Traffic stop and tinted windows

[Edmond]

I know this guy who has tinted windows. He also gets pulled over more than the average person. Tints on the passenger and driver side window are illegal here in Illinois (along with almost everything else). He has both sides and the back tinted.

He says that if he were to get pulled over, he would hurry and roll both the windows down (he doesn't have power windows) so they can't see that his side windows are tinted.

I told him that it may not be such a good idea to make all those movements when he gets pulled over. I told him that he shouldn't be surprised to have the LEO have their weapon drawn. He thinks I'm just trying to scare him.

He doesn't seem to understand that LEO's don't like people moving around when they've made a traffic stop. He tries to counter, "How would they see in through the back window?" I said that even though the rear is tinted, you can still see the moving silouhette.

You guys care to comment?

 

[spin180]

It would seem his best bet would be to rectify the problem that is getting him stopped by law enforcement in the first place.

That said, it is definately not a good idea to be fidgeting and making any semblance of furtive movements when having been stopped and approached by a LEO.

Granted, during the day, it may be quite difficult to see through the tinted back window, however night time is a different story. Ambient light from street lights and passing vehicles, along with the rather powerful takedown and pillar-mounted spotlights on most police vehicles make it rather easy to see the goings on in a vehicle with tinted windows.

Furthermore, if an officer is intent on stopping your friend, I dare say he/she will be observant enough to note the that the side windows are tinted long before the traffic stop is initiated and he has a chance to roll them down.

 

[Edmond]

That said, it is definately not a good idea to be fidgeting and making any semblance of furtive movements when having been stopped and approached by a LEO.

That's exactly what I told him; I told him not to be surprised if they come to the window with their sidearm drawn. He says, "I don't know where you come up with these stories." I'm a criminal justice major, I work as a private investigator and I talk to a few people who are cops. I've spoken to them about this issue and they agree with me. I feel the same way myself; if I'm a LEO and I pull someone over, I wouldn't want them making movements like that. It's something called officer safety.

Granted, during the day, it may be quite difficult to see through the tinted back window, however night time is a different story. Ambient light from street lights and passing vehicles, along with the rather powerful takedown and pillar-mounted spotlights on most police vehicles make it rather easy to see the goings on in a vehicle with tinted windows.

It's difficult to reason with someone who watches too many movies. I told him that they don't have to have a dead on description; all they need to see is the moving silouhette and they'll be suspicious. He's going to get himself into some trouble one day and I sure hope I'm not around to see it.

 

[Jeff White]

Edmund,
I am a peace officer in Illinois. If your friend wants to keep his tinted windows, he can go see his Dr and get a prescrition for them. That's right, there is a provision in the IVC for having tinted windows if they are a medical necessity.

He is eventually going to get stopped for having them. It's not going to be too pleasant when he jumps around trying to roll the windows down. It's going to make the officer really wonder what he's up to. Sometimes people just have to learn things the hard way though....

spin180, Tinted windows reflect the light right back. Takedown lights and spotlights are next to useless with them.

Jeff

 

[Shield529]

Best idea would be for him to roll down the windows when the Blue lights come on as he pulls over.

When I stop someone with windows tinted that dark, I step out go to the rear of the vehivle and call the driver out. just safer that way

 

[Edmond]

I am a peace officer in Illinois.

Jeff, if you ever see a blue Escort with a fubar'd passenger side door and tinted windows, that's him. Oh yeah, he was the guy I talked about in my other thread who bragged about beating 6-7 tickets because the LEO never showed up in court.

 

[2nd Amendment]

Another good reason for power windows.

 

[Zach S]

I am a peace officer in Illinois. If your friend wants to keep his tinted windows, he can go see his Dr and get a prescrition for them. That's right, there is a provision in the IVC for having tinted windows if they are a medical necessity.

I was going to mention that. Some give them away like candy from what I understand.

spin180, Tinted windows reflect the light right back. Takedown lights and spotlights are next to useless with them.

You beat me to that point too. They only look dark on the side with the least light, by adding more light outside of the car, it lessens the chance to see something inside it, since there isnt as much light in there. Have any of you ever turned on the dome light to look for a CD or something at night? Cant see out as well can you?

When I stop someone with windows tinted that dark, I step out go to the rear of the vehivle and call the driver out. just safer that way

I never had to step out of my Dakota when I had it, the sides were 35% and the back glass 20%. The first time I got stopped after I got the windows tinted I turned the dome light on, he thanked me for that, and I think that and my attitude (respectful, cooperative) got me out of a 70something in a 55 ticket. The reason I turned it on? I was looking for my registration in my CD wallet, I wasn't going to vollenteer that info though! I've turned my domelight on ever since when I get stopped at night, seems to put the officer at ease a little bit.
[/thread drift]

A sudden movement, or a lot of moving around when an officer is approaching IS BAD!!! Glocks are ugly pistols, but even uglier when you're staring at the business end and saying "I was just getting my registration!" It was kinda funny after the fact though.

 

[XLMiguel]

Heavy tinting invites stops, especially around here during 'code orange'. Cops don't like suprises during a traffic stop.

In CCW class, the best advice offered was during a stop at night, turn off the engine, turn on your flashers, roll down your window (weather permitting), turn on your overhead light, and put your hands on top of the sterring wheel and leave them there. If you're going to reach for your license/registration/ins. card, tell the officer before you do so. Stay calm, be polite. FWIW.

 

[Zach S]

I normaly grab my papers when I see a Crown Vic tailgating me. Ive had another type of an unmarked car stop me a time or two, in those cases I did everyting Mike suggested, with the exception of the flashers.

