KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Effective immediately, bus and taxi operators are required to remove tints from their public passenger vehicles (PPVs).

“For motor cars, no tint will be allowed on the back windscreen, no tint will be allowed on the two front windows and no tint will be allowed on the (front) windscreen, except for a six-inch visor from the top,” emphasised Head of the Police Traffic Division, Senior Superintendent (SSP) Calvin Allen, at a press conference at the Transport Authority offices in Kingston today.

He said the requirements for the coaster and minibuses are similar, pointing out that the only difference will be the tinting allowed for the windscreen.  

“For the coaster bus, no tint will be allowed on the back glass, nor the two immediate glasses at the side of the vehicle; therefore, there ought to be a clear view on the back seat of those public passenger vehicles,”  Allen said.

“For the glass that is on either side of the vehicle coming up to where the driver sits, a 70 per cent inward view will be allowed. For the driver’s door, that glass should have no tint, neither will there be any tint for the passenger that sits across from where the driver sits, as well as the door that the conductor operates from,” he added. 

In terms of the windscreen of the coaster buses, SSP Allen said a nine-inch visor will be allowed. He said there will be a similar requirement for Toyota Hiace vehicles, and the only difference is that a six-inch visor will be allowed, instead of nine.

Meanwhile, he said vehicles with factory tints that are being utilised as PPVs will be given a grace period to become regularised.

“They will go through certain testing by the Island Traffic Authority. If the grade tint that is there is of the required standard, that will be accepted; if  the grade tint that is there is not of the required standard, a twelve-month period is being allowed for the owner/operator to correct and to become legitimate,” he said.

He said operators found in breach will be charged $2,500. He added that fines are expected to increase once the new Road Traffic Act is passed in Parliament.

He said the regulations will also be extended to the State-owned bus entity, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC). 

In the meantime, Transport Authority Chairman, Joseph Shoucair, is reporting full support from bus and taxi associations in the removal of tint from PPVs.

He informed that earlier today a meeting was held with various taxi associations outlining the details of the initiatives that will be undertaken.

“I am pleased to tell you that the discussions were spirited, cordial and respectful. At the end of the meeting, we were and remain on one accord,” he said.

Mr. Shoucair said the removal of tints from public PPVs is aimed at assisting with public safety and security.

Last week, Prime Minister Andrew Holness gave instructions for the removal of tints from PPVs. This is in light of recent incidents of women and children being abducted by perpetrators posing as taxi operators.

The guidelines regarding tinting are outlined in Regulation 15 (b) of the Transport Authority Act.