Tinted windows or covered plates? Don’t break the law while you’re breaking the law

You decided to tint your front windows. We’re sure it looks good. Maybe it came with the car? Maybe you just didn’t think about it. Whatever the reason, you are breaking the law every time you drive that vehicle in British Columbia and right now, during distracted driving enforcement month, that decision could cost you a lot more than a tint ticket.

What the Law Says About Window Tint

This is not a matter of opinion or discretion. Section 7.05(8) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act Regulations states:

No person shall drive or operate on a highway a motor vehicle which has affixed to or placed on the windshield or a window any material that reduces the light transmitted through the windshield or window unless the material is affixed to or placed on (a) the windshield but not more than 75 mm below the top of the windshield… (c) the rear window if the motor vehicle is equipped with outside rear view mirrors on the left and right side of the motor vehicle.

Notice what is not on that list: your front side windows. Tinting material on the driver’s window or the front passenger window is not permitted under any circumstances. If it reduces light transmission through those windows, it is illegal. The fine is $109, and an officer can also issue an inspection order requiring you to have the tint removed.

What the Law Says About Your License Plate

Section 3.03 of the same regulations is just as clear:

A number plate must be kept entirely unobstructed and free from dirt or foreign material, so that the numbers and letters on it may be plainly seen and read at all times.

That tinted plastic cover you bought online, the decorative frame that edges over the numbers, the film someone put over the plate: all of it is against the law. It does not matter how clear it looks to you. If it obstructs the plate, the police will eventually pull you over for it.

Why This Matters Right Now

We are halfway through distracted driving enforcement month in BC. Police are out in higher numbers with a specific mandate to find drivers who are using their phones behind the wheel. They are also looking at vehicles. 

It is a common saying, don’t break the law while breaking the law. What that means is if you do something that is an overt potential violation of the law, you are likely to place yourself in more scrutiny and the police may discover that you are breaking an entirely different, much worse law. This is what often happens when people have unlawful window tinting or cover over their license plate. 

When an officer sees a car with tinted front windows, two things happen. First, they have grounds to pull you over because the tint is itself a violation. Second, and more practically, tinted front windows draw police attention because it’s easily noticeable and officers assume the driver may be trying to hide something. During distracted driving month, what they are hiding is usually a phone. The officer walks up to the window and observes what they suspected. This is not a hypothetical. It is a pattern police are seeing regularly this month.

The same logic applies to a covered plate. An obscured plate is a red flag. It tells an officer that something may be off, and it gives them a reason to take a closer look at your vehicle and at you.

Two Problems That Are Easy to Fix Before They Become Expensive

Check your front windows. If there is any tint on them, get it removed. Check your license plate. If there is any cover on it, take it off.

These are simple fixes. The alternative is not. Getting pulled over, receiving a tint ticket, and having an officer observe you on your phone means walking away with a distracted driving conviction. In BC that carries a $368 fine, 4 penalty points, and consequences for your insurance that may follow you for years.

If you have already been pulled over this month, whether for tinted windows, a covered plate, distracted driving, or a charge that came out of the stop, we can help. We are the original BC Driving Lawyers. We handle tickets from all over the province for drivers just like you. If you have a ticket, contact us right away.