BC Laws

Hey guys,

Going to do some mods to my 08 ridgeline. Before I do, anyone know if there are any laws restricting brush guards / window tint / tinted tail lights in bc?

window tint is a no - no if it is forward of the driver's shoulders - so your outta luck for drivers side or passenger side windows or windshield.
I actually got questioned at a road block last summer if my side windows were factory tint or not.

I gotta pose the question....If as you indicate window tinting on the front drivers and passenger windows is verboten, what happens if I decide to drive my Arizona Ridgeline north of the border. Would I be refused entry. Do they really expect an Arizona truck to be without window tint, or do "they" ignore modifications on visitiors?

That's one of those "it depends" questions. The border crew might decide a secondary inspection could be fun.

Then you might get up here and get pulled over, the officer could look at your paperwork and caution you, or he could decide to write you up ten ways from Sunday.

True story time, I have a friend from LA, he was up in Vancouver working, ran a stop sign right in front of a cruiser, got pulled over, told the cop the term "California Stop" is how he was taught to drive, had a Cali license and he got sent on his way with a "don't do that any more".

Thats a good question Rusty. The funny thing is - I see tinted windows all the time here in BC. I think its one of those 'if we feel like stopping you we will' type of decisions on the police's behalf.

Thats a good question Rusty. The funny thing is - I see tinted windows all the time here in BC. I think its one of those 'if we feel like stopping you we will' type of decisions on the police's behalf.

Cops are people too, if they see a nice ride that has tinted windows (within reason) they'll probably let it slide. If that same nice ride goes by them doing 80 in a 50 zone, those tinted windows will just add to the fines.
Bottom line is you have to know how far you can push it. If you know you have something illegal, don't go attracting attention to yourself. ;)

Hey guys,

Going to do some mods to my 08 ridgeline. Before I do, anyone know if there are any laws restricting brush guards / window tint / tinted tail lights in bc?

I hope this helps. According to the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations

http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/freeside/--%20M%20--/Motor%20Vehicle%20Act%20%20RSBC%201996%20%20c.%203 18/05_Regulations/27_26_58%20Motor%20Vehicle%20Act%20Regulations/26_58_00.htm

TINT

Windshields and windows
7.05 (1) No person shall drive or operate on a highway a motor vehicle the windshield or any window of which is in such condition that the vision of the driver is impaired.
(8) No person shall drive or operate on a highway a motor vehicle which has affixed to or placed on the windshield or a window any material that reduces the light transmitted through the windshield or window unless the material is affixed to or placed on
(a) the windshield but not more than 75 mm below the top of the windshield,
(b) a side window that is behind the driver, or
(c) the rear window if the motor vehicle is equipped with outside rear view mirrors on the left and right side of the motor vehicle.

BRUSH GUARDS

I couldn't find anything that deals "specifically" with brush guards. However make sure there aren't any sharp edges exposed, post collision etc.

TINTED TAILIGHTS

I believe the "Retro Reflector" is located in the rear tail light assembly.

Reflective devices
4.21 (1) A vehicle must be equipped with at least one red reflector at the rear of the vehicle, either separate or incorporated into a tail lamp, that is mounted at a height of not less than 38 cm and not more than 1.83 m.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a vehicle manufactured before January 1, 1958.
(3) Only amber reflectors may be mounted on the front or side of a vehicle.
(4) Only red reflectors may be mounted on the rear of a vehicle or on the side of the vehicle at or toward the rear of the vehicle.

I don't believe the third brake light had the proper dot/sae #, that qualified it as a reflector. So if you tint your tail lights black etc, you probably eliminate the reflector.

Backup lamps
4.18 (1) A vehicle may be equipped with not more than 2 backup lamps, mounted on the rear of the vehicle, that are capable of displaying only white light to the rear of the vehicle.
(2) A backup lamp must illuminate only when the vehicle is in reverse gear.

That was just part of it. You may want to read the Act in its entirety for yourself.