To be perfectly honest, I dont get why people suggest the flashers. Most people arent going to notice them, especially with bright blue stobe lights you can see for miles grabbing all the attn. I never really thought about it, but someone at the range mentioned it one day and a couple of officers that heard it were like "Why bother?"

I'm a bit more chatty today than usuall... If I get annoying dont be afraid to say so, lol.

 

[TallPine]

Since my pickup has been out in the sun too long I have one of those dashboard covers to hide the cracks.

I put my registration and insurance in one of those little plastic dealies the insurnace agent gave me, and just keep the whole thing tucked under the dashboard cover right in front of me. Saves leaning over and rumaging through the glove box.

But then I never get stopped anyway, so it doesn't matter.

 

[BigRedBowtie]

I've got a prescription, got it from my chiropractor... but I'm in MN. Shouldn't be too difficult with those migraines you get from exposure to the sun...

I also zip the (power) windows down and turn on the dome lights as soon as I'm 'over'... Shut 'er down and keep those paws in plain sight.

Prescription is the way to go!

 

[sully]

Manually rolling down windows as you when you see the red/blue lights come on is probably not a wise idea. It could be perceived as furtive movements, and could possibly make the Officer suspicious. If you tint is illegal, then simply abide by what standards of law that are layed out.

Stay Safe,
Greg Sullivan "Sully"
Chief Instructor
www.thedefensiveedge.com

 

[TallPine]

Well, its going to be fun if my wife or I are ever stopped in the Suburban ... the dang power window on the drivers door quit working.

It doesn't matter whether it works or not in Montana - it is always either cold enough for the heater or hot enough for the air conditioning

 

[Mixlesplick]

When I drove a four door Honda Civic I had the rear and two back door windows tinted limo black. I had power windows so I figured if I ever got pulled over I would lower the rear door windows a few inches so the officer could see that no one was back there. If I had my dog with me I would just barely crack the window. My dog absolutely hates it when people approach my vehicle. I never got pulled over in that car, though.

I tried to get an optometrist to prescribe the window tinting on the front door windows. That was a no-go so I didn't get it.

 

[Fly320s]

Edmond, does your friend really believe that cops are too dumb to notice the dark tint before they pull him over?

All a cop has to do is tell your friend to raise the window part way so that the cop can inspect it.

Since your friend has decided to be a man and do things his way, tell him to be a man and take responsibility for his actions.

 

[Edmond]

Edmond, does your friend really believe that cops are too dumb to notice the dark tint before they pull him over?

All a cop has to do is tell your friend to raise the window part way so that the cop can inspect it.

Since your friend has decided to be a man and do things his way, tell him to be a man and take responsibility for his actions.

Fly,

Let me put it like this to sum everything up: this guy blames Bush for all his problems. Nuff' said.

 

[Fly320s]

Fly,

Let me put it like this to sum everything up: this guy blames Bush for all his problems. Nuff' said.

Well, in that case send the ticket to George.

 

[Jack T.]

Ehh, tell him not to worry about it.

If they give him trouble over it, just say he saw it on a cop car and thought it looked cool.

 

[jcrb]

To be perfectly honest, I dont get why people suggest the flashers. Most people arent going to notice them, especially with bright blue stobe lights you can see for miles grabbing all the attn. I never really thought about it, but someone at the range mentioned it one day and a couple of officers that heard it were like "Why bother?"

If you put your flashers on before you pull over it says to the officer "I see you and I am going to pull over" this is useful if you want to pull over a little further down the road where there is more light or a more room on the side, with your flashers on the officer knows that you see him behind you and understand he wants you to pull over. At least thats what I remember Ayoob told us He also said finding some place to pull over where the officer did not have to stand in the path of moving cars would be appreciated as well.

 

[JonnyB]

Regarding opening windows when stopped:

A while ago, it was reported that a few 'rogue' cops in the Denver area were "accidentally" dropping knives & such into open car windows when stopping them. They then used the "weapon" as PC to search the entire vehicle.

If (it's rare with me) I get stopped, the driver's window *only* gets opened, and only half way. Nothing else is necessary. In fact, if I have doubt as to this being a *real* officer, I ain't rolling down *any* windows, and the doors stay locked tight. Too many impersonators out there.

When in doubt, you can leave the window up, and hold your licence & registration against the glass. A real officer probably won't be pleased, but he'll get over it.

JB

 

[Jeff White]

JonnyB said;

A while ago, it was reported that a few 'rogue' cops in the Denver area were "accidentally" dropping knives & such into open car windows when stopping them. They then used the "weapon" as PC to search the entire vehicle.

Do you have a link to a news story or court case on this?

Jeff

 

[Mixlesplick]

A while ago, it was reported that a few 'rogue' cops in the Denver area were "accidentally" dropping knives & such into open car windows when stopping them. They then used the "weapon" as PC to search the entire vehicle.

Holy smackeral! Thanks for the tip JonnyB. Sometimes I think I am being paranoid only to find out I am not paranoid enough!

 

[alan]

On tinted windows, which these days might be "illegal", I assume that since they were likely installed by the maker, they were not always so treated.

So the car you bought new, sometime back came with tinted windows. There was no secret about that. Some time later, the legislature, in what passes for it's august wisdom, rendered such glass "illegal". Sounds like ex post facto law to me.

 

[Ex-Doc]

I had this happen to me once. Got pulled over for tint at night. had the windows down, dome lights on, engine off with hands on wheel and license and reg in my hand, kids in car seats (as always). Officer glanced at my papers and thanked me for the cooperation by doing the above metioned. No fix-a-ticket just a reminder that it wasn't legal.