If you're a Rhode Island motorist, you're not allowed to have tinted car windows. A lawmaker there is proposing to lifting the ban, but only for legislators, police, fire and judges.

Representative Anastasia P. Williams (D-Providence) claims it's a safety issue to shield them from the displeased public.

"Put yourself in our shoes for a minute," she told the Boston Globe. Well, before I do that, I'd like to know why they banned everybody from getting tinted windows in the first place.

The Rhode Island law exempts people with certain medical conditions, law enforcement vehicles, and vehicles not required to be registered. The politicians there should put themselves in the shoes of everyday people. If they crafted a law based on our Massachusetts law, their vehicles would be cooler in the summer for the infants and pets.

Most Rhode Island car windows have to allow 70 percent of the light in, while it's only 35 percent in Massachusetts. As long as the police can still see inside, that should be the only "safety issue" that I see.

I think it's an unfair preference to ask for a law that will exempt pols and Anastasia should look at crafting a new law that lets the sun shine on everyone equally.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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