Health Concern

[dreamaker]

I am trying to figure out, if I am over reacting or is it a valid concern.  I am a bicyclist and a motorcyclist, obviously!  On the road these days driver distraction are over the top, and trying to enjoy these things become challenging sometimes.  In my work, we were train to recognize safety issues before they can happen.  Well,  I can’t seem to wrap around my brains about, peoples attitude towards a safety concerns these days. 
 
May be you see it in your area.  Since about a year ago people in their vehicle have been getting their windows blacked out, even some with windshields.  I am not talking about tinted, I mean blacked out and it is increasing every day.  The rear windows don’t concern me, it is the passenger and driver side windows and windshield that is the issue here.  To us as biker, we probably have this second nature and we don’t notice we do it. When vehicles pull into traffic, we generally look to see is that person sees us, generally making eye contact with each other. OK! Make sense!  If you don’t have that option, then you don’t know what their intentions are, or if whether they have seen you or not.  The way I see it, it is a safety violation to have blacked out windows this way.

 I have contacted our County Sheriff and our State Police Chief on two occasions.  The thing that bugs is, either time they never responded back. It’s like they don’t care, thing is, it also affect them in their jobs in a big way.  I mean, stopping a vehicle with blacked out window would be a little scary these days.  And they just seem to let it go on.  I don’t understand it, why does something catastrophic have to happen before people wake up!   OR am I over reacting?

[Rams]

Personally, I don't think you're over reacting and most states have laws limiting the amount of tint allowed and which windows that tint can be on.   One of my trucks has tinted side windows, it too dark for me and will be replaced as soon as I have funds available for that.   The side windows were  tinted when I got it.   Not really a problem during the day but, at night, I have to be careful because it's too dark for me to clearly see what's out there.

As Forest said, "Stupid is as stupid does".    Eye contact is important but getting that message across is almost impossible.    

[..]

You'll get a ticket here in Roswell.

[dreamaker]

Thing is, just like you guys have, we also have these laws. But, it seem that the LEO's tend to look the other way.  I have spoken to a Deputy and he said that he has issued tickets and when they go to court the Judge dismisses it.  On occasion, I have even politely asked the people why they have the windows so dark, of course they said they have light issues, even tough they looked healthy and were not wearing sunglasses out of their vehicles.  I also asked them, don't they have issues seeing at night, they said NO! These people here in MI. are suppose to have prescription for tinted windows, So if their windows have to be blacked out, maybe they should not be driving to begin with. It is an accident looking for a place to happen.  I have not issue with reasonably tinted windows as long as I can see the driver, I have no problem. But when I get neglect and incompetence dangled in front of my nose, it baffles me.

[Robert]

Here in Florida it was a 30percent rule, the tint had to stop no more than 30% of the light. I am not sure but it seems that the law was challenged and thrown out. They used to give tickets for to dark a tint but no more. I will find out the reason but I agree with not seeing the persons eyes and making eye contact. But I will say this I have also seen supposed eye contact made and there still make a stupid move. It seems those with less than stellar personal habits and the wannabe criminals are the ones with the most blacked out windows. I look at these cars and put my caution level way up and dont give the usual leeway that I would extend to another driver. I treat them as if they are going to do the wrong thing. Plus if you approach someone with tinted windows its a real safety issue because you never know what is behind the window. Most windows are tinted here it just the amount of tint. As a very loose rule if someone has a dark tint and a pos car look out.

It seems we have a law here too that says you have to keep 3 feet away from a bicyclist and I have seen this abused to no end also. I saw one guy have orange sticks sticking out from his bike about 2.5 feet into the traffic lane and if you looked at him sideways he was not pleasant and gave the salute plus  a number of choice words. The other experience was in rush hour traffic on a major road. A bicyclist was in the right lane going along occupying the center of the lane. Being on a motorcycle I pulled next to him and we had a little bit of a conversation and asked him not to do it when everyone was trying to get home on rush hour. He was somewhat ok with it and didn't quite know what to do since I was on a motorcycle. It was interesting for a few moments.

