Maharashtra: Motorists can't see Supreme Court order through tinted glass

The Maharashtra Traffic Police's zero tolerance policy in regards to the ban on usage of black films on vehicle glass has not yielded satisfactory results. Despite orders of the Supreme Court against using Visual Light Transmission (VLT) window films, vehicle owners do not seem to have paid any heed.

In this regard, 13 lakh cases have been registered from 2013 till May 2019 and a fine of about Rs 15 crore has been collected by the traffic police.

In 2012, a bench of then Chief Justice SH Kapadia while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Avishek Goenka passed the judgment which stated that motorists across the country have to remove black films or any other material tampering with the original form of the safety glass of vehicles. If they fail to abide to the same, legal action shall be initiated against them.

This means that only company-fitted tinted windows are permitted with 70% visual transmission of light on the front windscreen and the rear window, and 50% visual transmission of light for the remaining windows. Rules insist that the interiors of cars should be clearly visible from outside through both front and rear wind-shields.

A senior state traffic police officer said, "Many violators claim the heat and increasing temperatures have forced them to use tinted windscreens and black sun films. Tinted glass also becomes a reason of concern as it helps criminals use such vehicles for crimes like robberies, murders and crimes against women."

Figures acquired from traffic police highlight that the number of cases has significantly dipped in the six years mentioned, but motorists still continue to flout the rules.

Meanwhile, a transport expert said that in order to discourage motorists, the fine amount needs to be increased. Also, many violators who are issued challans are repeat offenders.

"The number of vehicles plying on the road with black glasses is significant. Based on this observation, Additional Director General of Police (Traffic), Maharashtra, Vinay Kargaonkar has appealed to all motorists not make use of such glasses, and if found doing so, the violator shall face strict action in future," added the officer.