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[bob.dent]

I got stopped at a police check point at stansted Airport on my way to work yesterday morning and was told the reason I had been pulled in was because my front window tints were illegally dark. I had an idea they were as Broocie (Hotel21) had told me in his capacity as an ex policeman at one of our previous OOF meets. Having bought the car with  the tints alreadyon and having owned the for nearly 4 years without being stopped, I hadn't given it much more thought. They said I could be fined £60 per window and get 3 points on my licence per window. However, they said if I removed the front tints there and then I would just get a £30 fine. :-?
Anyway, was impossible to peel off at the roadside and they could see I was struggling, so after a car inspection they said because I had not been "arsy" (their words) with them and co-operative, they let me off with a warning but said to remove the tints at my earliest opportunity.
I could have agued that I can see out of them perfectly well and they haven't caused me any problems in the 4 years of ownership, but then the law is the law and I probably wouldn't have been let off.
My problem now is how the hell do I remove the bloody tints without scratching the windows? :-/
Anyone done this before?

PS......OK Broocie, you were right so no gloating please!!

[Danny]

you know, it might just be less faff to get two fresh door glasses?

[Jimbob]

unlucky bob, its part of what makes your car yours.

all ive seen removed have involved getting a corner started, like selotape, and then pulling hard and removing in one piece, i gather getting started is the tricky bit.

[Andy B]

you know, it might just be less faff to get two fresh door glasses?

you've obviously never had the pleasure of replacing a front door window!     

[mkirky]

I removed one by warming with a hairdryer in one corner first to get it started

[Danny]

you know, it might just be less faff to get two fresh door glasses?

you've obviously never had the pleasure of replacing a front door window!     

cant be any harder than that of a bora, mine was a PIG of a job!

[Marks DTM Calib]

Get your hair dryer out bob and warm them up

[Jimbob]

Get your hair dryer out bob and warm them up

Come on mark, do you really think Bob has a hair dryer? 

Greg or Tim may have though....

[Dishevelled Den]

I got stopped at a police check point at stansted Airport on my way to work yesterday morning and was told the reason I had been pulled in was because my front window tints were illegally dark. I had an idea they were as Broocie (Hotel21) had told me in his capacity as an ex policeman at one of our previous OOF meets. Having bought the car with  the tints alreadyon and having owned the for nearly 4 years without being stopped, I hadn't given it much more thought. They said I could be fined £60 per window and get 3 points on my licence per window. However, they said if I removed the front tints there and then I would just get a £30 fine. :-?
Anyway, was impossible to peel off at the roadside and they could see I was struggling, so after a car inspection they said because I had not been "arsy" (their words) with them and co-operative, they let me off with a warning but said to remove the tints at my earliest opportunity.
I could have agued that I can see out of them perfectly well and they haven't caused me any problems in the 4 years of ownership, but then the law is the law and I probably wouldn't have been let off.
My problem now is how the hell do I remove the bloody tints without scratching the windows? :-/
Anyone done this before?

PS......OK Broocie, you were right so no gloating please!!

 
That's a bit of a buggeration as I've always thought that your car looked the part.

Aside from the pain of trying to get the tints off - hairdryer or heat-gun on a gentle setting and a razor blade on the edge of the glass to get things going -  well done on getting that result from the officers who stopped you. 8-)

In the main - not always mind you - the right attitude taken with the peelers can work in anyone's favour.

It also requires the police officer to recognise reasonable people and behave accordingly.

[bob.dent]

Get your hair dryer out bob and warm them up

Come on mark, do you really think Bob has a hair dryer? 

Greg or Tim may have though....

OI!! enough of that James, I just choose to have it cut short. 

[bob.dent]

Get your hair dryer out bob and warm them up

Good idea Mark - it had crossed my mind to try applying heat but I hadn't thought of a hairdryer.
Now, what did I do with that hairdryer I had when I still had use for one.

[bob.dent]

I removed one by warming with a hairdryer in one corner first to get it started

This seems the way to go - thanks.

[mrgreen]

I removed one by warming with a hairdryer in one corner first to get it started

same way used to get decals off the bodywork e.t.c i used a heat gun on mine (decals) and they came off o.k geuss it would be the same for the tints as i peeled them back i kept the heat on the bit i was peeling to melt the glue as it went

[zirk]

You could sand blast it off but guessing you'd only get stopped again.

[JamesV6CDX]

Bob,

The letter of the law (for a car of your age) is that the windscreen must allow at least 75% light through, and the front windows at least 70%.

Did the plod measure the light able to pass through window in three seperate places using a device in a black box (known as a tint-man?)

If so - what were your readings?

If the light allowed through was significantly less than the 70%, then you could be issued with an endorsable fixed penalty notice for using the vehicle in a dangerous condition.

Where the light is below the limit, but not by a great deal, it can also be dealt with by way of a non-endorsable £30 FPN.

I think the officer probably got it wrong re. the 3 points per window. If the tints are very dark, the offence is a singular one, of "using the vehicle in a dangerous condition", so would only attract one penalty of £60 and 3 points at worst.

If there were further offences, they'd have to report you for summons.

They also have the power to prohibit the vehicle if the tints are dangerous, but again this is highly unlikely unless the levels are very very low.

Either way, it sounds like he used some common sense, and made a good judgement call with the words of advice