I have ridden century runs in the past and have bicycled for many miles I used to love it but since I got the Valk I have not used the bike much. On the motorcycle I try to make eye contact but have modified my tactics a bit to compensate for the lack of it. Its more unnerving on the highway since you cannot see into the car to know what the person next to you is doing or who is driving.

[cookiedough]

I agree it should be only a small percentage of tinting allowed being a safety factor.  In nearby towns around me in WI,  I see almost monthly tickets listed in the paper of illegally tinted windows so they do enforce it near me.  I think it should be a federal law not to allow more than a certain % of tinting on the front side windows and front window for sure.  Seems pretty much common sense to me.

I also think a lot of kids nowadays, including my own,  prefer VERY dark lighting in their rooms.  My wife accommodates them way too much pissing me off near daily giving in buying room darkening mini blinds and very dark/heavy curtains so they can sit in their rooms during the daylight/sunny hours and then have the nerve to turn on the lights in the daytime.  That pisses me off I go in all the time opening up their blinds to the windows and shutting the damn lights off.  If they want to live in a cave, GET then.    Our electricity bill every month reflects that am sure some 10-20 bucks more per month because lights are ON in the house during the daylight hours.  ONLY thing I am guilty of is leaving the TV turned on for several hours when not watching it. 

[dreamaker]

Here in Florida it was a 30percent rule, the tint had to stop no more than 30% of the light. I am not sure but it seems that the law was challenged and thrown out. They used to give tickets for to dark a tint but no more. I will find out the reason but I agree with not seeing the persons eyes and making eye contact. But I will say this I have also seen supposed eye contact made and there still make a stupid move. It seems those with less than stellar personal habits and the wannabe criminals are the ones with the most blacked out windows. I look at these cars and put my caution level way up and dont give the usual leeway that I would extend to another driver. I treat them as if they are going to do the wrong thing. Plus if you approach someone with tinted windows its a real safety issue because you never know what is behind the window. Most windows are tinted here it just the amount of tint. As a very loose rule if someone has a dark tint and a pos car look out.

It seems we have a law here too that says you have to keep 3 feet away from a bicyclist and I have seen this abused to no end also. I saw one guy have orange sticks sticking out from his bike about 2.5 feet into the traffic lane and if you looked at him sideways he was not pleasant and gave the salute plus  a number of choice words. The other experience was in rush hour traffic on a major road. A bicyclist was in the right lane going along occupying the center of the lane. Being on a motorcycle I pulled next to him and we had a little bit of a conversation and asked him not to do it when everyone was trying to get home on rush hour. He was somewhat ok with it and didn't quite know what to do since I was on a motorcycle. It was interesting for a few moments.

I have ridden century runs in the past and have bicycled for many miles I used to love it but since I got the Valk I have not used the bike much. On the motorcycle I try to make eye contact but have modified my tactics a bit to compensate for the lack of it. Its more unnerving on the highway since you cannot see into the car to know what the person next to you is doing or who is driving.

Its interesting about the bicyclist, in my area we have two versions of cyclist.  We have the regular health minded like myself, wishing each other a good day, then we have these Tour De France Want-a-bes Dick heads. And believe me, you don't want to get in front of them, the will run you down. We have bicycle trail along some of the roads and the still ride in the street lanes, that pisses me of, they should be thank that I believe in God, because if I didn't it would be game on. I generally ride 20 miles a day, so we are suppose to respect each other.

[Jess from VA]

You'll get a ticket (right away) in VA too.

I think they carry tint measuring machines. 

http://www.tinting-laws.com/virginia/

If you can get your eye doctor to write that you have a problem, you can go just a bit darker.

All the local glass places know what you can have.


About 18 months ago I got a speeding ticket.  A tuner VW Golf was flying up behind me and I took off to to get around traffic and let him by (honest injun), but it pulled me over as a deep cover unmarked police car.   No way in the world to know that was a police car.

