Vehicle owners yet to comply with RTD's new directive

KUALA LUMPUR: Many vehicle owners in the city have yet to comply with the Road Transport Department (RTD)'s directive of not using strobe, high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and fancy registration number plates.
This was seen when RTD officers who conducted a joint enforcement operation with the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and police between Oct 1 and Oct 28 issued 624 warning notices.
Effective Nov 1, the RTD will issue summonses to vehicle owners caught with these three offences.
Kuala Lumpur RTD director, Md Ziki A.Rahman advised all vehicle owners to comply with the law or face the consequences.
"For now we only issued warning notices so that vehicle owners can start complying to the directive," he said, adding those who flout the law can be charged under the Road Transport Act 1987 where they could be fined up to RM2,000 or six months' jail, or both for first offence or a fine of not exceeding RM4,000 or imprisonment of up to one year, or both, for subsequent offence.
He said the department had given ample time for owners to adhere to the ruling.
During the grace period which started in September, Md Ziki said, there were 87 motorists who brought their vehicles to the department to check if they have violated any of the offences, especially the tinting of windscreens and windows.
Under the new regulations, the level of Visible Light Transmission (VLT) for rear windows and windscreens was reduced to 30% from 50% currently. The allowable tint for front windscreens remains at 70% and driver's windows at 50%.
The enforcement operation is scheduled to kick off in May next year.
Asked why the enforcement on tinted glasses has been pushed to next year, Md Ziki said, it was to give ample time for vehicle owners to comply, including that of imported vehicles.
Those not complying to the new directive on tinted windscreens and window can face a RM500 fine or two weeks' jail, or both for first time offender or a fine of up to RM1,000 or one month jail, or both, for the same subsequent offence," he said.