MOTOR VEHICLES: WINDOW TINT                                                          H.B. 5634 (H-4):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5634 (Substitute H-4 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Julie Alexander

House Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Senate Committee:  Transportation

CONTENT

The bill would amend Section 709 of the Michigan Vehicle Code to the following:

-- Revise or delete provisions concerning the application of window tint on a motor vehicle's windshield, a rear window, or side window to the rear of the driver.

-- Prohibit a person from operating a motor vehicle with a sign, poster, nontransparent material, window application, reflective film, or nonreflective film upon or in the side windows immediately adjacent to and forward of the driver or front passenger.

-- Allow a person to operate a motor vehicle with a material that had a visible light transmittance of 70%, plus or minus 5%, or more, upon or in the side windows immediately adjacent to the driver or front passenger or the sidewings adjacent to and forward of the driver or front passenger.

-- Allow a person to operate a motor vehicle with a material that had a visible light transmittance of 25%, plus or minus 5%, or more, upon or in a rear window or a side window to the rear of the driver.

-- Delete a provision exempting the use of nonreflective, smoked or tinted glass, nonreflective film, perforated window screen, or other decorative window application on the rear window or a side window to the rear of the driver from Section 709.

-- Specify that Section 709 would not require the operator of a motor vehicle equipped with a special window treatment or application to be the individual for whom a physician or optometrist considered the treatment or application medically necessary.

MCL 257.709                                                           Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill could have a small negative impact on the State and local units of government. The new exceptions to the prohibitions for window tint and vision-obstructing objects on the windshield could result in fewer civil infractions, which would result in decreased revenue. Revenue in the form of fines and costs for civil infractions under State statute are distributed to county and city treasurers, law libraries, and courts. Revenue in the form of assessments for civil infractions under State statute are distributed to the Department of State Police, the Judiciary, the Legislature, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Treasury, and the Department of Health and Human Services through the Justice System Fund. It is not known how much revenue potentially could be lost as a result of the bill's reduced civil infractions, but it is expected to be minimal.

Date Completed:  12-17-18                                              Fiscal Analyst:  Michael Siracuse

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.