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Illegal vehicle accessories targeted

Illegal window tints and auxiliary lights are a couple of reasons why drivers may be pulled over in the coming weeks.

Illegal window tints and auxiliary lights are a couple of reasons why drivers may be pulled over in the coming weeks.

Okotoks Municipal Enforcement and RCMP are teaming up to run vehicle inspection checkstops to look for illegal vehicle add-ons and any potential problems that may have arisen over the winter.

“There’s been a large increase in the amount of tinting and lights out there and vehicle condition is something we can always educate and remind people about,” said Tim Stobbs, municipal enforcement manager.

One of the main infractions they’ll be looking for is after-market window tinting, he said.

Often a plastic film applied to the inside of the window, the tinting poses significant risks for drivers and passengers, he said, because rather than shattering and falling away from vehicle occupants when broken, the window becomes a hazard.

“Whenever you affix opaque material to the window, it no longer allows the major safety feature of tempered glass,” said Stobbs. “It binds all that glass together into one gigantic piece of sandpaper that, if your face rubbed against it during an accident, could take your face off.”

Tinting front windows also impacts the driver’s visibility, he said, particularly at night.

The fine for installing window tinting is $78.

“But it’s more than just the fine, we also make you remove it,” said Stobbs. “That’s a bigger deal for a lot of people.”

Another rising issue in Okotoks is the use of coloured lights on the front of the vehicle, he said. Some drivers have installed red or green tinted lights, which are illegal.

“Lights on the front of vehicles, anything other than white or amber is not allowed,” said Stobbs. “You can’t emit any light other than white or amber.”

People spend between $300 to $500 to install the coloured lights, he said. If they are used on the road it’s considered an offense. When pulled over, drivers will be stopped and given a vehicle notice to remove the lights.

In addition, there are specifications for the use of auxiliary lights on vehicles, such as standard fog lights. They must be placed laterally below the headlights, said Stobbs.

“Light bars that you see, they don’t really fit that, so anyone who lights that up on the highway is committing an offense,” he said. “We have to caution people they don’t fit the auxiliary or fog light category.”

It’s not an offense to have the lights mounted on a vehicle, he said, but if they are used on the road it is considered an offense.

“Some people might use lights on their roof for backwoods recreation or hunting,” said Stobbs. “It’s when they use them on the highway that it becomes an issue.”

Municipal enforcement and RCMP will also be looking at vehicle tires and mud flaps, he said. When large tires are added to a vehicle that extend beyond the fender, it is the owner’s responsibility to ensure the full width of the tire is covered with mud flaps and splash guards.

“In wet weather, those tires spray up a lot of mist for other drivers, which can be hazardous,” said Stobbs. “And you have rocks flying out that can pose a danger for other drivers as well.”

Modifications to mufflers are also being addressed, he said, adding there are a growing number of complaints about loud vehicles in Okotoks. This applies to trucks, cars and motorcycles, he said.

Motorcyclists must also be wearing adequate head protection, said Stobbs. Helmets must be certified and cyclists run the risk of being left stranded if they’re caught without a proper helmet.

“If we find you have an illegal helmet, we seize the helmet,” said Stobbs. “How are you going to ride away if we’ve got your helmet? Until such a time as there’s no helmet law, people need to make sure they’ve got properly certified ones.”

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