By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine Police forces across the country are cracking down on tinted car windows. But what's driving the craze among drivers for a darkened view of the road?
By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine Police forces across the country are cracking down on tinted car windows. But what's driving the craze among drivers for a darkened view of the road?
So there you are waiting at the lights in your standard-spec Ford Focus when another car pulls alongside. It appears the driver wants to share his music with you... and the rest of the neighbourhood.
So there you are waiting at the lights in your standard-spec Ford Focus when another car pulls alongside. It appears the driver wants to share his music with you... and the rest of the neighbourhood.
But when you glance around, it seems he doesn't particularly want you to see inside his car. His windows are tinted. They are as dark as his alloy hubcaps are bright.
But when you glance around, it seems he doesn't particularly want you to see inside his car. His windows are tinted. They are as dark as his alloy hubcaps are bright.
There are criminals who seek to hide behind the windows - the question is, what have you got to hide? Pc Dave BarrowGMP
There are criminals who seek to hide behind the windows - the question is, what have you got to hide? Pc Dave BarrowGMP
Over the last two years, police forces as far afield as Northern Ireland, Devon, Manchester and Strathclyde have been cracking down on tinted windows. The law states front windows must allow 70% of light through; the front windscreen 75%.
Over the last two years, police forces as far afield as Northern Ireland, Devon, Manchester and Strathclyde have been cracking down on tinted windows. The law states front windows must allow 70% of light through; the front windscreen 75%.
Yet there are illegal tints out there letting as little as 5% light through. Traffic officers believe such excessive tints are potentially dangerous, particularly at night, and they are increasingly armed with optical meters.
Yet there are illegal tints out there letting as little as 5% light through. Traffic officers believe such excessive tints are potentially dangerous, particularly at night, and they are increasingly armed with optical meters.
Innocent purchasers
Innocent purchasers
In Manchester, about 1,000 fixed penalty notices have been issued to drivers of cars with excessively tinted windows. Police have handed out 520 prohibitions, forcing drivers to take their cars off the roads while they have their windows restored, 80 of which were in the last fortnight.
In Manchester, about 1,000 fixed penalty notices have been issued to drivers of cars with excessively tinted windows. Police have handed out 520 prohibitions, forcing drivers to take their cars off the roads while they have their windows restored, 80 of which were in the last fortnight.
Pc Dave Barrow, of Greater Manchester Police, says offenders break down into three groups.
Pc Dave Barrow, of Greater Manchester Police, says offenders break down into three groups.
Fans try to emulate their limousine-carried idols"There's the innocent purchaser of a nice car where the garage have said we can tint the windows so it looks nicer. There are criminals who seek to hide behind the windows. The question is, what have you got to hide?
Fans try to emulate their limousine-carried idols"There's the innocent purchaser of a nice car where the garage have said we can tint the windows so it looks nicer. There are criminals who seek to hide behind the windows. The question is, what have you got to hide?
"Then there are the cars with loud music blaring and tinted windows are a bit of a fashion accessory."
"Then there are the cars with loud music blaring and tinted windows are a bit of a fashion accessory."
Forces cite the fall-out from a serious accident involving a motorcycle and a car with heavily tinted windows, as the impetus for this current crackdown.
Forces cite the fall-out from a serious accident involving a motorcycle and a car with heavily tinted windows, as the impetus for this current crackdown.
Peter Grunert, deputy editor of Top Gear magazine, blames an increasingly celebrity-obsessed media for driving the fad for tinted windows.
Peter Grunert, deputy editor of Top Gear magazine, blames an increasingly celebrity-obsessed media for driving the fad for tinted windows.
"People want some of that. Cache is reflected in the cars they drive," he says. "Super-sized chrome rims, massive sound systems, DVD, and mystery glass, the full package. An element of that is coming over to the UK."
"People want some of that. Cachet is reflected in the cars they drive," he says. "Super-sized chrome rims, massive sound systems, DVD, and mystery glass, the full package. An element of that is coming over to the UK."
Optional extra
Optional extra
Go on a website advertising tinted windows and you'll see references to "a touch of distinction", and products like "light smoke", "midnight" and "limo".
Go on a website advertising tinted windows and you'll see references to "a touch of distinction", and products like "light smoke", "midnight" and "limo".
Without tinting you can see the seats and the rubbish strewn everywhere Mark Needham Mark Needham, who promotes custom cars events, says tinted windows are the first port of call for any aspirant boy racer. He has them on his own car.
Without tinting you can see the seats and the rubbish strewn everywhere Mark Needham Mark Needham, who promotes custom cars events, says tinted windows are the first port of call for any aspirant boy racer. He has them on his own car.
