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Orozco, Norma From: Soto, Daniel Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2020 1:56 PM To: eComment Subject: FW: Totally Obscured Window Tinting on Vehicles From: PSV <jmil481@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 202012:02 PM To: City Council <CityCouncil@santa-ana.org> Subject: Totally Obscured Window Tinting on Vehicles Mayor, and Council Members: Since there are so many safety issues facing Santa Ana ranging from street racing to riots, not to mention what is happening across the country with escalations in violent crime, I would like to see the Council address the legality and safety of windows that are purposefully tinted so that no one can see the driver or its occupants. No car manufacturer will put this degree of tinting on vehicle windows. The blackout tinting has to be done by a private company. 1 thought there was a law/code somewhere on the books that make it illegal beyond a certain dark tint. Today, there seems to be an increase of car drivers intimidating pedestrians and drivers on the road. There is much running of red lights at major intersections and illegal dangerous U-turns where prohibited. Car owners who enhance their vehicles with loud mufflers and dark tinted window are an intimidation when someone drives up beside them at stop lights, and they can't see the driver. I feel that the obscure dark windows also seem to heighten a person's sense of power on the road. There is no way to describe a driver who may have a hit and run or other roadway crime. Also, it is dangerous to police when they make a traffic stop, for obvious reasons. They cannot see how many are in a car, who they are, if there are children. It puts the lives of police officers in great danger. Many televised police chases have proven this point. I know young mothers who have darkened their windows thinking it protects them from being followed by someone who might have intent to harm them if they know it is a woman in the car. The police could also mistake a car with obscure dark windows if they are seeking a car ID (make, model) the same as one in which a mother with her children are innocently driving down a street. Anyway we look at it, excessively dark windows where it is impossible to see who is driving and if there are any passangers is a false security and a danger at the same time. If there is a restriction to this on the books, I request that the police begin to enforce it. If there needs to be a change to City Code, then I am suggesting it bV this email to look into it and provide guidelines, schedule of warnings for current drivers with such obscured window tinting, and begin a program to have the dark tints removed and prohibited possibly with fines to any business that puts the tinting on to this degree. If manufacturers/dealerships won't do it, why do private auto shops with tinting services do it to this degree? Thank you for your consideration,