There are many advantages to tinted windows besides the look

QMy wife got skin cancer on her nose a few years ago, and I was already paranoid about skin cancer before. Having found out that tinting the car windows provides protection, our health takes precedence over legal issues any day.

Both my wife and I separately got a fix-it ticket on our Prius. After taking off the tinting and getting the tickets signed off, we took it back to the tint shop.

— Robert Church

A

Today, reasons why some folks like heavily tinted windows.

QI’ve been a professional installer for 21 years and have tinted windows for police, lawyers, judges and other members of law enforcement, from coast to coast.

I can completely understand your concerns on all fronts. There are, however, far more positive aspects to tinting than just that someone thinks it looks cool. I say that because 9 out of 10 of my customers choose darker tints for other reasons.,

The film we use now not only provides privacy, but also rejects heat, and has ultraviolet and infrared blocking qualities, as well. Darker tint reduces the heat that can build up in a vehicle, and UV protection can help reduce the chances of skin cancer. Security is another side, as tint makes it a bit harder for a wouldbe thief to get through the window. A good quality film actually holds the glass together should it be broken. Security film makes it very difficult to get through the window of a vehicle.

— Chris-the-Window-Tinter, Salem, Oregon

A But…

QBeyond the inherent danger for police officers approaching a vehicle with tinted windows, they also make driving for everyone less safe. A driver trailing another vehicle with tinted windows cannot see through the car to gauge traffic ahead. The result is to focus attention almost exclusively on just the car ahead, instead of the general flow of traffic.

— Brian Foster, Castro Valley

A

And…

Q

Your column hit the nail on the head regarding tinted windows. It has been a great mystery to me why so many new cars have windows so darkly tinted on the passenger and driver’s sides and sometimes the windshield. I can’t imagine how they can see anything like children, obstacles in the road, other cars, bicyclists and so forth.

But the fine is only $25? Good grief. These drivers are as impaired as an intoxicated driver. They can’t see reality around them. They are looking through “dark-colored glasses.” At twilight or nighttime, they are essentially driving blind.

Thanks for listening to my rant.

— Patricia DeMore, Santa Clara

A

Rants can be good.

Join Gary Richards for an hourlong chat at noon Wednesdays at www.mercurynews.com/live-chats. Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow, or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920-5335.