Interpretation ID: nht89-3.21

TYPE: Interpretation-NHTSA

DATE: October 20, 1989

FROM: Jack E. Eanes -- Chief, Vehicles Services, State of Delaware, Department of Public Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles

TO: Taylor Vinson -- Legal Counsel, NHTSA

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 7-31-90 to J. E. Eanes from P. J. Rice; (A35; Std. 205; VSA S.108(a)(2)(A)

TEXT:

I need a legal opinion concerning tinted rear vehicle windows which obscure the rear window mounted brake lights. Delaware law currently allows vehicle rear windows to be tinted as dark as the owner desires.

In my opinion, this law might violate the federal law which mandates the rear window brake light. The light is basically unusable when the window is tinted extremely dark.