To: The New York State Senate and Assembly

We, the undersigned, call upon New York State lawmakers to reconsider the current car window tint laws for passenger vehicles as outlined in Section 375 (12-a) of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law. These laws, which require that at least 70% of light must pass through the front and rear side windows of passenger cars, place unnecessary restrictions on drivers and do not align with the laws governing commercial vehicles or larger vehicles like SUVs.

Our Concerns:

• Unfair Disparity Between Passenger and Commercial Vehicles: Commercial vehicles, such as taxis and other authorized commercial cars, are allowed to have darker tints on their rear windows. However, passenger cars like sedans are subjected to much stricter tinting rules. This creates an inconsistency that unfairly penalizes ordinary drivers while allowing commercial and large vehicles more flexibilities.
• Privacy and Comfort: Window tinting offers drivers privacy, protection from harmful UV rays, and helps reduce the interior temperature of the car during warmer months. For many drivers, this is not just a luxury but a practical necessity, especially for those who spend long hours on the road. It also enhances safety by reducing glare, especially in urban environments.
• Environmental and Energy Savings: Window tints can significantly reduce the amount of heat that enters a vehicle, especially during the warmer months. By blocking a substantial portion of the sun’s infrared rays, tints help keep the car cooler, reducing the need to rely on air conditioning. This leads to less fuel consumption in traditional vehicles, saving money and reducing carbon emissions. For electric vehicles, less energy is drawn from the battery to run air conditioning, extending the driving range. As a result, allowing more flexible tinting laws not only provides comfort but also promotes energy efficiency, contributing to a cleaner environment by lowering the overall carbon footprint of transportation.
• Medical and Personal Safety Exemptions Are Insufficient: While medical exemptions are available for some individuals who need tinting for conditions such as lupus or albinism, the process to obtain these exemptions can be cumbersome and only addresses a small segment of the population. These exemptions do not accommodate the wider population that may seek the benefits of window tinting for comfort, privacy, or minor light sensitivities.
• Small Vehicles Pose Smaller Risks: Larger vehicles like SUVs and minivans, which are permitted darker rear window tints, are more capable of carrying dangerous cargo or larger numbers of passengers. The logic behind allowing them more leniency in tinting laws, while placing stringent restrictions on smaller passenger vehicles, is flawed. If anything, the increased risk posed by larger vehicles should warrant stricter regulations for them, not the other way around. 
• Technological Advancements Have Improved Visibility: Modern police vehicles are equipped with high-powered, bright lights that can easily illuminate the interiors of vehicles, even those with tinted windows. This lessens the necessity for laws that limit window tinting on the grounds of visibility for law enforcement officers.
• Unfair Exemption for Police: Another concern is that police cars are permitted to tint their rear windows, which seems inconsistent with the restrictions placed on ordinary passenger vehicles. If police vehicles can have rear tints without sacrificing safety or visibility, it calls into question why the same flexibility is not extended to private drivers. This creates an imbalance where law enforcement vehicles have more privacy, while regular drivers are denied the same comfort and protection.

What We Are Asking:

We ask that the State of New York amend its vehicle tint laws to allow passenger cars the same window tint flexibility that is afforded to larger vehicles and commercial cars.

Specifically, we propose that the light transmittance requirements for rear windows of passenger cars be reduced from the current 70% to a more reasonable 30%, in line with what is allowed in many other states.

In addition, we propose to level the playing field and bring New York laws in line with other states by making the law simple, easy to understand, fair, and equal for all cars by allowing tints which allow 30% of light all around the vehicle, regardless of vehicle type.

This change will not only improve comfort and privacy for New York drivers but will also correct the disparity between passenger and commercial vehicle regulations, without compromising the safety of law enforcement or other drivers. Police cars already fitted with tints that block 70% of light would not have to change as they would already be in compliance.

Why This Matters:

• Fairness: Passenger car owners should not be restricted while commercial and larger vehicles enjoy more leniency.
• Privacy: Darker tints protect occupants from prying eyes, ensuring a safer and more comfortable experience for drivers and passengers.
• Safety: Reducing glare and UV rays creates a safer driving environment, especially for those with light sensitivities.
• Energy Efficiency: Cooler cars reduce the need for air conditioning, saving energy and lowering fuel consumption, which is better for the environment and reduces costs for drivers.
• Technological Progress: Law enforcement’s ability to ensure their safety is not hindered by tinted windows thanks to modern lighting equipment.

By signing this petition, you are supporting a common-sense reform to New York's vehicle tint laws to bring fairness, comfort, and practicality to all drivers in the state.