tinted windows+refusing to roll them up for LEO=tow?

[MasterM3]

I'm in the middle of a debate with a friend. We both have tinted windows and are aware that they are illegal. If i get pulled over, I'll glady have them removed at the officers request. That's just the way it goes.

A friend thinks he can outsmart the cops but disabling his power windows while they are rolleded down. He mistakenly asserts that the LEO cannot tow/impound his car on the basis that his "windows are malfunctioning".

I'm almost certain that if he wants to play hardball with the officer, they will be game. I'm thinking they will at the least tow his vehicle for pulling that kind of naive bs.

Can any LEO tell me what they would do in this situation? Does the CVC grant the authority for an LEO to tow his vehicle because it couldn't be inspected presently? Can anyone show me where in the CVC towing/impoundment would be permissable?

 

[JPM]

I always laugh when I see someone roll down all their windows when they see me as they try to hide their tinted windows. Almost as funny as those idiots that put their arms over their left shoulder and across their chest to try and cover they are not wearing their seatbelt. They actually attract my attention where I would probably not have even looked at them in the first place.

As for your question, they are not going to tow it just because the windows will not roll up; but they could. They could also tow it for evidence if he has probable cause to believe the windows are tinted and your friend can’t roll them up. Tow it and have a mechanic get the windows up to inspect it.

Vehicle Not Equipped or Unsafe

24002. (a) It is unlawful to operate any vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in an unsafe condition, or which is not safely loaded, and which presents an immediate safety hazard.

Unlawful Operation After Notice by Officer

24004. No person shall operate any vehicle or combination of vehicles after notice by a peace officer, as defined in Section 830.1 or subdivision (a) of Section 830.2 of the Penal Code, that the vehicle is in an unsafe condition or is not equipped as required by this code, except as may be necessary to return the vehicle or combination of vehicles to the residence or place of business of the owner or driver or to a garage, until the vehicle and its equipment have been made to conform with the requirements of this code.

Vehicle and Equipment Inspection

2806. Any regularly employed and salaried police officer or deputy sheriff, or any reserve police officer or reserve deputy sheriff listed in Section 830.6 of the Penal Code, having reasonable cause to believe that any vehicle or combination of vehicles is not equipped as required by this code or is in any unsafe condition as to endanger any person, may require the driver to stop and submit the vehicle or combination of vehicles to an inspection and those tests as may be appropriate to determine the safety to persons and compliance with the code.

Compliance with Peace Officer Orders

2800. (a) It is unlawful to willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order, signal, or direction of any peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, when that peace officer is in uniform and is performing duties under any of the provisions of this code, or to refuse to submit to any lawful inspection under this code.

(b) Except as authorized under Section 24004, it is unlawful to fail or refuse to comply with any lawful out-of-service order issued by any peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, when that peace officer is in uniform and is performing duties under any provision of this code and the out-of-service order complies with Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(c) It is unlawful to fail or refuse to comply with a lawful out-of-service order issued by the United States Secretary of the Department of Transportation.

Now go look up stuff yourself, there is a thread of resources for this. http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=165689

 

[SpeedyCorky]

shame that it actually is legal for the state to waste a civilians time and $ as such to the extent of towing a vehicle, all over some stupid Kalifornia law about window tinting

 

[DaveToo]

Stupid Kalifornia law? Do you ride on the street at all? How do you like not being able to tell if cagers are looking at you or not? How do you like not being able to look through the cars around you to see the traffic in front of/beside them?

If you're not thinking of those things, you're not thinking enough to be riding on the street.

 

[Sport]

Not too long ago NASCAR ruled against dark windows so the rear racecars could see thru the front car's windows for safety reasons. Should be the same on the highway.

 

[The O'C]

nascar is a competitive action with man and machine at there limits. as far as seeing through or around a car in front of you, don't follow so close (you cant see through or around my work truck).

 

[Sport]

"nascar is a competitive action with man and machine at there limits."

So is driving on any California freeway, believe me!

 

[berkeleycarlos]

What is a "combination of vehicles"? Semi + a trailer?

 

[SpeedyCorky]

Stupid Kalifornia law? Do you ride on the street at all? How do you like not being able to tell if cagers are looking at you or not? How do you like not being able to look through the cars around you to see the traffic in front of/beside them?