I thought you were gonna run from me.

Well, I kind of was running, I thought you might hit me.

I put on my lights.

Only after I floored it officer.  I pulled over as soon as your lights went on.  And boy do I feel stupid.

He gave me some advice with the ticket:  See how my windshield is blacked out?  We are in uniform, and black out the whole car so we can't be seen.  If you see a blacked out front window car, it's a cop in VA.  No one else is allowed blacked out front windows.

We live and learn (and we pay).     

[Pete]

Bicycling on a traveled public road is dangerous every where. So much so that I now confine my bicycling to very lightly traveled country roads.

It also seems that the folks on these country roads are more friendly, less stressed and much smarter that the average cage driver.

This has affected my motorcycling to, as I now motorcycle quite a bit on those same or similar roads.

Lowers the stress level for both activities and I enjoy them more.

[Rams]

He gave me some advice with the ticket:  See how my windshield is blacked out?  We are in uniform, and black out the whole car so we can't be seen.  If you see a blacked out front window car, it's a cop in VA.  No one else is allowed blacked out front windows.

We live and learn (and we pay).     

Read through the linked information, didn't see one exclusion allowing the police an exception to the tint law.   Had I been on the receiving end of that ticket, I would have gone to court and screamed bloody murder..    Not that if would have gotten me out of paying the fine but, I'd definitely make the courts and anyone else that would listen of how they are putting themselves above the law.   Or, did I miss something?   

Kind of like when you see LEOs speeding well over the speed limit, they do because they can.   Admittedly, that ticks me off.   They are no better than the rest of us and I'm one of those guys that believe in supporting them.

[Jess from VA]

I'm not going to waste time looking for it, but they can do what they want on tint.  In addition to stealth, they probably argue police safety too.

His tint did not cause me to speed. (His speed did) (even if he wasn't tinted I could not tell he was a LE from my rear view mirror).  By the time he was five feet off my bumper, it was already too late.

Best way I know to get extra fine/costs is to go and waste time about it in court.  And if you go to my court, you are very likely to be there 5-7 hours.  I'd rather be poked in the eye with a sharp stick than that.  I've heard enough whiners in court for a lifetime... I don't want to be one.

Finally, I made him a deal.  Don't give me reckless (for 20 over, which he can), if you write me speed only, I'm paying it and will NOT be in court.  Deals' a deal.

[Rams]

I'm sure you're right Jess, it just goes against my grain..........................

[dreamaker]

I don't know how it is in your area, but in ours, we respect and look out for our LEO's and they treat us like wise! My issue is in everyone's safety, I don't look at things like, if a gut robs the 7-11 that give me the right to do the same. You can't base our rights, on exceptional circumstances.   Like Beretta says: "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime".

[old2soon]

NOT just "recently" on the Too Dark tint on windows. Been retired comin up on 8 years and I noticed that Trend back In the late 70s early 80s and seemed worse on the left coast for starters. Even noticed some 18 wheelers doin it. I know some states measured it-the amount of light passed thru-but not all did. And-YES-it IS gittin outa hand. Tween dark windows and cell phones NOT just as motorcyclists but Anytime we use the roads e NEED to be and Stay ALERT. Cops and judges backin off cuz we are Still dealin with ALL the p c bull kaka that has been put in place for some time now. My old Suburban I tinted my own windows when I lived in Texas. The parts house at that time Only carried what was legal at that time. Passenger door windows and the fixed rear windows were the Only ones tinted. Front door windows windshield rear window were NOT tinted. Pa Attention out there-They ARE out to git us.  RIDE SAFE.

[dreamaker]

My understanding here in MI. is, you can have your rear side windows and rear window as long as you have two side view mirrors. Passenger and driver side are allowed tinted by MI.  LE standards. The front windshield "Zero"  I have no issues with frontal sides as long as I can see them. But everybody pushed the envelope and gets away with it.  All I can say is, everybody be-careful and don't assume or day dream when you ride.