anyone in ny get a letter from the attorney general?

a friend of mine who will remane nameless,faxed me a letter that he recived from the attorney general.they want to investegate his company.they want to see all invoices,advertising ,product info ect. from jan 1,2006. they want to meet within a week.im shaking in my pants,dont want to check my mailbox.flat glass here i come!

.......investigate his company for what?

......."flat glass here I come". What's that got to do with it?

Sounds to me like he might be refering to shops tinting cars illegaly and the Attorney General is causing some concern for those shops so those shops are considering doing flat glass

If you did legal work you should be fine. If you didnt, you better hope you never gave a receipt showing illegal film was put on....if you did, you may not have enough money after the fines to go to FG.

ouch!!!!!
that hurts

Dang, thats wild. Keep us posted.

from what i understand. the"law" in NY is 70%.that means no tint.that means im out of biz.LOOKOUT FLATGLASS HERE I COME!whats the going rate anyway?

Tell him if he has any waivers to whoop those out j/k

Waivers don't neam diddly when the law says it is illegal to apply the tint!!!! New York is such a joke whet it comes to auto tint

Waivers are just a paper trail saying you did illegal work, I love it that these guys think thats something saying that they can do it :shoot

Sounds like they need to look into dirty politicians in NY, not tint shops

Maybe it was for something else, do they do other work too? I think if if they can come down on a window tinter they should be doing the same for stereo installers breaking the noise ordinance laws, even these big rims aren't street legal, clear tail lights, colored headlights, driving and eating driving and using your cell phone, driving with a cracked windshield, having a loud exhaust. lets just go down the list of other illegal things and see why the only after market accessory people panic over is window tint I am curious to know why that is

MrPain says ouch! now thats funny welcome to TD from Mr Rogers wrinkly old azz
NY law is bad, just wait and see what happens
Stan Foster

State attorney general usually offers services to consumer complaints, or other legal entites when those entities need assistance. My thoughts are that for illegal window film installation, that business would have been contacted by city attorney rather than attorney general. Letter from attorney general probably means something way more serious was taking place, like dr*g dealing, money laundering, etc....unless consumers were defrauded on a large scale thinking they were getting legal film installed when they were switched with illegal.

maybe the guy is way behind on child support

maybe TintDRNY is messing with them......hehehe....hey mr ED

DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, COMPLY!!!! They need a subpeona to get your books/records. Be nice, but unless they have a supeona you are not required to give them access to ANYTHING about your private business. Right now, all you NY tinters need to band together and get a "slush fund" going for legal representation. Call an atty NOW!! Let them know whats happening. An atty will tell you the same thing. That letter is just a bluff, now if they are investigating YOUR FRIEND personally, they may well have a subpeona. If they have one, then he has no recourse but to comply. Get a copy of the subpeona and or warrant for his/your attorney. That warrant MUST spell out why they are there, what they are looking for, and the items to be seized. On a side note, they also need a subpeona/warrant to look at your bank records. My suggestion to you and your friend is get legal representation NOW!!!

New York is on a mission when it comes to tint. They are in the early stages of looking into it. The problem is, everyone has to install the so called'illegal film' to survive. If you have an auto installattion shop only, you are not going to make a living with 70% vlt only. and specialty vehicles don't bring enough regular work. It is a double edged sword on this issue. You can stay quiet, ride it out, and go back to business as usual soon. OR get legal representation, and bring it to the froefront of the battle. Either one could be suicide. Remember, the law still states now lower than 70%. If you begin a fight, you had best be prepared for what comes. It could help change the law, or help to make tighter restrictions on film installation. Seek legal advice, but proceed with caution. It is easy for us in other states to tell you what to do. But, we don't face the battle you do(yet). Stricter laws in NY, could bring to tidal flow to neighboring states, and cause a wake that flows across the country. Florida is pretty loose when it comes to film installation, but let NY pass a tighter law and have some county sheriff in Fla. have a shooting he can try to blame on dark tint and see what happens.
My only advice is to seek out your fellow tinters, find legal advice and see what happens. Good Luck.

