SubTitle14-99g-1_14-99g-8. Requirements for Approval for Aftermarket Tinted or Reflectorized Glazing, Title14 Motor Vehicles. Use of the Highway by Vehicles. Gasoline, Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies

Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (Last Updated: June 14,2023)

Title14 Motor Vehicles. Use of the Highway by Vehicles. Gasoline

SubTitle14-99g-1_14-99g-8. Requirements for Approval for Aftermarket Tinted or Reflectorized Glazing

Sec. 14-99g-1. Definitions

Latest version.

As used in Sections 14-99g-1 to 14-99g-8, inclusive, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of motor vehicles or his authorized representative;

(2) "Department" means the department of motor vehicles;

(3) "Glazing" means the material(s) from which the windows of motor vehicles are constructed;

(4) "Inspect" means to ascertain, in accordance with accepted inspection procedures, if the vehicle glazing complies with the inspection standards as defined in this section;

(5) "Inspection standards" means the standards established by the provisions of section 14-99g of the general statutes;

(6) "Light transmittance" means light transmission as defined in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 14-99g, measured in the range of wavelengths from 400 through 700 nanometers, either corrected for the spectral sensitivity of the human eye or centered at 550 nanometers;

(7) "Luminous reflectance" means luminous reflectance as defined in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-99g, measured in the range of wavelengths from 400 through 700 nanometers, corrected for the spectral sensitivity of the human eye;

(8) "Manufacturer" means:

(A) A person, firm or corporation which engages in the manufacturing or assembling of sunscreening or tinting products, or materials designed to be used in conjunction with vehicle glazing materials; or

(B) A person who fabricates, laminates or tempers the glazing material incorporating the capacity to reflect or to reduce the transmittance of light during the manufacturing process;

(9) "Sunscreening material" means a material, including tinting material, which reduces or prevents passage of at least a portion of the sun's energy, and is intended for use with vehicle glazing;

(10) "Tinting" means a coloration applied to glazing which reduces light transmittance.

(Effective April 30, 1997)

Sec. 14-99g-2. Allowable levels of light transmittance

Latest version.

(a) No sunscreening material shall be applied to the windshield of any vehicle except as provided in subsection (b), and in subdivision (11) of subsection (c), of section 14-99g of the general statutes.

(b) Front side windows and front side wing vents of every vehicle shall have a measured light transmittance of not less than thirty-two percent (32%), as measured with a light transmittance meter having an accuracy of plus or minus three percent (3%) or better, when sunscreening material has been applied to such windows.

(c) The right and left side windows behind the driver, and the rearmost window, shall have a measured light transmittance of not less than thirty-two percent (32%), as measured with a light transmittance meter having an accuracy of plus or minus three percent (3%) or better, when sunscreening material has been applied to such windows. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to:

(1) The windows behind the driver on any truck, motor bus, trailer, mobile manufactured home, or multipurpose passenger vehicle, as defined in Code of Federal Regulations Title 49, Section 571.3, as amended, provided the vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on the left and right-hand sides, which are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred (200) feet to the rear of such vehicle; and

(2) The rearmost window or windows, provided the vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on the left and right-hand sides of the vehicle, which are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred (200) feet to the rear of such vehicle.

(Effective April 30, 1997)

Sec. 14-99g-3. Allowable levels of luminous reflectance

Latest version.

(a) Front side windows and front side wing vents of every vehicle shall have a luminous reflectance of not more than thirty percent (30%) when sunscreening material has been applied to such windows.

(b) The right and left side windows of every vehicle which are located to the rear of the driver, and the rearmost window, shall have a luminous reflectance of not more than twenty-four percent (24%) when sunscreening material has been applied to such windows.

(Effective April 30, 1997)

Sec. 14-99g-4. Requirements for approval of sunscreening material

Latest version.

(a) Each manufacturer shall make application to the commissioner in writing for approval and registration of each type of sunscreening material made by the manufacturer, and sold or distributed or available for sale in this state, for installation in a vehicle.

(b) Each application for approval shall be accompanied by a sample of the sunscreening material, together with such additional information as the commissioner may require.

(c) Each sample of sunscreening material submitted to the commissioner shall be accompanied by detailed specifications and test results, which include the percentage of visible light transmitted by such material when measured with a light transmittance meter with an accuracy of plus or minus two percent (2%) of full scale, or ten percent (10%) of the reading, whichever is the smaller. The commissioner may, in his discretion, require the submission of information, including detailed specifications and test results, concerning the luminous reflectance for each sun-screening material. The test results shall be certified in writing by a licensed professional engineer, or subscribed and sworn to under oath or penalty of false statement by the person who performed or was responsible for the performance of such tests. The commissioner may test or cause such sunscreening material to be independently tested.

