WITH the new regulations from the Road Traffic Act (RTA) slowly coming into effect, the subject of tinting could become a contentious issue for both public and private passenger vehicles.

According to Island Traffic Authority (ITA) head Kenute Hare, motorists may have fallen asleep on the issue, but the fact is that the use of tint by motorists is one of the issues which will guarantee a high priority when the regulations come into full effect.

“It is an offence and there is a fine attached to it, but that is under the Transport Authority Act. However, private motor vehicles will be required to have 70 per cent VLT of their front windows (wind shields) and 40 per cent for the other windows,” he explained.

VLT stands for visible light transmittance, and drivers should keep between 40 per cent and 70 per cent of their windows/windshields tint free.

Hare said right now the police advise drivers about the level of VLT they should observe, but if the driver continues to breach the regulations, by refusing to reduce the tint to acceptable levels, action will be taken.

“So they would have been given an opportunity to remove it and if they refuse, they will be prosecuted,” he said.

According to the RTA, in determining the driver’s field of vision:

“A motor vehicle which is being operated on a road shall be –

(a) constructed and maintained so as to afford the driver a full and clear view of the roadway and the traffic ahead and to the right and left of the vehicle; and

(b) fitted with a rear-view mirror or mirrors, whether on the interior or exterior of the vehicle, which enable the driver of the vehicle to see a 50 per cent clear view of the traffic to the rear of the vehicle.”

In terms of the material of windscreen/windows and partitions, the regulations state that a motor vehicle having a windscreen, window, or partition made of transparent material shall not be operated on a road unless the material affords the driver sufficient visibility for safe driving of the motor vehicle.

“A motor vehicle shall not be operated on a road unless the visible light transmittance through the

(i) windows of the front doors are at least 70 per cent and any other window is 40 per cent;

(ii) windscreen is at least 80 per cent when measured with a photo-optic tint metre; and, any film or tinting material applied to the windscreen is placed only at the top of the windscreen and measures no more than 15 cm in height from the top edge of the windscreen; and free from bubbles, tears or scratches and is non-reflective.”