Some grey areas in tint testing

TINT SEEMS TO BE the talk of the town these days.

So, I decided as a law-abiding citizen, that I would go and have the tint test done on my car.

I read and heard so many different stories in recent days about this seemingly controversial activity. I have heard some people say they would not be doing the test, comfortable with whatever their readings are, and clearly okay with the penalty and paying the fine.

I was not. I needed to know my readings even though I felt the tint on my car was within the parameters of the law, based on the simple fact that it did not appear too dark on any of my windows, and I could “see inside” my car.

So, yesterday, I set out on what turned out to be a short and pleasant journey to make sure I was operating within the law.

I decided to go to two testing locations – first, Queen’s College and then closer to work at Kensington Oval.

The process was quick, smooth and detailed.

At Queen’s College, there were only four vehicles (including mine) and there was no wait. The team there seemed to have a system that worked for them and at the time I went, which was around 1 p.m., no motorist there seemed to have a long wait.

When I pulled up and was directed to the space I should go to, the female tester, before starting the exercise, showed me a paper with the figures with the range I needed to be within.

I thought that was useful information as it allowed me to know if I was within the range or not.

Media and camera-shy, when I told her I was reporting on the test for my column, she still took the time to explain everything she was doing.

At that location, these are the statistics for the tint on my vehicle:

• Strip – 22

• Windshield – 82

• Front window – 28

• Back window – 28

• Back (trunk) window – 29 The tint on my car was within the legal stipulations.

I then decided to drive to Kensington Oval to see if the readings would be the same, since this was a contentious issue among some motorists.

There, I had a similar experience regarding the service – easy and no congestion whatsoever. In fact, my vehicle was the only one being tested at that time – after 1 p.m.

The young man who did the test was equally as informative and willing to share information, although he verbally recited the number limits.

Here are the numbers (forgive me, I missed the windshield reading here):

• Strip – 21

• Front window – 27

• Back window – 27

• Back (trunk) – 28 The young tester indicated that the back windows were good as they should be over 20 per cent, while the front should be 25. He said too, that the trunk should be over 20.

However, he pointed out that the strip on the windscreen was to be 22 per cent and over, and mine at 21, was one per cent short.

Clearly, a discrepancy in the two readings by one per cent at the two respective locations. The window by the trunk also had different readings (one point difference).

So, I understand now why some people have been upset after hearing at one testing location that their tint levels were within the law, while at another, it was off by some percentage point. The question is, what is done in cases like these?

For example, for me, should I have to strip my tint to conform to the legal limit, even though one of my readings was on the nose of the requirement, and another was one per cent short?

Let me add too, that my car was brand new when I bought it from a local dealer with tint and all.

So, when this whole issue started, my question was and still is: what are individuals supposed to do, and are they going to be left out of pocket or compensated in some way, when their cars, bought from dealers, are not within the law as it relates to tint?

I know someone who asked their dealer for a dark tint, but what about those who did not and just relied on the dealerships to know what the legal tint requirements are and operate to suit? This is where it can get dicey.

Also too, what about the incorrect readings at different testing sites? What recourse do motorists have when this occurs?

These are some issues that motorists need to be aware of.

It even makes me wonder with my one per cent variance for the front strip on my windshield, what happens when this law is in place and someone testing reads something different?

I was even wondering if motorists like myself who did the test should not have been handed a certificate or some type of document to show what the readings are if we happen upon a situation like what I mentioned, despite the authorities saying this was not a certification process.

A concerned motorist wrote this recently, which is what happened to others: “Maybe someone can shed some light for me regarding tint testing. I went to Princess Margaret [Secondary School] and was told the windscreen tint needed to be removed. I then decided to go for a second opinion and went to Christ Church Foundation [School] where I was told the driver and passenger tint needed to be removed, but everything else was good. It was then I went to St David’s where I was told the back passenger and back glass tint needed removing. Three different locations, three different set of answers.

“No police officer in sight or a supervisor, nor was I given any documentation stating what was tested, the numbers and/or recommendations.”

This is an unfortunate situation. I hope the authorities are listening to these concerns and will resolve these issues before September 1.

carolmartindale@nationnews.com @carol_nationbb

MY BACK WINDOWS measured 27

at Kensington Oval. (CM)

MY TRUNK WINDOW measured 29 at the Queen’s College testing location. (CM)

THESE WERE the measurements I was shown

at Queen’s College. (CM)

I WANTED to take a closer look at the numbers on the machine used

to measure the tint. (GP)