A05306 Summary:
| BILL NO | A05306 |
| SAME AS | SAME AS S04572 |
| SPONSOR | Reyes |
| COSPNSR | Cunningham, Shimsky, Angelino |
| MLTSPNSR | |
| Amd §§375 & 301, V & T L | |
| Relates to the level of acceptable light transmittance of automobile window tint and film. | |
A05306 Actions:
| BILL NO | A05306 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/13/2025 | referred to transportation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 05/28/2025 | reported referred to rules | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/07/2026 | referred to transportation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/10/2026 | reported | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A05306 Memo:
Go to topNEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the level of acceptable light transmittance of automobile window tint and film PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This legislation will allow for all windows, excluding the front windsh- ield, on an automobile to have a fifty percent visible light transmit- tance (VLT) standard in New York State. SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section one of the bill amends paragraphs (b) and (d) of subdivision 12-a of § 375 of the vehicle and traffic law. Subdivision (b) allows for the reduction in the light transmittance of the windows on an automobile to be fifty percent and make uniform all windows, excluding the front windshield, to be at this standard. Subdivision (d) declares that such measurements made by the commission- er, or a designee, shall be given a tolerance of plus or minus seven percent. Section two of the bill amends subparagraph (a) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 301 of the vehicle and traffic law, relating to required inspections of motor vehicles, to conform the inspection requirement with the change in the substantive law as implemented by section one of this bill. Section three of the bill provides the effective date. JUSTIFICATION: The current visible light standard of 70% visible light transmittance (VLT) evolved from physical limits in glass manufacturing specifications established in the 1930s. Over time, these industrial specifications became part of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (U.S. FMVSS 205). Neither driver performance nor protections for law enforcement were motivations for these laws and regulations. The original transmit- tance standard merely reflected the best glass manufacturing capabili- ties of the period and then was mistakenly passed along by others as being related to safety. Currently there are only 9 states which require 70% or higher light' transmission on front side windows of vehicles, which is equivalent to no film except clear UV film. Further, only two of those states require 70% VLT or more on all windows in the vehicle. The FMVSS 205 standard is only a manufacturing standard for new vehicles (before 'first sale'), and does not apply to aftermarket items so long as no safety requirement of the vehicle (in this case auto glass) is "rendered inoperable". The benefits to lowering the VLT standard should be taken into consider- ation. Research has proven that window film can nearly eliminate 'expo- sure to harmful ultraviolet rays (UVA), which is the leading cause of skin cancer in the United States. Studies conducted by the Skin Cancer Foundation have shown untreated glass does not block UVA rays, therefore exposing drivers to the harmful effects of UVA rays over an extended period of time. By contrast, window film is capable of blocking 99.9% of UVA radiation and is an effective means to eliminate the harmful expo- sure that is a leading cause of skin cancer. Another study conducted by Blue Cross and Blue Shield ranks New York State among the highest five states regarding incidents of skin cancer diagnoses. Further, Mount Sinai St. Luke's studied the effects of UVA rays and concluded melanoma, a form of skin cancer is more prevalent in communities of color. A study found that the average five-year survival rate in communities of color is around 67% versus 92% among non-communi- ties of color. These research institutions concluded that allowing the reasonable use of window film can significantly reduce the exposure of these harmful rays and can contribute to lowering these statistics. Window film has other benefits, such as reducing the discomfort caused by sun glare, which is the unpleasant feeling that can distract a driver and is a source of accidents on our roads today. Window film reduces sun light transmittance proportionately and the contrast is constant across all transmittance levels. A source of glare only impedes contrast sensi- tivity for adjacent targets; thus, tinted front side windows will have no effect on the detection of targets viewed through the windshield•. Further, the use of less than 70 percent luminous transmittance glazing in the side and rear sectors of the field of view can provide visibility equivalent to or superior to the existing requirement under many normal or difficult roadway viewing conditions. Lastly, demonstrations performed by the window film industry show the contrast from seventy percent to fifty percent is minimal when looking through the window from the outside into the automobile. Compared to current factory models, a fifty percent standard utilizing UVA protec- tive window film is much lighter than many of the original windows legally available in a majority of vehicles currently on the roads today. PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: SENATE: 2023-2024: S601 (Salazar) - Referred to Transportation 2021: S7025B (Salazar)- Referred to Transportation, Amend, Recommit to Transportation 2022: Referred to Transportation ASSEMBLY: 2023-2024: A6968 (Reyes) - Referred to Transportation 2021: No "same as" FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None EFFECTIVE DATE: Sixtieth day after becoming law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.
A05306 Text:
Go to topSTATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5306 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 13, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. REYES, CUNNINGHAM -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the level of acceptable light transmittance of automobile window tint and film The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Paragraphs (b) and (d) of subdivision 12-a of section 375 2 of the vehicle and traffic law, paragraph (b) as amended and paragraph 3 (d) as added by chapter 155 of the laws of 1991, are amended to read as 4 follows: 5 (b) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public highway, 6 road or street: 7 (1) the front windshield of which is composed of, covered by or treat- 8 ed with any material which has a light transmittance of less than seven- 9 ty percent unless such materials are limited to the uppermost six inches 10 of the windshield; or 11 (2) the sidewings or side windows of which on either side forward of 12 or adjacent to the operator's seat are composed of, covered by or treat- 13 ed with any material which has a light transmittance of less than 14 [seventy] fifty percent; or 15 (3) if it is classified as a station wagon, sedan, hardtop, coupe, 16 hatchback or convertible and any rear side window has a light transmit- 17 tance of less than [seventy] fifty percent; or 18 (4) the rear window of which is composed of, covered by or treated 19 with any material which has a light transmittance of less than [seventy] 20 fifty percent. [A rear window may have a light transmittance of less21than seventy percent if the vehicle is equipped with side mirrors on22both sides of the vehicle so adjusted that the driver thereof shall have23a clear and full view of the road and condition of traffic behind such24vehicle.] EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD08000-02-5A. 5306 2 1 (d) The commissioner may test any window for a person who has been 2 charged with violating this subdivision. Such measurements made by the 3 commissioner, or their designee, shall be given a tolerance of plus or 4 minus seven percent. If such window is found to be in conformity with 5 this subdivision, a small label attesting to the conformity shall be 6 affixed to the window tested. 7 § 2. Subparagraph (a) of paragraph 1 of subdivision (c) of section 301 8 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 444 of the laws of 9 2016, is amended to read as follows: 10 (a) A safety inspection shall be made with respect to the brakes; 11 steering mechanism; wheel alignment; lights, including but not limited 12 to the lights which are designed and placed on a vehicle for the purpose 13 of illuminating the vehicle's license plates; odometer; tire pressure; 14 seat safety belts; shoulder harness safety belts; [any window which is] 15 windows to determine whether they are composed of, covered by or treated 16 with any material which has a light transmittance [of less than seventy17percent] in violation of the percentages established pursuant to section 18 three hundred seventy-five of this title and such other mechanisms and 19 equipment as shall be determined by the commissioner to be necessary for 20 proper and safe operations. Such inspection shall also be made with 21 respect to vehicle identification number. Upon inspection, the mileage 22 appearing on the odometer shall be recorded upon the inspection sticker. 23 § 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall 24 have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or 25 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of 26 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed 27 on or before such effective date.