Metropolitan Police Department officers in Washington, D.C., have used window-tint violations as a pretext to stop drivers and investigate other suspected offenses, according to the D.C. Office of Police Complaints.
A window-tint stop, which is a minor traffic violation, can lead to prolonged detention, questioning, a vehicle search for drugs or guns, arrest, or contact with federal immigration, which raises serious Fourth Amendment and racial profiling concerns.
For years, the office has received complaints from D.C. residents, particularly members of the city’s Black community, about the enforcement of window-tint laws. Although District regulations govern vehicle window tint, officers must have the proper equipment and understand the law to enforce it correctly…