Suffolk County Police Department Announce Results of Undercover Operation to Enforce window Tint Compliance During Inspections

SCPD Video Showcase the Danger that Tinted Windows Present to Law Enforcement

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Suffolk County Police Chief of Department Stuart Cameron today announced the results of an undercover operation that targeted New York State Vehicle Inspection stations to ensure compliance with the window tint aspect of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, a change aimed at improving law enforcement safety.

“Traffic stops are already inherently dangerous for our officers, tinted windows increase that danger,” said Suffolk County Executive Bellone. “We cannot sacrifice officer safety for what amounts to a cosmetic detail on a vehicle and we will continue to crack down on establishments that decide to break the law or look the other way by passing vehicles on their yearly inspection with illegally tinted windows.” 

“With the 2017 change in the inspection law regarding window tinting, we would expect a decrease in violations, but the reality is we are seeing an increase in summonses,” Chief of Department Stuart Cameron said. “Officer safety is a top priority, therefore we have issued additional tint meters to officers to check vehicle window tints and we are reminding inspection stations of their obligation to uphold New York State law and fail vehicles that have illegal window tints.”

As of January 1, 2017, window tint levels became a facet for compliance during an annualNew York State vehicle inspection. The impetus behind the law change was to improve safety for law enforcement officers. Windows tinted too dark can pose a risk for officers during traffic stops by impeding their vision into the vehicle. 

Detectives compared vehicles that had been issued tickets for illegal window tint against the inspection station that had issued the inspection sticker for the vehicle. From there, a list of locations was created and checks were performed. 

Of 11 locations, two shops, Staria Auto in Selden, and Baldwin Automotive in East Patchogue, passed the test vehicle even though it had illegally tinted windows. The remaining locations, Tri State Tires in Central Islip, PetrolWerks in Lindenhurst, Suffolk Auto Service in Central Islip, AKA Auto in Central Islip, MD Auto in Patchogue, Fast Lube in Medford, PEH Auto Center in Brentwood, Two Brothers Auto in Patchogue, and B & C Auto in Central Islip, all refused to pass the vehicle.

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