Prosecutor and police chief donate 14 tint meters to Beecher police after safety-law changes

Jim Glasgow, a prosecutor, and Chief Lemming appeared at the Beecher Village Board meeting on Sept. 22 to discuss recent changes to a state safety law and to donate 14 window-tint meters to the Beecher Police Department.

Glasgow said the original version of the safety law required release within 90 days for everyone and removed judges’ authority to issue warrants when people failed to appear, which he described as creating unreasonable constraints on handling serious cases. He said litigation and a subsequent amendment produced a roughly 300-page change that restored greater prosecutorial and judicial tools; he called the result imperfect but workable and said serious cases are being handled appropriately.

Glasgow demonstrated the donated tint meters and described how officers use them during traffic stops. He said side and rear windows must meet minimum light-transmission standards and that meters establish probable cause for a stop when windows appear illegally dark. He also described a certificate course for officers to calibrate and testify about meter readings in court.

Chief Lemming said the meters will be an additional tool for officers conducting traffic and public-safety patrols. Glasgow and Lemming noted the meters can assist with both criminal enforcement and civil identification after collisions. The devices and certification information were provided to the department that night.

The presentation included brief remarks from other trustees thanking Glasgow and his staff for the donation and recognizing local labor representatives allied with the department.

No formal motion or vote accompanied the donation; the items were presented as a donation and training offer to the police department.