I am a tint shop on Long Island and did get a letter from the attornney general.They wanted advertising materials documents invoices customer names and so on they will get NOTHING!Right now I dont believe ther is a law in N.Y. for the person applying the film.If there was the kid who walks into pep boys, buys Illegal tint and does it in his driveway would be arrested.They can only ticket the driver.A friend of mine in the same area got busted by a sting and they did nothing more than warn him because there was nothing else they could do.The attorney general note is just another scare tactic, it is a very slippery slope.If we did 70% on all but the back we would be out of business in a week.But they cant just send this to some shops and not others,they would have to stop every tint shop in N.Y.which means stop the sale from the people who sell to us and pep boys (Which is opening up a can of worms)we either stand together or go down together we are just honest business people trying to make a living not dr*g dealers!!!

Here's the president of the IWFA, Tom Niziolek's comment:

"But for a shop that engages in this illegal activity, negative exposure and costly citations are just two of the risks they face. Insurance companies and litigation also could be factors if an accident is caused by illegal tint. Once again, the majority of window film companies are committed not only to their own success, but also the success of the entire industry. And this commitment is reflected in the ethical way they conduct business. But there remain a few whose practices threaten to corrode our collective credibility. So, if you are engaged in any of the above activities, do us all a favor … knock it off! "

-WF Mag

I could not agree more wholeheartedly. And I wish that the insurance companies would do more to deny claims on cars with illegal tint. This practice IS giving this industry a black eye. That being said, I'd REALLY like to know what the IWFA is going to do for our NY brothers. Are they even going to get involved?I really DO understand the economics of trying to stay in business and illegal tint. But the answer is to tint legally, and organise to challenge the validity of the tint laws, not break them. That just makes everyone look bad.

As I dont reside in NY, I understand your delema. A 70%vlt is rediculous, and most new cars have that factory. I just wonder though, if they sent a letter to the Unique shop, they advertise illegal tint on almost every episode, and yes, I realize some cars are out of state, but most of the states they deliver to dont allow 20% on front roll ups, but, they probably get special considerations since they are sooo famous. Cops in my town want and get illegal tint on almost everything, yet the only two exemptions in our tint law is for a medical waiver, or the rear of a K9 vehicle. Our MPV vlt is any on rear sides, and rear glass, we use to include crew cab trucks into this category, in 2005, they added an amendment which excluded pickups, and the vlt for the rear side and b/g are to be 27% net, yet the factory tint is darker, go figure that, I can buy the truck darker than I can tint it myself.

I had an altercation with a cop last year. I tinted a vehicle legal, with certification stickers in each window, as required by law. It seems that the customer went to the local store and bought some 5% film, and had a friend, or himself, tint over my legal job. The police wanted to charge me for that job. Luckly, I tint all the way to the edge, and they were well short, which caught me a break since the police had a little common since, this time. Today, I dont put a sticker on anything with my name on it, for this reason, until they stop selling film at various retail locations to any joe blow on the street. Is this illegal, yes, but so is fraud on behalf of some customers. Long story short, be careful what you do, we started taking pictures afterwards showing the lightness of the film, just in case.

its not just one shop.im finding out its many.good point with the pep boys.i hate when people tell us to stop the illegal tinting in NY.it's all illegal!were just try to pay the bills,and mine are large!

Hey big money thanks for the welcome.I just dont understand why some shops got this letter and some didnt? If I try to go 100% legal or stop tinting the guy down the block will get all my business.Im not saying to tint Illegal but there has to be a better Way!I know 4 shops who got the letter and 4 that didnt that doesnt seem fair.I think they want to see how many will come to them with there tail between their legs.I think they are going about it the wrong way they would have to stop the sale of any tint other than 70% to anyone in N.Y. but the problem with that is we can tint back windows 15% or darker by law.The other problem is cars come stock with the driver and passenger a very light shade but by going over it 70% if you meter it it will show a little darker and blam a ticket(if the cops want to go by the book) So what do we do? jttint1 is right the bills keep rolling in and there is always someone down the block who will tint cheaper or tint darker than you!But as long as you can walk into pep boys or aid auto and buy dark film then it cant be illegal to sell it or all those places would be breaking the law.So what is the answer????

I dont have an answer, or at least a popular one. There are allot of people on here who will bash your, the guy down the block will do it if i dont idea.

I have set up an account with my city and county police dept, and tint all sorts of vehicles for them, and they dont follow the law, or dont even seem to care to. But, the police in this area dont seem bothered by the tint law, and for some, dont even know what it is.

