Relates to the level of acceptable light transmittance of automobile window tint and film

• Democratic3

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Julia Salazar says this is needed

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.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.