AP police claims success in drive against tinted car windows

In the state capital here, "about 98 per cent four-wheeler owners have removed dark films from their windows and we have successfully implemented the Supreme Court orders since October", Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) C V Anand told PTI.

As a result of the education programme taken up by the police to convince the car owners coupled with co-operation from media we have achieved good results in less than three months, he said.

The Supreme Court in April this year, banned the use of tinted glass, restricting visions beyond permissible limit as fixed under the Motor Vehicles Act, in vehicles.

The court had passed the order on a plea seeking complete ban on use of dark films on car windows, including vehicles used by VVIPs, alleging that many crimes in cities were committed by people using such cars with tinted windows.

However, it made clear that tinted glass can be used in vehicles of government officials for security purposes and asked the state governments to frame guidelines regarding this.

"Initially we urged four-wheeler owners to comply with the apex court order but some people resorted to various methods to avoid removing the dark tints following which city police began a special campaign to enforce directions banning the use of dark tinted films by imposing fine against those who violated the norms," Anand said.

To enforce the directions and intensify the drive, police increased the penalty amount from Rs 100 to Rs 500 from November 5, he said.