Cornish Successfully Promotes Changes to Minnesota Law

Minnesota State Representative Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder) recently announced that two new "public safety" provisions he helped craft became law August 1, one of which deals with window film. Changes were aimed at prescriptive window tint, new and used automotive dealers and police vehicles.

Cornish, who is chief of police for Lake Crystal, authored a bill that limits the duration of a doctor's prescription for window film to no more than two years from the date it is issued. Prescriptions or statements also must specifically state the minimum percentage that light transmittance may be reduced to satisfy the person's medical needs.

"This provision recognizes that tinted windows can be allowed only for valid medical conditions, and that prescription[s] must state the minimum percentage that light transmittance may be reduced in order to meet the person's medical condition," Cornish says. "In general, heavily tinted windows present a significant safety issue for law enforcement as they approach a vehicle, particularly at night. The darkened windows make it impossible to see what the suspect is doing as the officer approaches the person's car, which obviously creates significant risk."

Further additions prohibit new and used motor vehicle dealers and lessors from selling or leasing a motor vehicle at retail that does not meet the state's glazing material requirements.

Minnesota law states, in part, that a windshield cannot be tinted, nor can material that has a highly reflective or mirrored appearance be used on other windows. It also forbids any side window or rear window from being composed of or treated with any material that obstructs or "substantially reduces" the driver's clear view through the window, or has a light transmittance of less than 50 percent plus or minus three percent, or a luminous reflectance of more than 20 percent plus or minus three percent.

Additional changes exempt the rear and side windows of a police vehicle from these same requirements. Cornish, who promoted the exemption, said police dogs need protection from the heat and victims need privacy in identifying suspects sometimes from the backseat of police vehicles.

Cornish's second "public safety" provision involved text messaging. It is now illegal for Minnesota drivers to compose text messages while a vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic. This statute is classified as a primary offense; therefore police officers will not need another reason for stopping motorists before charging them with a violation.