S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5306
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 13, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. REYES, CUNNINGHAM -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the level of
acceptable light transmittance of automobile window tint and film
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraphs (b) and (d) of subdivision 12-a of section 375
of the vehicle and traffic law, paragraph (b) as amended and paragraph
(d) as added by chapter 155 of the laws of 1991, are amended to read as
follows:
(b) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public highway,
road or street:
(1) the front windshield of which is composed of, covered by or treat-
ed with any material which has a light transmittance of less than seven-
ty percent unless such materials are limited to the uppermost six inches
of the windshield; or
(2) the sidewings or side windows of which on either side forward of
or adjacent to the operator's seat are composed of, covered by or treat-
ed with any material which has a light transmittance of less than
[seventy] FIFTY percent; or
(3) if it is classified as a station wagon, sedan, hardtop, coupe,
hatchback or convertible and any rear side window has a light transmit-
tance of less than [seventy] FIFTY percent; or
(4) the rear window of which is composed of, covered by or treated
with any material which has a light transmittance of less than [seventy]
FIFTY percent. [A rear window may have a light transmittance of less
than seventy percent if the vehicle is equipped with side mirrors on
both sides of the vehicle so adjusted that the driver thereof shall have
a clear and full view of the road and condition of traffic behind such
vehicle.]
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08000-02-5
A. 5306 2
(d) The commissioner may test any window for a person who has been
charged with violating this subdivision. SUCH MEASUREMENTS MADE BY THE
COMMISSIONER, OR THEIR DESIGNEE, SHALL BE GIVEN A TOLERANCE OF PLUS OR
MINUS SEVEN PERCENT. If such window is found to be in conformity with
this subdivision, a small label attesting to the conformity shall be
affixed to the window tested.
§ 2. Subparagraph (a) of paragraph 1 of subdivision (c) of section 301
of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 444 of the laws of
2016, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A safety inspection shall be made with respect to the brakes;
steering mechanism; wheel alignment; lights, including but not limited
to the lights which are designed and placed on a vehicle for the purpose
of illuminating the vehicle's license plates; odometer; tire pressure;
seat safety belts; shoulder harness safety belts; [any window which is]
WINDOWS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY ARE composed of, covered by or treated
with any material which has a light transmittance [of less than seventy
percent] IN VIOLATION OF THE PERCENTAGES ESTABLISHED pursuant to section
three hundred seventy-five of this title and such other mechanisms and
equipment as shall be determined by the commissioner to be necessary for
proper and safe operations. Such inspection shall also be made with
respect to vehicle identification number. Upon inspection, the mileage
appearing on the odometer shall be recorded upon the inspection sticker.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.