Senate Bill 43 would change North Carolina law in two related ways involving vehicle window tint. First, it removes the requirement that safety inspections include a separate check of tinted windows using a light meter. Under the bill, safety inspections would still cover windows and windshield wipers, but the specific tint-compliance inspection language would be deleted from the safety inspection statute. The bill also revises the inspection fee statute to eliminate the special $10 fee for inspecting after-factory tinted windows, while preserving the existing rule that a vehicle with a medical exception permit is not subject to that tint inspection.
Second, the bill adds a new rule for drivers of vehicles with tinted windows when stopped by law enforcement. A driver would be required to lower the driver-side window when an officer approaches, or the passenger-side window if the officer approaches from that side. The act would take effect December 1, 2025, and apply only to offenses committed on or after that date.
Impact
The bill would amend G.S. 20-183.3, G.S. 20-183.7, and G.S. 20-127 in the North Carolina General Statutes. It would reduce the scope of mandatory vehicle safety inspections by removing the tinted-window compliance check and associated light-meter process, and it would eliminate the separate inspection fee tied to after-factory tint testing. It would also create a new driver duty during law-enforcement encounters involving tinted windows, potentially affecting traffic enforcement practices and driver compliance expectations statewide.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the available record suggests the measure is straightforward and procedural rather than highly contested in the materials provided. The bill appears aimed at simplifying inspection requirements while also giving law enforcement a clearer rule for approaching vehicles with tinted windows. No formal vote history or transcript comments are available here to indicate broader support or opposition.
Contention
The main policy tension in the bill is between reducing regulatory burden on motorists and inspection stations versus preserving tint-related safety and enforcement checks. Supporters would likely favor eliminating the extra inspection step and fee as unnecessary or duplicative, while opponents may argue that removing tint verification could make it harder to enforce window-tint limits and officer-safety concerns. The new requirement that drivers lower a window upon an officer’s approach could also draw concern from those who view it as an added obligation during traffic stops, though the bill does not include any recorded debate in the provided materials.
Authorizes police officers the ability to request a person who is driving a motor vehicle with tinted windows roll down all windows to protect such officer's health or safety; defines "tinted windows".