When I see a car with dark, tinted windows, it makes me wonder: what are they hiding? Are they naked? Do they have a backseat full of guns or stolen goods? Are they on the run from the law and hope to avoid being recognized?
Today, when coming out of Walmart, I saw a man holding a little boy while trying to load his trunk. A white car with very dark windows whirled around them. If that father had moved an inch– he would have been run over. By then, the car was coming toward me. I tried to make eye contact with the driver, but it was impossible. And so, I stood stock still, hoping he wouldn’t knock me down.
The car turned into a parking place. Two men and a woman emerged with hats pulled down on their forehead, looking neither to the right or left, and hurried into the store. You had to wonder what was in that car that they didn’t want anyone to see. Or, maybe, they just thought they were being cool.
Car window tinting has been a controversial issue for many years. It makes sense, in some cases. . Light tinting reduces glare, and controls the temperature inside the car. However, there are laws regarding the darker tints. The law allows a maximum tint of 30% on vehicle windows.
Pedestrians and drivers need to see other drivers and make eye contact when on the road or in parking lots. . Whether it’s to wave another car into traffic, or let a pedestrian know it’s safe to cross because the car is stopping, eye contact can be as effective as turn signals.
Heavy tints obstruct the work of police and rescue workers in accidents and criminal pursuit. In addition, other drivers may be intimidated by a fully blacked out car. Nevertheless, many people defy the law and tint their windows much darker than what’s allowed..
Safety experts estimate more than 10 percent of vehicles have illegal window tinting. But do they get stopped by police and ticketed.? No, they don’t. The law is mostly ignored because the cops say they’re too busy chasing speeders and other driving violations.
In a country with so many road deaths, eliminating the use of illegal window tints ought to be a priority. Instead of dark tinting, drivers can wear sunglasses to avoid glare, and dress more modestly. Air conditioning will cool a car that’s been parked in the sun. The law , which provides for a fine and 30-day confiscation of the vehicle, should be enforced. Businesses that offer illegal tinting services should be penalized, too.
Meanwhile, watch out for dark tinted cars. Let them get ahead of you on the highway, and stop if they’re coming toward you on a crosswalk. Blacked out cars are a safety hazard.