To the Editor,
Recently The Robesonian published a letter opposing enforcement of the window tint law. Apparently there are some misconceptions about this law, and about the importance of enforcing it.
First, the law is a state law, not a local law.
Second, people should realize that traffic stops are the most dangerous situations a police officer faces. The officer has no idea whether the occupants of the vehicle are kids on a legitimate errand, or armed felons fleeing after committing a serious crime. Windows tinted too darkly make the situation worse because officers can’t see what they’re facing. Somebody in the vehicle could be holding a firearm, or concealing drugs. Many officers have been killed or injured by gunfire from a stopped vehicle.
I am not a police officer, but I have known many police officers over the years. Most of them could be making a lot more money doing something else. Virtually all of them are police officers because they want to help, and they put their lives on the line every day to keep the rest of us safe.
We can help keep them safe by supporting their enforcement of the window tint law.
Barney Bornn
President
Lumberton Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association
Tint laws aren't protecting anyone. They are a revenue generator and a way for police to go "fishing" for other crimes. If approaching a vechile with dark tinted windows is dangerous to officers, then why create a law requiring them to stop and approach vehicles with dark tinted windows?
Stoneray
Sure it's very dangerous for officers to pull someone over, but that's true whether the vehicles windows are tinted or not. Sure many officers have lost their lives during traffic stops, but how many were because they were ambushed by someone with tinted windows?
If traffic stops are dangerous and tinted windows make them more dangerous, then why are we making it a part of an officers duties to pull over people with tinted windows? Seems counterintuitive to me.