When a vehicle with dark-tinted windows raised suspicions on a Nelson Mandela Bay neighbourhood watch chat group, the legalities of window tinting became a topic of much debate.
Fortunately, one of Gqeberha’s oldest and most trusted window-tinting specialists was able to shed some light on the subject and provide clarity on what is legally allowed on SA roads.
According to government regulations, as stipulated by the National Road Traffic Act, window tinting to a certain degree is allowed, but various degrees of tinting are prohibited, depending on which vehicle window is involved.
Window-tinting and safety film specialist Mr Tint, in Newton Park, has been in the business since 1985, and workshop manager Kelly Harris said it always tried to advise customers in accordance with the law.
“There are a number of reasons for tinting windows, and it does come with pros and cons.
“Sure, it can make a vehicle look suspicious, but if done right and according to the law, it does offer a measure of protection some people desire,” Harris said.
The company offers four levels of tinting, each with a percentage rating of how much light it allows through the window and into the vehicle — 50%, 35%, 20% and 5%.
Harris said the 50% and 35% tints were allowed on the driver and front passenger’s side windows, while the darker options could be placed on the back windows.
Only lighter shades of tinting were allowed on the windshield and rear-view window of a vehicle, because darker shades could hamper the driver’s view of the road, especially at night.
“The 35% is the darkest tint legally allowed on the front windows of a vehicle,” Harris said.
“This allows adequate sun and UV protection while still keeping the driver visible from the outside.
“However, we do get requests for the darker variants on the front and different clients have different needs, though we advise against it.”
Harris said women drivers often inquired about darker tints because they felt vulnerable and believed they would be safer if potential attackers could not identify them behind the wheel.
A private investigator had made the same request because he wanted to protect his identity while on the job.
However, Harris said the flipside was criminals could also use the darker tints to hide their faces while breaking the law or fleeing from the police.
“What we often do is put the lighter tints on the front windows, with the darker options on the back, or on the canopies of bakkies and delivery vehicles.
“That way the driver adheres to all regulations while still protecting any goods they are transporting from prying eyes,” Harris said.
Mr Tint’s most popular products are the 50% and 35% tints with the added “smash and grab” protection that keeps a window together with a thin film even after it is shattered.
This buys the driver some time to get away should criminals try break the window to gain access to the vehicle and its contents.
It also protects the occupants from cuts and scrapes from shattered glass in the event of the window breaking.
When asked about “mirror tinting” which has a reflective appearance from the outside, while allowing a vehicle’s occupants a clear view from inside, Harris said the company did not stock the product because it did not adhere to regulations.
“You do, however, get do-it-yourself kits which are readily available at some stores.
“However, it is completely illegal.
“And more often than not the people applying it do a hack job and it ends up looking terrible.”
She said customers had visited Mr Tint to have their tinting removed after being stopped, and warned or a fined because of illegal shades of tinting.
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