(d) If the sunscreening material submitted to the commissioner is found to be in conformity with the inspection standards, the commissioner shall issue a distinguishing sticker registration number for each type of sunscreening material, which shall be imprinted on such manufacturer's compliance stickers in accordance with Section 14-99g-5.

(Effective April 30, 1997)

Sec. 14-99g-5. Compliance sticker requirements. Instructions

Latest version.

(a) The manufacturer shall submit to the commissioner, for approval, a sample of a compliance sticker used in the identification and certification of compliance of each type of sunscreening material submitted in accordance with Section 14-99g-4.

(b) Each compliance sticker shall have on its face side a pressure sensitive adhesive and opaque lettering, as provided in subsection (c) of this section, affixed on a contrasting colored background of any color except that of light yellow. The sticker shall be designed to be self-destructive, and to display either the word "VOID" or some other clearly visible indicia of removal, if such sticker is removed after application to a surface.

(1) The manufacturer's name or trademark;

(2) A sticker registration number assigned by the commissioner;

(3) A statement of compliance with "DMV Reg. Sec. 14-99g-5" or equivalent; and

(4) The word "REAR ONLY" when supplied with any sunscreening material which, when combined with the vehicle glazing, would be suitable only for use on the rearmost window, pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (c) of Section 14-99g-2.

(d) Each compliance sticker shall be designed to be legible, after application to a sunscreening material, to a person who has a visual acuity of no worse than 20/40 (Snellen), corrected or uncorrected, from the outside of the vehicle when viewed from a distance of three (3) feet from the outside surface of the glazing, approximately perpendicular to the glazing surface. A light transmittance of thirty-two percent (32%) or higher through the window, as measured in accordance with the inspection standards, shall be conclusive evidence of legibility.

(e) Each sticker shall be one (1) square inch in area and square or rectangular with a dimension of no more than one and six tenths inches (1.6″) along its longest side.

(f) Each manufacturer shall also submit to the commissioner a copy of all instructions supplied with its sunscreening material. Such instructions shall indicate that the adhesive face of a compliance sticker shall be applied to the interior surface of the sunscreening material at the lower left corner as viewed from outside the vehicle.

(Effective April 30, 1997)

Sec. 14-99g-6. Inspection of vehicles with aftermarket sunscreening material

Latest version.

(a) Each vehicle manufactured and sold on and after January 1, 1994, as established by the vehicle manufacturer's safety certification label, that has aftermarket sun-screening material applied to any window, shall bear a valid window tint compliance sticker on each such window.

(b) Each vehicle manufactured and sold prior to January 1, 1994, as established by the vehicle manufacturer's safety certification label, that has aftermarket sun-screening material applied to any window prior to January 1, 1994, shall be presented to the department of motor vehicles to have its aftermarket sunscreening material tested and certified, and to have a compliance sticker applied to each such window. The commissioner may establish a schedule for the testing of such vehicles.

(c) Each vehicle manufactured and sold prior to January 1, 1994, as established by the vehicle manufacturer's safety certification label, that has aftermarket sun-screening material applied to any window after January 1, 1994, shall bear the certification label supplied by the manufacturer on each such window.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section, a motor vehicle for which inspection is required, in accordance with the provisions of section 14-12 or 14-16a of the general statutes, shall not pass such inspection if it is not in compliance with the provisions of Sections 14-99g-1 to 14-99g-8, inclusive, or with any of the provisions of section 14-99g of the general statutes.

(Effective April 30, 1997)

Sec. 14-99g-7. Medical exemptions

Latest version.

(a) Any person required for medical reasons to be shielded from direct rays of the sun, or any person operating a motor vehicle owned or leased by such person, or in which such person is a usual passenger, shall be exempt from compliance with the provisions of Section 14-99g-2 relating to light transmittance characteristics, and with the provisions of Section 14-99g-5 relating to compliance stickers for sunscreening products applied to motor vehicle glazing.

(b) Application by a person for a medical exemption shall be made in writing to the commissioner, and supported by the written recommendation of a physician or optometrist, licensed to practice in this state, after examination of such person.

The application shall be signed by the applicant under penalty of false statement. Upon review of the application and approval of the medical exemption by the commissioner, a form validated by the commissioner verifying such exemption shall be provided to the applicant. The validated form shall be carried in any vehicle exempted under the provisions of this section.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, no window for which minimum light transmittance standards have been established, as provided in Section 14-99g-2, shall be so dark as to impair driving safety. A light transmittance of less than twenty percent (20%) shall be deemed to impair driving safety. The provisions of this subsection may be waived for good cause shown.

(Effective April 30, 1997)

Sec. 14-99g-8. Exemptions

Latest version.

The provisions of Sections 14-99g-1 to 14-99g-7, inclusive, shall not be applicable to motor vehicles in livery service, as defined in section 13b-101 of the general statutes.

(Effective April 30, 1997)