HB1211 (2006) Detail

Relative to tinted glass on motor vehicles.


HB 1211 – AS INTRODUCED

2006 SESSION

06-2518

03/01

HOUSE BILL 1211

AN ACT relative to tinted glass on motor vehicles.

SPONSORS: Rep. M. Cooney, Graf 7

COMMITTEE: Transportation

ANALYSIS

This bill eliminates the prohibition on after market tinting of motor vehicle windows to the left and right of the driver.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

06-2518

03/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six

AN ACT relative to tinted glass on motor vehicles.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Obstruction to Driver’s View or Riding Mechanism; After Market Tinting. Amend RSA 265:95, III to read as follows:

III. No person shall drive upon any way any vehicle with any sign, poster, sticker, or other nontransparent material upon or adjacent to the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows of such vehicle which shall obstruct the driver’s clear view of the way or any intersecting way, unless authorized by the director so to do. No person shall drive upon any way any vehicle with after market tinting on the windshield [or on the windows to the left and right of the driver], as prohibited under RSA 266:58-a.

2 Approval of Lighting and Safety Equipment; After Market Tinting. Amend RSA 266:32 to read as follows:

I. The director is hereby required to approve any lighting device, windshield, window glass, or substitute, or other safety equipment, components, or assemblies of a type for which approval is specifically required within a reasonable time after such approval has been requested. Such approvals may be based upon certificates of approval and test reports furnished to the director by the Automotive Manufacturer’s Equipment Compliance Agency. The director shall not approve after market tinting on the windshield [or on the windows to the left and right of the driver], as prohibited under RSA 266:58-a.

3 Tinted Glass. Amend RSA 266:58-a, I-III-a to read as follows:

I. It shall be unlawful to sell or inspect any motor vehicle in this state which has after market tinting on the windshield [or on the windows to the left and right of the driver].

II. It shall be unlawful to install after market tinting on the windshield [or on the windows to the left and right of the driver] on any motor vehicle which is registered in this state.

III. It shall be unlawful to drive on any way any motor vehicle registered in this state which has after market tinting on the windshield [or on the windows to the left and right of the driver]. Where after market tinting is applied to windows to the rear of the driver, outside rear view mirrors shall be required on both the left and right side of the vehicle for the use of the driver and a front seat passenger. The light transmittance of after-market tinted windows where they are allowed shall not be less than 35 percent, except that the light transmittance of aftermarket tinted rear windows of multipurpose passenger vehicles, as defined in 49 C.F.R. section 571.3 and pickup trucks may be such percentage as is allowed by 49 C.F.R. section 571.205 with respect to pre-market tinted rear windows.

III-a. Persons who require for medical reasons after market tinting on the windshield [or on the windows to the left and right of the driver] may apply for a special permit pursuant to RSA 266:61-a, IX.

4 Equipment Waiver for Disabled; After Market Tinting. Amend RSA 266:61-a, IX to read as follows:

IX. The commissioner may waive the requirements of RSA 266:58-a and issue a special permit to a person who for bona fide medical reasons requires after market tinting on the windshield [or on the windows to the left and right of the driver] and who applies for such permit. Such waiver shall be granted in accordance with this section and shall only authorize the use of after market tinted windows with a light transmittance of not less than 35 percent. In reviewing the application for a permit under this paragraph, the commissioner may seek the advice and recommendation of a medical review board designated by [him] the commissioner for such purpose.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2007.