SHADY RIDE: Taxi in Stoke stopped after police find front window tints allowing just 17 percent light
- Perry Richardson
- 14 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Police in Stoke-on-Trent have issued a ticket to a taxi driver after roadside checks revealed the vehicle’s front windows were allowing just 17 percent of light into the cabin, well below the 70 percent legal minimum for front side windows.
Staffordshire Police’s Dogs and Armed Response Unit reported that the inspection took place in the city, with officers describing the level of tint as far outside permissible limits for any road user. They stressed that the requirement carries added weight for licensed drivers carrying passengers for hire and reward.
The officers said the tints were removed at the roadside following the ticket being issued. The vehicle involved was a Toyota Prius operating as a taxi. No further details were released on the driver or licensing authority, and it remains unclear whether any licensing review will follow.
Tinted window enforcement remains a recurring issue for the taxi and private hire sector. Licensing authorities typically adopt the national construction and use regulations, which mandate at least 70 percent light transmission through front windows. However some councils apply stricter rules for licensed vehicles to support passenger safeguarding and ensure clear visibility for enforcement checks, but this comes at an added cost to the licensee.
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Trade representatives have long highlighted the confusion created by aftermarket modifications, imported vehicles and varying levels of tint fitted as standard by manufacturers. Operators also face differing local enforcement approaches, with some licensing teams carrying out periodic tint testing while others rely on police intervention.
A Staffordshire Police Dogs and ARV spokesperson said: “The front windows on this taxi in Stoke were only permitting 17% of light into the vehicle. The legal limit is 70%.
“This is unacceptable, especially for a professional driver responsible for their customers.
“Ticket issued and tints removed.”
