Higher fines for overly tinted vehicles

PUTRAJAYA: Errant motorists who refuse to adhere to the law on permissible level of tinting for windscreen and side windows will face higher fines and penalties under a new law gazetted earlier this month.
The latest regulation on dark tinting under the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Certain Types of Glass) (Amendment) Rules 2016 is a stiffer law than the previous 1991 regulation.
The amended law, already enforced since Feb 6, will see first time offenders fined up to RM2,000 or six months jail while repeat offenders can be fined up to RM4,000 or 12-month jail sentence, or both.
Under the previous regulation, first time offenders were slapped with RM500 or a two-week jail term while repeat offenders faced a RM1,000 fine or a one-month jail sentence.
The only notable change under the 2016 regulation is the minimum translucence level of the windshield or visible light transmission (VLT) for rear side windows and rear windscreen set at 30%.
Previously, the permissible level was set at minimum 50% VLT for rear side windows and rear windscreen.
Meanwhile, the minimum VLT level for front windscreen still remains at 70% while for front side window (driver and front passenger) remains at 50%.
With the new law already gazetted, theSun understands that police are set to hunt down errant vehicle owners considering that ample notice had been given since November 2014.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pix) said the Road Transport Department (RTD) would still be conducting advocacy programmes on dark tinting new regulations.
"No special op this time around. The law is already there and people must adhere to the law all the time," he said after launching the
"Review and Redevelopment of Road Safety Education Module Project" at Putrajaya Marriot today.
RTD director-general Datuk Ismail Ahmad said the department would be taking a different approach to remind road users on the window tinting regulation.
"We will ask car owners to be aware of the new regulation and we will be giving them sufficient time to remove the illegal plastic tinting or replace the dark windscreen," he told theSun.