WINTERSVILLE, Ohio --
Ohio state Highway Patrol troopers are cracking down on an illegal trend on the rise.
Troopers said many drivers are violating the state law regarding window tint.
"It’s an officer safety issue," said Sgt. James Faunda. "When we stop a vehicle and walk up, we want to be able to see what's going on inside the vehicle. The second aspect is at night time, when you have tinted windows, you can't see."
Troopers measure window tint with meters. Under Ohio law, 50 percent of light must pass through the front windows.
NEWS9 rode along with Faunda as he stopped drivers accused of the violation.
The first vehicle's windows tested at 15 percent.
The second car Faunda stopped tested at 18 percent and the driver told NEWS9 he didn't know his vehicle violated state law.
The third driver's car tested at 14 percent.
Scott Kosek, an employee at First Class Customs in Wintersville, said he has applied tint to more than 3,000 vehicles.
"Local law enforcement vehicles, their own personal vehicles, judges, mill workers, doctors, lawyers, I've worked on cars for everyday people." said Kosek.
"If a customer is willing to look the other way when I explain the law to them, then if I don't do it, someone else will," said Kosek.
The violation will cost drivers $135 in Jefferson County and $165 in Harrison County.
Drivers are not the only ones who could face charges.
"We're looking into businesses in the area that install window tint and we're looking into possibly pursuing charges," said Faunda.
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