It's become all too common for drivers to have all their windows so darkened that they can't be seen. Some may think of it as privacy. More, I believe, think of it as armour. Unseen, they can doff their seat belts, phone, text, gesture obscenely, pick their noses, drink their beer — who's to stop them? They're invisible.
The civic simpleton at left felt free to park right beside a fire-route no-parking sign. It was a hot day and she had her windows down, but the moment a camera turned her way, the touch of a button rolled up the glass and, voila! instant anonymity.
Because police so steadily ignore the trend, it might surprise a lot of people to learn that it's illegal. Ontario law forbids the tinting of vehicles' front-seat windows on either side. Windows abaft that can be as dark as desired — although there ought to be limits on the degree of tinting there too, because a cyclist coming up alongside a parked car with darkened glass can't see whether there's a driver about to open a door into his path.
Assume that people who go in for this wrap-around concealment are up to no good. Otherwise, why are they hiding?
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