Jamie Sarkonak: Provinces should hit gangs where it hurts — by going after window tint

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNP Comment Jamie Sarkonak: Provinces should hit gangs where it hurts — by going after window tint All-black windows are a hallmark of bad driving and organized crime. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Author of the article: By Jamie Sarkonak Published Aug 31, 2026 Last updated 43 minutes ago 4 minute read Join the conversation PHOTO BY SUN MEDIA Article content The fully tinted-out vehicle is one of the great villains of Canadian traffic. It’s more likely to drive aggressively, ripping through residential zones and weaving through high-density freeway traffic far above the speed limit. Even worse than its road etiquette is what’s inside: people, possibly wanted on warrants, along with their drugs and guns. Article content That’s why the opaque-windowed car is the perfect target for any province that wants to make substantive change in the fight against organized crime — without depending on the feds. Article content RECOMMENDED VIDEOS Article content Article content Window tint is a simple matter of traffic regulation, placing it squarely within provincial jurisdiction. And it’s regulated for good reason: completely darkened windows on the entire car reduce driver visibility and the tint can complicate extraction in an emergency. They also make the job of traffic enforcement much more dangerous for the officers on the front line. It’s a lot easier for the occupants of that tinted-out hellcat to ambush the sheriff who pulled them over if he can’t see inside on the approach. Article content Right? The National Post newsletter that doesn’t hold back, giving readers the unvarnished truth on media, politics and culture. Sign Up By signing up, you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Generally, the present rules on window tint across the provinces allow for some degree of tint in the back of a vehicle, and no tint at all in the front. But, generally, the consequences across Canada for violating these very straightforward rules are astoundingly low. In B.C., for example, the illegal tint fine is usually $109, according to the RCMP. If the officer also makes an inspection order to ensure the tint is removed, and said order is not followed, there can be another fine of $598. Article content Alberta is much the same: earlier this week a…