If you're not thinking of those things, you're not thinking enough to be riding on the street.

thanx, mom.

per year, i ride closer to 8000 miles on the street on a motorcycle. and prolly a similar distance traveled in a cage. i'll choose a car that protects me from the sun and UV rays and bright annoying light, while giving me and my passenger some privicy - FAR before i'd choose to restrict such a thing so that "i can see if a cager is looking at me when i ride"

how about "if you're not thinking every car is out to kill you reguardless if you see them see you or not, then you're not thinking enough to be riding on the street." ?!?!?!


other states seem to get along just fine without tinting laws, helmet laws, seatbelt laws, red light cameras the list goes on. Kalifornia law is redickulous when it comes to these kinda technicalities

 

[sugarmonkey]

happend to me the other year in my car. I was in the process of lowering my front windows because it was hot, but I guess the bike cop, who was stopped at a light, thought I was trying to hide my tinted windows. He pulled me over and instead of giving me a fix-it ticket, which I would have been fine with, he made me physically remove the tint in front of him otherwise he said he would impound my car and went into this long ramble about how much I would end up paying and how cars with tinted windows are more likley to be stolen since theives like cars in which they cann't be seen.

All in all I think this cop was being an ass. I wish he would have just ticketed me. I would have gone to the shop and gotten the tint removed professionaly and that would be the end of it.


-J

 

[dogcatfud]

Is a "lighter" tint allowable on the front driver side and passenger side windows? Perhaps something that blocks UV rays but not totally black that the driver can't be seen.

 

[Merkel]

I have been cited for tinted windows that were lightly tinted. Did not remove or change squat. Took it to the local CHP and they looked at my windows and signed it off. I guess cause they are used to seeing dark tinted windows.

 

[Junkie]

Is a "lighter" tint allowable on the front driver side and passenger side windows? Perhaps something that blocks UV rays but not totally black that the driver can't be seen.

normal, untinted automotive glass blocks a large majority of UV.

 

[humbug612]

I'm in the middle of a debate with a friend. We both have tinted windows and are aware that they are illegal. If i get pulled over, I'll glady have them removed at the officers request. That's just the way it goes.

A friend thinks he can outsmart the cops but disabling his power windows while they are rolleded down. He mistakenly asserts that the LEO cannot tow/impound his car on the basis that his "windows are malfunctioning".

I'm almost certain that if he wants to play hardball with the officer, they will be game. I'm thinking they will at the least tow his vehicle for pulling that kind of naive bs.

Can any LEO tell me what they would do in this situation? Does the CVC grant the authority for an LEO to tow his vehicle because it couldn't be inspected presently? Can anyone show me where in the CVC towing/impoundment would be permissable?

I'm not a LEO, but i cay say quite honestly, if that were tried on me his car would meet flatbed fast, what a fn ignorrant pos.

 

[Lester Green]

thanx, mom.

per year, i ride closer to 8000 miles on the street on a motorcycle. and prolly a similar distance traveled in a cage. i'll choose a car that protects me from the sun and UV rays and bright annoying light, while giving me and my passenger some privicy - FAR before i'd choose to restrict such a thing so that "i can see if a cager is looking at me when i ride"

how about "if you're not thinking every car is out to kill you reguardless if you see them see you or not, then you're not thinking enough to be riding on the street." ?!?!?!


other states seem to get along just fine without tinting laws, helmet laws, seatbelt laws, red light cameras the list goes on. Kalifornia law is redickulous when it comes to these kinda technicalities

Cops get real nervous (understandably so) when they approach a vehicle and can't see the occupants of said vehicle. Speed Corkus why are you such a cop hater? why does everything always have to be about YOU and what inconveniences YOU? Laws are not designed around YOU and what may inconvenience YOU.

 

[DaveToo]

normal, untinted automotive glass blocks a large majority of UV.

Absolutely right. I learned the hard way. I had to drive home from the track once without a windshield. Put my helmet and gloves on and drove from Thunderhill to Hayward. In shorts.
My knees got *so* sunburned.... I never even thought about how much UV just normal safety glass cut out.

Speedy: you have no reasonable expectation of privacy on public roads. Wear sunglasses. You don't wear sunglasses at night, do you? Then why restrict your night vision with tinted windows? Or do you think what's beside or behind you is irrelevant?

Yes, I assume nobody sees me; I'm looking in their side mirrors to see where their eyes are pointed, or to see if they're looking around or are on a cellphone. Or to see if they have a passenger and are about to remember that they can use the diamond lane and jump over without looking.

 

[JPM]

What is a "combination of vehicles"? Semi + a trailer?