You have to decide what is best for your business. Lawsuits are expensive. Sounds like you may need a lawyer. Sounds like you guys need to band together up there and fight the law. Get customers to band with you guys and gals, and fight it. There is power in numbers.

I never understood how you can tint a car with 15 to 5 percent on the rear and be legal, and nothing on the front doors, and this makes it safer for the police, when most pull up behind you. Seems smarter to have the same vlt all around.

I don't think illegal tint causes accidents, stupid driving does. It's like the "guns don't kill people, people kill people" argument, though.

Maybe Guns, Window tint, and mountain climbing should all be illegal...

No, not really. Just window tinting.

I think this stems back to the two police officers who were shot, by a felon who was facing life in prison. He was going to shoot it out with the police no matter what, and the media coverage all placed the blame on the fact the "rear section of the suv they were driving in was tinted." I cant remember what politician or police spokesman was on the news shortly after, but he called for stricter tint laws saying this wouldn't have happened had the police been able to see inside the vehicle.....It sucks, here in CT we get quite a few custies from NY and always advise them of the legalities in NY. Like everyone else said NY tinters have to band together, ask for help from the iwfa, and pray for the best

I think I remember that article being discussed on here. I think the perps worked for a dealership, stole the new suv off the lot, and then got into the shot out. They never did say if it was aftermarket film, if it wasn't, they need to go after the vehicle mans. not us.

instead of gun control or window film control....how about nutjob control?!

Sorry, doble shot there.

Stan,
The thing isn't about insurance and accidents, it's about operating a car thats not in compliance with state law. That is the insurance companys out. If the car is illegal, be it for tint, suspension, emissions, etc, the car is not supposed to be driven on public roads. If one gets into a wreck, or worse, the insurance company does NOT have to pay out. They only insure LEGALLY operated vehicles. Every policy has that wording in them somewhere.
We can sit and speculate all day 'till Jeffs cows come home about what is right and what is wrong with the laws. The fact is that our legislators have enacted a law that is in direct conflict with at least 4 constitutional amendments. These laws will stay in place until someone challenges thier validity. The powers that be are counting on the complacency of the public. They bet on the fact that it's cheaper to pay a ticket than to mount a legal battle.
The US Supreme court will only decide an issue IF IT'S CHALLENGED. For example, take gun control. The constitution CLEARLY outlines the right of the citizen to bear arms, in order to maintain a well regulated militia. Somewhere along the lines, that was interpreted by some to mean that only a militia (state run/gov't run) has the right to bear arms. And it was deemed that the reserves fulfill that right. Now somewone has challenged that ruling and the Supreme Court will decide the issue. The original intent was so that the citizenry could, beacause they have the right to bear arms, mount an insurrection, if nescessary, to overthrow the government if it became too burdensome. Our government fears this, and is doing everything in it's power to curtail our constitutional rights. The constitution even goes so far as to say that it is every citizens duty to rise up should the government fail to act in the interests of those who they are sworn to serve. And with the recent challenges, the Supreme Court is finally involved.
The problem is that the courts and legal system are so convoluted that it takes an attorney to get thru all the legalese. So now, instead of equal justice under the law, we get the best justice that money can buy. It's gonna take money, and a good bit of it, IF someone were to challenge these laws. But they can successfully be challenged. It's gonna take a young law school grad who is out to become the next Mark Geragos, but it can, and I believe will, be done. The justifications for these laws would not stand up in a court of law. The place to start is by having all of the customers sign a petition for the abolishment of the laws. I would bet that over 80 % of all your custys would like to see a change. And THAT is a sizeable voting bloc!!! If that doesn't work, then it will take a court action. Thats where public apathy is killing us!!!

Bottom line is the law making entity of state governments made a laws against dark film on vehicles, not people climbing boulders or window tinting in general. We can still tint houses legally and if they did make a law against climbing, then people would have to choose whether or not they want to be lawbreakers.

They would have to shut me down to get a look at anything. Come with a warrant or get the heck out!