"It makes the car look a lot more stylish. Without tinting, you can see the seats and the rubbish strewn everywhere. You modify as much as you can within the law. But some people push the boundaries a lot," says Mr Needham.
"It makes the car look a lot more stylish. Without tinting, you can see the seats and the rubbish strewn everywhere. You modify as much as you can within the law. But some people push the boundaries a lot," says Mr Needham.
The trend for even subtle tinting is a recent one. Once they were a swanky optional extra in the 1980s. Now most new cars come with almost the maximum legal tint as standard.
The trend for even subtle tinting is a recent one. Once they were a swanky optional extra in the 1980s. Now most new cars come with almost the maximum legal tint as standard.
Anything beyond that tends to be added by specialist fitters, using films on the inside of windows.
Anything beyond that tends to be added by specialist fitters, using films on the inside of windows.
Tom Hardyment, general manager of tint and security film specialists Pentagon, says his firm does 4,000 car tints a year.
Tom Hardyment, general manager of tint and security film specialists Pentagon, says his firm does 4,000 car tints a year.
Mums' preference
Mums' preference
But it's a myth that boy racers are driving demand. Instead, the typical customer is an affluent mother with small 4x4 or people carrier, who wants the back windows done to save the kids from sunburn and stop them getting grumpy in the heat. Other customers are government and business.
But it's a myth that boy racers are driving demand. Instead, the typical customer is an affluent mother with small 4x4 or people carrier, who wants the back windows done to save the kids from sunburn and stop them getting grumpy in the heat. Other customers are government and business.
Rapper Busta Rhymes was pulled over for excessively tinted windows"It is growing, corresponding to sales of small SUVs. They are greenhouses on wheels. People like it, it protects their kids, they can watch their DVDs. It's 60% practical, 40% cosmetic. You've got a few people running around who reckon they are hoodies, running around spoiling it. People who have tinted front windows - it's stupid and illegal."
Rapper Busta Rhymes was pulled over for excessively tinted windows"It is growing, corresponding to sales of small SUVs. They are greenhouses on wheels. People like it, it protects their kids, they can watch their DVDs. It's 60% practical, 40% cosmetic. You've got a few people running around who reckon they are hoodies, running around spoiling it. People who have tinted front windows - it's stupid and illegal."
But he still thinks a little dash of darkening is aesthetically pleasing.
But he still thinks a little dash of darkening is aesthetically pleasing.
"You can pretty much pick any car you like and the press shots will have very heavily tinted windows, including the windscreen. It lowers the roofline, gives it a more sporty look."
"You can pretty much pick any car you like and the press shots will have very heavily tinted windows, including the windscreen. It lowers the roofline, gives it a more sporty look."
Kevin Wing, owner of the Tinted Windows Company in Watford, says the link between tinting and crime is a myth and instead points to supposed environmental benefits.
Kevin Wing, owner of the Tinted Windows Company in Watford, says the link between tinting and crime is a myth and instead points to supposed environmental benefits.
"It makes the car run more economically because you don't use so much air conditioning. I get a lot of customers who say I don't want to look like a drug dealer. But that's a myth. It would be a bit like having a robber with swag written on his bag. My main customer is a woman with a multi-passenger vehicle."
"It makes the car run more economically because you don't use so much air conditioning. I get a lot of customers who say I don't want to look like a drug dealer. But that's a myth. It would be a bit like having a robber with swag written on his bag. My main customer is a woman with a multi-passenger vehicle."
But Mr Wing admits he tints front windows and windscreens at levels greater than the law allows to be driven on the roads, insisting that many of his customers are using cars in adverts or shows.
But Mr Wing admits he tints front windows and windscreens at levels greater than the law allows to be driven on the roads, insisting that many of his customers are using cars in adverts or shows.
"I try to angle people into having the legal limit¿ It is entirely up to you what you do with your vehicle on the highway. How can you tell if someone's going to use it for a show purpose or not?"
"I try to angle people into having the legal limit¿ It is entirely up to you what you do with your vehicle on the highway. How can you tell if someone's going to use it for a show purpose or not?"
But just as police are getting wise to the trend, Steve Chalmers, editor of Fast Car magazine, says drivers' interest is starting to wane.
But just as police are getting wise to the trend, Steve Chalmers, editor of Fast Car magazine, says drivers' interest is starting to wane.
"I've been in cars with the heavy tints and it's very claustrophobic. I would say it is starting to die out slowly. It was a big thing a few years back."
"I've been in cars with the heavy tints and it's very claustrophobic. I would say it is starting to die out slowly. It was a big thing a few years back."
