SC Bans Illegal Use Of Tinted Glass On Cars

Published: Saturday, April 28, 2012, 12:25 [IST]

The Supreme Court has imposed a ban on using tinted glass on cars blocking vision beyond permissible limits prescribed under the Motor Vehicles Act. The court said car manufacturers may produce vehicles with tinted glasses having Visual Light Transmission (VLT) of safety glasses windscreen (front and rear) as 70 per cent and side glasses as 40 per cent VLT, respectively.

The order by a 3-judge bench came on plea seeking ban on tinted glass on car windows. The petitioner had claimed that cars with black film on window panes were being increasingly used for crimes, including sexual assault of women.

However, the court allowed the use of dark films on government vehicles owing to security reasons. It has also asked state governments to frame guidelines on the same.

According to Motor Vehicles Act, the black film on the front and rear windscreens should not block light by more than 30% and the tint on the side window panes not more than 50%. The court has asked the Home Secretary as well as police heads of the respective states to ensure compliance with its direction, which will come into effect from May 4.

Currently, defaulters of the law are being slapped with a fine of just Rs 100 which has been proposed to be increased. “We hope that the stricter action will make the defaulters mindful of the rules," said a senior traffic police officer.

Article Published On: Saturday, April 28, 2012, 12:25 [IST]

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