glass:

• glasses must be installed according to the recommendations of the car manufacturer;
• do not use objects or coatings on glass that reduce the visibility of the road, thereby contributing to the occurrence of an emergency;
• glass on the front doors must transmit at least 70% of the light, this also applies to the windshield;
• rear windows can be tinted as you like, but subject to the installation of side mirrors on the car;
• the windshield can be provided with a strip at the top to protect against light, but not wider than 14 cm;
• any tinting in a mirror way is prohibited;
• the presence of cracks in the area of ​​the windshield wipers is not allowed;
• tinted glass should not drastically change colors, especially the colors of traffic lights, as well as streetlights and white and blue colors.

One of the main arguments of legislators who oppose window tinting, whether front or windshield, is concern for the safety of all road users. There are legislative acts that allow making a car heavily tinted - this is allowed for cars of special services.

How is window tint checked?

The light transmission of glass is one of the indicators that is controlled during the technical inspection of the car. The condition of the glasses should be checked with special devices - taumeters. Most often, organizations involved in checking the technical condition of machines use Blik brand devices.

The car owner has the right to demand a certificate for the device from the inspector. State certification bodies issue certificates in which the date of verification is recorded annually.

The instrument must also be labeled with the date of the next inspection. The inspector must also have a personal seal, in the absence of which the car owner can dispute the readings of the device. It is very interesting that the light transmittance can be measured not only during the day, but also at night. But there are some factors that can change the readings of the Blik device - low air humidity (during fog, for example), air temperature below 10 degrees Celsius. The device shows on the display not the degree of tinting, but the ability of light to pass through the glass.

Your actions

What to do if you do not agree with the readings of the device and do not want to pay a fine for violating the tinting of the car?

• First, you need to write a complaint in the form of an application to the traffic police within ten days from the date of the check. Representatives of these authorities should appoint a time and place that is convenient for you, and conduct the examination again.

• Secondly, it is not forbidden to bring the glasses back to normal during this time and thereby save yourself from paying a fine.

If you do tinting in car dealerships, then after the work done, the specialists must provide you with a certificate confirming compliance with the necessary standards. It is advisable to keep this document in the car in order to show it to the traffic police if necessary.

It does not matter what kind of tinting, in what way the darkened coating is applied to the glass (by spraying, sticking a film or complete replacement), the main thing is compliance with standard standards.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 329 and the “Instructions on the work of the traffic police of the traffic police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation” do not allow their full-time employees to check the technical condition of the car, including tinting, if the driver has a valid technical inspection certificate. The presence of a coupon is a kind of guarantor, protection from checks by the guards.

Should you break the law?

In order not to “run into” a fine, but still make the interior dark, you can use these simple tips:

• do not use untested and uncertified materials;
• have on hand a document confirming compliance with GOSTs;
• use of curtains;
• installation of removable tinted glass.