On Saturday May 11, 2019 members from the Northumberland Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) invite you to attend Kia Motors in Cobourg located on Division Street, where officers will be educating the motoring public regarding illegal window tint and licence plate covers.
Many motorists are under the impression that the window tint and plate covers on the vehicles they are operating fall within legal limits as defined by the Highway Traffic Act when, in fact, their window tint and plate covers are illegal and potentially dangerous.
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and other drivers rely on the ability to see each other, oftentimes making eye contact when sharing the road. Whether it is to indicate right of way, waving someone into traffic or to let a pedestrian know the vehicle is stopping and it’s safe to cross, eye contact can be as effective as turn signals in the right situation.
Windows tinted darker than regulations permit can pose a tremendous safety risk for police officers when approaching a vehicle during traffic stops or at a RIDE spot check. It prevents them from seeing what drivers or passengers may be doing with their hands or what potential dangers lie within the vehicle.
In Ontario we have laws pertaining to the use of seat belts for drivers as well as passengers. When a vehicle’s windows have been tinted too dark, it prevents law enforcement officers from being able to see at a glance whether everyone in a vehicle is complying with these regulations or not. Having dark window film on a vehicle also prevents police officers from being able to see whether drivers are using their phones while driving – both of which contribute to deaths on our highways each year.
The OPP encourage motorists to take this opportunity to bring their vehicles in for a quick tint inspection that takes just mere seconds to complete. Five free ‘strip and tints’ are available to be won just for coming in sponsored by Reflection Glass and Accessories in Port Hope. Kia Motors will also be offering other free giveaways.
So come on out to Kia Motors on Saturday between 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Officers will be on hand to help fill out a ballot, test your tint and educate you on the changes coming to the Highway Traffic Act in relation to window tint and illegal plate covers. The idea is to create positive interactions with the public through education rather than enforcement in order to keep our roads safe for everyone.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
