How to make frame curtains for a car with your own hands

Is it possible to use frame curtains according to traffic regulations?

You can, but not on the front windows, otherwise there will be a fine. And this is what the legislation says regarding the issue we are discussing!

The direct answer to this is contained in the Basic Regulations for the Admission of Vehicles to Russian Roads (this is the Appendix to the Traffic Regulations). Thus, paragraph 7.3 of the Rules indicates that:

It is prohibited to place any objects or coverings that limit visibility from the driver’s seat - and in practice, the area of such visibility is considered to be the front hemisphere: windshield and side front windows,
however, it is possible to install specific frame shades on rear windows, provided that your vehicle is equipped with both side mirrors.

A similar requirement is also contained in the Technical Regulations in paragraph 4.3 of Appendix No. 8. It also prescribes that the light transmittance of the front hemisphere must be at least 70% - that is, the front windows must transmit at least 7/10 of the total light, and no frame curtains, unfortunately, can provide this.

As for the formulation of visibility given above - that it is provided by the front and side windows at the front, confirmation of this is also contained in the Technical Regulations at the very beginning of the document - general provisions, definition of visibility.

Installing and driving are two different things

Please note that the above regulation establishes obligations regarding the completeness of vehicles when they are released into circulation on the roads of our country, and does not directly prescribe obligations for drivers. Therefore, the Code of Administrative Offenses does not contain a specific fine for a driver’s violation of the provisions of the Technical Regulations.

Traffic regulations prescribe responsibilities for the operation of vehicles. Thus, it is prohibited to drive with frame curtains.

However, if your car is stationary and you use curtains solely to, for example, protect the interior from sunlight or a sleeping child from bright light, then in this case the use of frame curtains is permitted, and there is a fine for this by law in 2021 year cannot be.

INSTALLING CURTAINS. HOW TO INSTALL AUTO BLINDS. SECRETS OF EXPERIENCED CARS.

How to install car curtains on the front windows of your car? For some reason, many buyers of these products from the TROKOT company think that it is difficult and almost impossible to do this on their own. In fact, there is nothing difficult about this process. Installing curtains on the front side windows of a car, as well as on the rear ones, takes a minimum of time and is carried out in several stages:

unpacking the received curtains;
attaching magnets to the window frame;
attaching the grids themselves to the magnets.

As you can understand, installing curtains on the front windows is not at all difficult. The result will be especially good if you know a few tricks from the masters of this business.

How to install curtains on the front windows of a car so that they stay as secure as possible? Before installing the magnets, wipe the areas where they are mounted on the car door with an alcohol wipe or similar to ensure optimal adhesion. It also doesn’t hurt to first carefully try on the curtain with magnets attached to it on the door. You can even make neat markings. Then, in the end, the protective screen will fit perfectly and will hold extremely firmly.

Now you know in general terms how to install curtains on the front windows of your car. It's simple!

What is the responsibility under the Administrative Code?

Since when driving with frame curtains we violate a specific normative act in the form of the Basic Provisions, the punishment for this is provided for by the only norm for the entire list of such conditions and malfunctions in the Code - Article 12.5.

In our case, Part 1 of this article provides for a warning or a fine of 500 rubles for objects that limit visibility from the driver’s seat.

This is the only legal measure of liability in 2021 for frame curtains that is in the Code of Administrative Offenses. However, in practice you may encounter other additional security measures, including illegal ones. We'll talk about this below.

Are fines issued in practice?

Yes, sure. Moreover, quite actively - even though frame curtains are not such a favorite violation detected by traffic police officers as film darkening of windows, however, this type of removable tinting is also quite often punished by traffic police inspectors on the road.

This happens quite standardly:

you are driving along the road and you see an inspector, who, in turn, sees your car from afar with frame curtains (more precisely, only when you drive up to him will he discover that this is removable tinting, and from afar you will simply see an object that restricts the view and the interior is too dark),
the policeman stops you and simply issues an order under Part 1 of Article 12.5.

Is light transmittance measurement required?

No, this is not necessary for frame curtains, so the above are only 2 simple points in the scenario of holding such a driver accountable.

Here we should generally distinguish between 2 different norms of punishment:

12.5, part 1 – 500 rubles – for objects that limit visibility (on the front windows), this is a legal fine for frame curtains in 2021,
12.5, part 3.1 – for coatings or objects on glass that do not provide the light transmission required by the Technical Regulations (at the same time, the Code of Administrative Offenses directly refers to a violation of the regulations).

The technical regulations, in turn, indicate that the front hemisphere must transmit at least 70% of sunlight (and not only) light.

Thus, the cardinal difference between these two measures of responsibility is that under Part 3.1 you can be fined specifically for the light transmittance of the glass itself - with or without films. But part 1 is specifically for items that limit the view. Therefore, in the case of frame curtains, the fine is issued specifically for 1 part. And measuring light transmittance is meaningless here.

