MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. -- Eric Nordlund has been inspecting vehicles for several years, but that job will get a little more difficult at his shop starting next month.
“You got to buy the stickers, buy equipment," said Nordlund, the owner of 1st Class Alignment & Repair. "Per inspections, it’s a minuscule of $21 charge.”
An increase in costs comes after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill requiring tinted windows be examined as part of annual vehicle inspections.
Under the new law, inspection stations will fail cars if the front windows and sides block more than 30 percent of light.
"People are going to understand they have to get their car inspected, they have to have that window film removed, or they won’t get inspected,” said James Lafollette, said owner of James Window Tinting.
He says the 30 percent standard has been a state law since 1991, but this will be the first time vehicle inspectors will be required to enforce it.
Lafollette has been in the business for 38 years and sees this law as a move in the right direction.
“It’ll weed out all the shops that are doing it illegal,” Lafollette said.
However, some inspection stations are worried about the cost of buying new equipment to check the window tints. They also say vehicle inspections will take more time with this new law.
“There’s some sense on the safety, especially for police officers," Nordlund said. "I understand the safety behind it, I just know don’t if an inspection station is required.”
The law will go into effect January 1. If a car's windows are found to be too dark, the owner will have to get that fixed before it can pass inspection.
“We’re going to put up a big sign outside, window film removal station because it’s going to be an industry,” Lafollette said.