From RCIPS

RCIPS’ officers conducted operations last Friday, 21st March 2014 targeting motorists with unsafe tint applied to their vehicles side windows and windscreens.  The operation resulted in the prosecution of seventeen motorists whose vehicles had tint applied to them with light transmission in either direction less than the prescribed limit under the Traffic Regulations, 2012.

The Traffic Regulations, 2012 stipulates that the top of the front windscreen may have a strip of tinted glass of any degree of light transmission not exceeding six inches in width, measured from the top of the windscreen. The front side windows shall allow a minimum of thirty-five percent of light transmission whether the glass is tinted by the manufacturer or any other person.  The rear side windows and rear windscreen shall allow a minimum of fifteen percent light transmission. Tint applied to vehicles’ windows and windscreens is deemed unsafe if light transmission in either direction is less than the prescribed light transmission under the Regulations. Unsafe tint is an offence and punishable under the Traffic Law, 2011 and liable on summary conviction to a fine of two thousand five hundred dollars, or to imprisonment to six months, or to both.

The RCIPS is advising motorists to remove license plate covers that have the effect of changing the appearance or legibility of any of the characters of the registration plates. The plates should be readable in good daylight (with the aid of glasses or contact lenses, if worn) at a distance of sixty feet.  Persons who are non-compliant commit an offence under the Traffic Regulations and liable on summary convictions to a fine of three hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term of six months, or to both.

The RCIPS also advises motorists that the rear plate lights should be in good working order to illuminate at nights the rear plate so as to render it readable at a distance of thirty feet. If the lights are defective at nights, motorists commit an offence punishable under the Traffic Law, 2011 and liable on summary conviction to a fine of two thousand five hundred dollars, or to imprisonment to six months, or to both.

Officers of the RCIPS will continue these operations over the coming weeks.