November 9, 2001
2001-R-0857
WINDOW TINTING ON SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES
By: James J. Fazzalaro, Principal Research Analyst
You asked if the law treats sport utility vehicles differently from passenger vehicles with respect to the maximum allowable amount of window tinting and, if so, why?
SUMMARY
State law contains several exemptions from the maximum window tinting requirements. One of them is for multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) as defined in federal regulations. While it may not be true for every make and model of sport utility vehicle, most fall within the definition of a multipurpose passenger vehicle. Federal regulations specify glazing standards that manufacturers must follow for all vehicles they make. However, these regulations specify that the glazing standards that apply to MPVs are those specified for trucks rather than passenger vehicles. Since this standard allows for more extensive tinting than the one for passenger vehicles, most state laws establishing maximum amounts of allowable window tinting, account for more such tinting for MPVs.
STATE LAW ON WINDOW TINTING
State law generally prohibits anyone from putting any transparent material on the front windshield or on the side or rear windows of a motor vehicle if the material "alters the color or reduces the light transmittance" of the windows, but, among its exceptions, it provides for the following:
1. front side vents and windows cannot be mirror-like in appearance but may have tinting material that allows not less than 35% of the light hitting them to be transmitted through and does not reflect back more than 27% of the light hitting them, plus or minus 3%; and
2. right and left side windows behind the driver or a rearmost window that are not mirror-like and have tinting material that has total light transmission of at least 35% and total light reflectance of 21%, plus or minus 3%. (CGS § 14-99g)
These are not the only exceptions. Another one exempts from the tinting prohibition the windows behind the driver of any truck, motor bus, trailer, mobile manufactured home, or multipurpose passenger vehicle as defined by federal regulations provided any such exempted vehicle has right and left side outside mirrors that allow the driver to see the highway at least 200 feet to the rear.
Under the federal regulations, a vehicle is considered to be a multipurpose passenger vehicle if it is designed to carry 10 or fewer people and is constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation (49 CFR § 571.3). Most sport utility vehicles qualify as MPVs under this definition since they are usually built on a truck rather than a passenger car chassis.
FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE STANDARDS AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR MPVS
By federal law, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration must develop and enforce numerous standards that motor vehicle manufacturers must follow when making their vehicles. These cover a wide range of areas, including things like, tires, occupant restraint systems, interior padding, instrumentation, bumper strength, external lighting, and window glazing. Under several of these standards, the specific requirements apply differently to MPVs and regular passenger cars.
The window glazing standard (No. 205) is intended to reduce injuries resulting from impact to glazing surfaces, ensure a necessary degree of window transparency for driver visibility, and minimize the possibility of occupants being thrown through windows during collisions.
For purposes of applying the glazing standards, the regulation states that unless otherwise specifically provided, the glazing in MPVs must conform to the requirements for trucks rather than passenger cars. (49 CFR § 571.205, S5.1.1.6). Thus, the main reason why they are treated differently under state window tinting laws is because they are treated differently under the federal standard the manufacturers must follow.
In Connecticut, Explorers are considered multipurpose vehicles