Yes.

 

[Shaggy]

Cops get real nervous (understandably so) when they approach a vehicle and can't see the occupants of said vehicle. Speed Corkus why are you such a cop hater? why does everything always have to be about YOU and what inconveniences YOU? Laws are not designed around YOU and what may inconvenience YOU.

This is a major concern for me. If I'm approaching a car, I want to be able to see what the occupants are doing prior to my approach. Many times, windows are so dark that even with spotlights and takedown lights, I still can't see inside. The vehicle code is there for a reason.

SpeedyCorky: How would you feel if someone in a truck plowed into you while you were stopped at a stoplight, and then took off. You were left seriously injured, but couldn't describe the driver because the windows were so dark you couldn't see who was driving. Bummer, huh?

Or, a cop approaches a car, driver's window is up. Cop reaches the window, knocks on the window, driver starts to roll down window and before the cop knows it, he/she's got a gun in his/her face.

Or, a bank robbery just occured. Suspect 1 exits the bank and hops into the back seat of an all blacked out SUV. No one saw the driver or could tell how many occupants were inside the car.

Tinted windows (along with the majority of the vehicle code) is a safety issue, not just "the man" trying to hold you down.

I couldn't care less if you don't wear a seatbelt (if you don't put your kids in a safety seat/seatbelt, then I have an issue), or don't want to ride with a helmet. That just tells me you're an idiot, or are too self-involved to realize that there are people out there who want to see you alive, and not with your brains sprayed all over the pavement. But like I said, I don't care either way.

Seriously though. Red light cameras? You don't think there is a major public safety concern with people running red lights. After you've taken half a dozen fatal accident reports at the same intersection because some schmuck was late for work and didn't want to wait the 2 minuts for the lights to cycle again, stacking their car up killing someone, I think you'll understand... Maybe it's just a maturity thing. Like BeetleJuice said, it's not always about SpeedyCorky.

 

[SpeedyCorky]

wow, those are some really scary examples of what could happen! i'm so scared! i think we should all cower in our fears and create laws that limit our freedom so that we can all feel real safe!

... catch the sarcasm?

example1: if i truck plowed into me and i was in any of my vehicles i'd be dead. end of story. regardless of that, what are the chances some competent onlooker will have the smarts and the memory to get a GOOD description of the truck driver that will hold water in court? i'd rather they be trying to look at said trucks licence plates

example2: thats a risk cops take being a cop. if you cant accept that risk, you shouldnt be a cop. i'm all for officer safety and yeah they're underpaid, but come on; an officer is far more likely to die in a high speed presuit than with that seneriro. plus, theres plenty of ways to get the jump on an officer and get a gun in their face, with the absence of tinted windows. i suppose we should simply outlaw guns, cuz that would solve this whole senerio!!!

example3: dont bank robbers wear masks? and if they're in an SUV, shouldnt a competent police force be able to catch them !? and again, shouldnt the licence plate be the higher priority?

if its such a vehicle safety issue, why isnt it federal law? why havent all states adopted anti-tinting laws? i'm not saying that its "the man keeping me down", i'm saying is fear keeping us all down.


sorry, but we have way WAY too many laws restricting our freedoms, all in the name of safety, saving lives call it what you want, but its all in the name of fear. IMO human life is way over valued in this country, and if a few people get killed so that EVERYONE ELSE can have some freedom - thats a loss i can accept.


and yeah, i do see red light running as a MAJOR safety concern, but not nearly enough to start installing cameras everywhere....

..... DID YOU GUYS HEAR ABOUT ALL THE CAMERAS IN OAKLAND THEY HAVE NOW !??!?!?! over 50!!! and more going up soon!!!! and these are "CRIME CAMERAS" not redlight related!!! sure, the cameras are poor quality and not too many of them now; but if we continue down this path, then in 2020~ there will be HUNDRENDS of "crime cameras" and they'll all be in HD quality video; and it wont take very long for them to spread outside the Oakland city limits. i dunno about you guys, but i'd rather live in fear of crime than under the watchful eyes of big brother.

 

[gar1013]

i dunno about you guys, but i'd rather live in fear of crime than under the watchful eyes of big brother.

Then buy my condo so I can move to a better neighborhood!

Frankly, the ideal situation would be if CA would allow more people to carry concealed weapons, and enacted "stand your ground" and "make my day laws". But that ain't going to happen.

Bring on the cameras -- it's time to get the scum off the streets.