Sheriff reminds motorists of tinted window rules

By Gary Scott on April 29, 2016 at 1:41pm

Morgan County Deputies have been stepping up communication with drivers this week regarding having obstructed views into their vehicles.

Based on our count, deputies issued one citation for tinted front windows for a driver on Route 67, and two verbal warnings for obstructed windshields for drivers on Interstate 72. This isn’t the first time this year deputies have gone on a “tinted window spree”.

Morgan County Sheriff Randy Duvendack says it’s up to deputies on how they handle matters of obstructed windshields, whether it’s from a cracked windshield, tinted windshield, or an object like GPS or radar detector.

“Obviously, if they give a warning, then I would assume that they’re satisfied with the response they got, and it was more educational rather than looking for a reason to arrest somebody,” Duvendack explains.

“Really, for law enforcement, it’s a safety issue. It makes us a little bit weary when we look into a vehicle- or we try to look in there- and we can’t see the occupants. We cant see their hands, we can’t see what they’re doing, and I believe the best approach for us is to try and inform the public,” he continues.

Duvendack notes tinted windows have become more popular, especially with younger drivers.

“Now, the officers do have a meter which measures the light, and according to the statute, there has to be so much light allowed into the passenger area of a vehicle,” he says.

“And I do know that there have been some people who have been stopped, who later have removed the tint and walked into our office and showed it to us just to let us know that they did remove it, and that they’re now compliant with the law,” adds Duvendack.

According to a law passed in 2010 in Illinois, front-side windows must let in at least 35 percent of light. The same goes for back-side and rear windows. Windshields can have tint on the top six inches.