What is better, tinting or frame curtains?

It’s no joke, but both of these norms of sanctions provide for exactly the same penalties: either a warning (which, by the way, in practice in 2021 is issued very rarely and in exceptional cases) or a fine of 500 rubles.

But the answer to the question of which method is safer to use in terms of a fine: frame curtains or regular film tinting, becomes obvious if you know that the police today are practicing a rather interesting additional method of dealing with the latter. And it is called “a requirement to eliminate the conditions entailing a violation.” Or the same “warning”.

The essence of this is that by installing the film, you are a priori going to violate, although you do this only while driving a vehicle (if the car is stationary, you can at least board up the windows with plywood).

We explained in detail why such a requirement is illegal in one of our previous articles. However, despite the illegality, inspectors continue to issue such papers, and judges imprison drivers for up to 15 days under Article 19.3 for disobeying the allegedly legal demands of a police officer.

In the case of frame curtains, such requirements are practically not issued - only fines, therefore, from the point of view of bringing to responsibility, using curtains is, as it were, “safer”.

If you managed to remove it?

It's not that simple here. Frame curtains have a wonderful advantage - they can be removed not only before communicating with the traffic police, but often even before the officer stops you. But this life hack doesn’t work very well for a car enthusiast.

Let’s say an inspector saw you on the road while driving with curtains, but you managed to remove them, and when the policeman approached the car, there was no violation. But he saw them!

In this case, the Administrative Code obliges the traffic police officer to conduct an inspection of the car, since this procedure is carried out in order to search for instruments of committing an offense:

the inspector draws up an inspection report,
attracts 2 witnesses or includes a video recording,
searches and finds frame curtains,
issues a resolution or draws up a protocol for further consideration (in the latter case, the curtains will most likely be confiscated from you - we’ll talk about this a little below).

Can frame curtains be confiscated?

No. Frame curtains are not an item that can be confiscated because they are not prohibited for use in principle.

Confiscation in administrative law is a separate type of punishment and is assigned exclusively by a judge. That is, the very possibility of such punishment should be provided for by the norm of liability in the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. But in our case, Part 1 of Article 12.5 directly states: a warning or a 500 ruble fine.

But the seizure is legal!

The fact is that in order to correctly use evidence when accusing a driver of violating the Code of Administrative Offences, the Code of Administrative Offenses provided for the possibility of confiscating the item with which the offense was committed (Article 27.10).

The confiscation of frame curtains is carried out just after the car is inspected in order to search for them, but only if the case is not considered immediately and the driver, accordingly, is not issued a fine, but draws up a report and sends it to the traffic police department for further consideration. Any traffic police officer authorized to draw up protocols has the right to seize curtains.

Something else useful for you:

Fine for non-working rear license plate light in questions and answers
How to appeal a fine for jaywalking or running a red light for a pedestrian?
What is the fine for crossing solid markings dividing parking spaces?

Do you have to return it after seizure?

Yes. In our case, part 3 of Article 29.10 of the Code of Administrative Offenses provides that seized items must be returned to their rightful owner after consideration of the case. The only exceptions are situations when:

the owner of the frame curtains is not identified,
the item is prohibited (drugs, weapons, etc.), and curtains are not one of them.

Therefore, any removable tint must be returned to the car owner after removal. This is done precisely after the consideration of the case. If a traffic police officer issued a fine for using frame curtains on the front windows on the spot, then he must return it immediately.

There is also no need to prove that these curtains are yours, either by receipts or by any other means. By default, in administrative law, the presumption of innocence also implies a presumption of ownership - that is, for example, you can not drive your own car, and when you drive someone else’s car, you are not asked for a written power of attorney. The same goes for curtains - they may not be yours, but they must be returned to the owner. Possession and ownership are two different things. The first includes the ability to dispose of property.

Kinds

In the modern world, there are several types of curtains for glass:

sun screens,
plastic,
frame,
sliding fabric.

Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. To choose the most convenient type of car blinds, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics.

Sunscreens

Cheap products. The price for two screens is 150-200 rubles. They are universal.

But the screen does not completely cover the glass, i.e. The sun enters the salon, you can look inside. On luxury cars, the Velcro screen looks awkward and out of place.

Plastic curtains

Convenience and mobility are the main advantages of plastic curtains. They roll up, taking up minimal space.

Manufacturers often use low-quality plastic; the product quickly loses its shape and burns out. Due to the design features, it does not completely cover the window. The price of plastic car curtains ranges from 1000 to 1600 rubles.

Plastic nets are not allowed by traffic regulations, the fine is about 500 rubles. Be careful.

Frame

Each brand of car has its own grids. A mesh fabric is stretched over the frame wire. The frame is attached to the window frame, not the window. The use of frame car blinds is not an offense. If the light transmittance meets the requirements of GOST, the traffic police officer will have no complaints against you. The frame mesh is stretched along the perimeter of the glass.