TO:  Manufacturers, Distributors, and New York Dealers      

FROM:  Ben Ford, Legislative Chairman  

DATE:  February 8, 2005

SUBJECT:  New York AB 1687

On June 3, 2004, the IWFA sent a Legislative Alert regarding Assemblyman Gantt’s            AB 723.  That legislation would have restricted all  windows to 70 percent with the               one exception for the rear window, with the provision that rear-facing mirrors were      mounted on the side of the vehicle. Had the legislation passed, the sale of many              sport-utility vehicles and new crossover vehicles with dark factory tint would have           been outlawed. Thanks to your efforts, in conjunction with the work of the              Legislative  Consultant, AB 723 stalled in the Transportation Committee last year.

Assemblyman Gantt reintroduced the same legislation for the 2005  Session (AB                1687). A large automotive manufacturer contacted our Legislative Consultant             regarding this legislation. The Legislative  Consultant distributed information          concerning the legislation and IWFA’s  position to all manufacturers in an effort to            form a partnership with that industry with the goal of educating the New York            legislature on the benefits of window film.  Our consultant has also been working               with  Assemblyman Cusick for over a year providing information on our industry.           IWFA hosted an onsite meeting with the Assemblyman and his aide at a member’s        facility to provide demonstrations and to discuss the needs for realistic and             enforceable legislation in New York.  It is our understanding that Assemblyman                 Cusick is currently making a decision regarding the introduction of 2005 legislation. 

It is again stressed that Assembly Bill 1687 would severely limit legal installations      of film of any type in New York, and all members should be aware of this issue and contact          their representative in the New York Assembly to advise them of the unrealistic        restriction and provisions of this proposal.