Police warn motorists their tinted windows are too dark to drive safely in road safety operation targeting more than 600 vehicles
Cars with tinted windows are being targeted by West Midlands Police and banning them from the roads due to drivers not being able to see through their windscreens.
The clampdown on tinted windows is part of the force's Road Harm Prevention Team which works to make our roads safer.
Working with other local agencies in 18 Multi-Agency Road Safety Operations (MARSOs) between January and May 506 offences by motorists were identified and reported.
These operations involved stopping vehicles, checking for safety issues, and making sure drivers were following the law. Here’s what we found:
A total of 601 vehicles were stopped, 74 vehicles were seized because the drivers either didn’t have a valid driving licence or didn’t have insurance, 10 vehicles were taken off the road because they hadn’t been taxed properly.
After being stopped in their car checks revealed 19 people were wanted for more serious offences and 360 people were reported for breaking road safety laws.
Over-eager car owners modifying their vehicles made up the majority of the 111 vehicles found to be unsafe to drive and were prohibited from being used until they were fixed.
Cars with windows that are too dark to see through due to tinted windows were taken off the road. There are strict rules about tinted windows, which are allowed, but for most vehicles there must be at least 75% light transmission and for front side windows at least 70% light transmission.
Just as the driver must be able to see out of their car, it is important police officers can see into vehicles when they pull them over, they might be at risk of someone pointing a firearm at them without them knowing due to tinted windows.
Light measuring equipment is used to measure window tint. If windscreen or front side windows are tinted too much then the motorist could get a road prohibition notice and get penalty points on their license.
The most common transgressions on the road include drivers using their mobile phones while driving, people not wearing seat belts, vehicles carrying too much weight, and drivers who are banned from driving or haven’t paid their tax or insurance.
PC Abbi Jones from our road harm prevention team said: “Multi Agency Road Safety Operations, provide us with the capability to promote road safety and deal with those committing offences in a specific area whilst working alongside our partner agencies, who bring their specialist skills and knowledge to the event.
“Our concentrated presence in area, where we work alongside the local neighbourhood officers, also assists in reducing crime and antisocial behaviour.”
She added: "We want to make sure our roads are as safe as possible for all users. That's why we have Operation Snap (Op Snap) - and we need your help."
If you see anyone committing driving offences on our roads and it's captured on your dashcam, CCTV or a mobile phone by a passenger, we want you to send it in to us.
Head to our website to read more about Operation Snap: Operation Snap | West Midlands Police
