Legislature(2007 - 2008)BUTROVICH 205
03/06/2007 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB78 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| * | SB 78 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 6, 2007
1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Albert Kookesh, Chair
Senator John Cowdery, Vice Chair
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Gary Wilken
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Donny Olson
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Senator Hollis French
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 78
"An Act relating to the installation of window tinting in
automobiles."
MOVED SB 78 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 78
SHORT TITLE: MOTOR VEHICLE WINDOW TINTING
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) FRENCH
02/09/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/09/07 (S) TRA, JUD
03/06/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
Margaret Auth, representing herself
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: In support of SB 78
Rodney Dial, Lieutenant
Alaska State Troopers
Ketchikan, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: In support of SB 78
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR ALBERT KOOKESH called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:33:25 PM. Present at the call to
order were Senators Wielechowski, Wilken, Cowdery, and Chair
Kookesh.
SB 78-MOTOR VEHICLE WINDOW TINTING
CHAIR KOOKESH announced the only bill before the committee today
is SB 78.
1:33:44 PM
SENATOR FRENCH, sponsor of SB 78, explained that the bill
addresses concerns from one of his community councils about
window tinting which obscures occupants and prevents pedestrians
and other drivers from making eye contact. The police don't have
the time or wherewithal to effectively enforce window tinting
regulations on an individual car basis, so SB 78 puts the burden
of enforcement of proper tinting on window tinting facilities.
The bill sets the penalty for over-tinting at a maximum of $500
and 90 days in jail, and the mere presence of the bill as law
will make most of the tinting problems disappear; most window-
tinters are unaware of current laws, and do not knowingly over-
tint windows.
He added that the police feel that they need to be able to see
what's going on in a car they've pulled over.
1:36:32 PM
SENATOR COWDERY said that his home contains mirrored glass, and
asked if that sort of glass is considered tinted glass and can
be installed in cars.
SENATOR FRENCH said that he didn't know, but thinks it is
illegal in cars.
SENATOR COWDERY asked if owners of cars can do their own
tinting, and if the bill will penalize just businesses who tint
cars.
SENATOR FRENCH said that the aim of the bill is businesses that
perform such tinting.
SENATOR COWDERY asked if businesses could sell tinting supplies
to customers.
SENATOR FRENCH replied that the bill isn't the way to fix every
problem, but he thinks it provides the most bang for the buck.
SENATOR COWDERY asked if other states have similar tinting laws.
SENATOR FRENCH said that he would research that for Senator
Cowdery.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if there's a current civil penalty
for illegal window tinting.
SENATOR FRENCH replied that there is a $150 fine which is
correctable if the owner can prove that the tinting has been
removed.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if only the owner is fined and not
the installer.
SENATOR FRENCH replied that the ticket is issued to the driver.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked for the number of people who have
been fined under current law.
SENATOR FRENCH said that he would have to research the topic.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI commented that if the installer of a car is
unknown, the bill essentially provides an exemption.
SENATOR FRENCH said that the operation of a tinted car remains
illegal, and officers can cite drivers for improper tinting.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the bill only applies to tinting
installers, and not car owners.
SENATOR FRENCH said that was correct.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said that under SB 78, if someone is pulled
over with tinted windows there's no recourse that can be taken.
SENATOR FRENCH replied that the owner can be penalized according
to current law.
1:40:52 PM
SENATOR WILKEN said that former Senator Steve Frank put the
tinting law on the books, and explained that there are different
degrees of tinting for car windows. He said that tinting is a
safety hazard not only for traffic police but for other drivers
as well who cannot interact visually.
SENATOR FRENCH said that he agreed.
SENATOR COWDERY related a personal story about window tinting,
and asked if there is a grandfather clause in the bill for cars
with windows tinted by the manufacturer.
SENATOR FRENCH replied that car manufacturers generally follow
regulations for window tinting and such cars should not be
affected by the bill.
SENATOR COWDERY related another personal story about window
tinting.
1:43:34 PM
MARGARET AUTH, representing herself, said that she is delighted
with SB 78 because as a pedestrian and bicyclist she cannot make
eye contact with drivers with tinted windows and it creates
dangerous situations on the road. She added that kids and older
people who take longer to cross roads are in even more danger,
and also that unfamiliar cars and drivers in a neighborhood
should be able to be identified by locals. She then related a
personal story about window tinting.
1:47:03 PM
RODNEY DIAL, Lieutenant with the Alaska State Troopers (AST),
said that the AST supports the bill which will reduce the number
of citations on a yearly basis by reaching the root of the
problem; he added that removal of tinting usually results in
damage to cars.
1:48:20 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the bill would be equally
effective if the installers were not criminalized but simply
fined.
MR. DIAL said that he hadn't considered that, but that some
penalty besides a fine would insure proper tinting use.
1:49:51 PM
SENATOR COWDERY moved to report SB 78 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, the motion carried.
CHAIR KOOKESH, seeing no further business to come before the
committee, adjourned the meeting at 1:50:21 PM.
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