...........and I will add once again, it is impossible for anyone outside New York to make any judgement on the issiue of 'illegal' tint. Those of us outside that area who do not have regulations on this are able to make a living. If the tinter in NY went fully legit, he would be out of business quick. It's easy to post negative statements at these people, but I, for one, will not. The IWFA, PWTA(when formed), or any other organization will not,and finacially, cannot hire lawyers to push for legislative changes. This leaves the instalers on their own to try and fight this. With working full time and many with families, this is almost impossible. I wish them al the luck in this battle, but will not hold it against them or post against them should they install such 'illegal' films to stay in business and feed their families. The issue of working flat glass only is hard, since there are about 60 or more tinters(times how many employees) from the tip of LongIsland to the city alone. With that competition in flat only, ther would be no work and it would become a hizzos market fast. This is definately evident in Florida, where you can get a car tinted for as low as $69 all day long.................................

Thank you Customtinting!!You just said it all in a nutshell.We all have families and for some of us this is all we know.I know they wont, but even if they can change the law to 50% we could all deal with that,and the cops could see in no problem. I wish we could educate them somehow.But with guys like spitzer leading the charge against us (hypocrit that he was) its going to be difficult.but anyone outside of N.Y. cant really understand our dilema,we are just trying to make a living with the cost of everything these days that is becoming more and more difficult.

So just for the sake of a rational debate. Are you condoning 5% all the way around or what some of these guys are doing 35% and above.
I see your side here but I think the 5% guys need to go

PitStop,(and anyone else applicable)
Dude, folks gotta eat. I don't think that anyone "condones" illegal tint, but you gotta ask yourself "What if they did that here?" What would you do if your very livelyhood was threatened? This is a complex problem, with no clear cut answers. These guys in NY are in some serious doo-doo. What I'd suggest is to stonewall the powers that be as long as possible. Make them get a warrant to look at anything. Get in touch with an attorney as soon as possible. Perhaps a few (or more) of you can get together and hire an attorney to look into it. Now is the time for you guys to put aside your differences and unite. Unfortunately, the PWFA is as yet not fully formed, and carries no clout.
You can also call the IWFA and your respective manufacturers for whatever help they might be able to give. Just do not take this lying down.
If anyone is interested, I have a petition already drafted for Georgia, all you would need to do is a bit of editing. PM me with your email and I'll send it. Good luck guys. Any help I can give, just call me. All my contact info can be found at www.tamingthesun.com.

Key
I agree. I was just stating that the ones doing 35 and above on the fronts should still be considered legit. The way certain statements read around here is we would be condoning those hacks that do 5% all the way around. I was just trying to clarify

I don't think he is condoning stupidity, I think he is pointing out the difficulties of maintaining sales, feeding the fam, and working legit...sometimes it is impossible to all of the above with market oversaturation and meatballs down the street willing and eager to take your sales b/c they will install illegal tint. I appreciate him pointing all that out for the NY tinters b/c they probably feel really judged by others who aren't working in their state and who wouldn't understand the dilemma they are in.

I guess i the future, I will be more precise in my posting. As I read, some would think of me as a fool. I would never condone the use of 5% anywhere on a personal vehicle. Way too dark for night driving, and even daytime. Using logic is where the legislature should have been. A knee jerk reaction to a bad situation.
But, personally knowing many tinters from NY, I feel their pain. There are many great shops out there(and many back alley hacks too) Keep up your fight and do what ya gotta do to stay alive!!!!.

YOu're welcome , Tunefx. Hey, PM me and let me know where you're from(shop and town)

Thanks

Everyone in NY received the letter. It did NOT come registered mail #1 so as far as im concerned i never received it. #2 the NYS Attorney General is investigating unfair business practices. People are getting tinting tickets for 35% 50% and 70% (as well as the darker films) then going to court to fight it and saying "the installer said its was legal". If you tell a customer 70% film is legal on roll ups you are the guy they want.

Tell a customer that its legal when its not constitutes fraud

thats all good, but hard to do. installing !llegal tint should have never ben a law. that law is unconstitutional, on the gounds of discimination.
are you legal? i am.

I agree it should NEVER have been legislated. Our gov't is getting FAR too invasive in our personal lives and choices. That being said, breaking the law is NOT gonna change it. It will only serve to have the powers that be further legislate us, and criminalize us. We already have a less than savory reputation as tinters, and the willingness to break the law and tint !llegal only furthers and reinforces that image.