The Hindu

• Vehicle owners are against the rule
• Sunscreen film removed from many private vehicles
• ‘Police will proceed against violators of the rule’

Mangalore, Nov 3: Many vehicles of the Regional Transport Office and the police are moving around in the city with tinted sunscreen film notwithstanding the ban imposed from Thursday November 1.

Superintendent of police N Sathish Kumar had given time for vehicle owners to adhere to norms laid down under section 100 (2) of the Central Motor Vehicles Act with regard to sunscreen film on windows of vehicles till October 31. He had warned of stern action against violators from November 1. However, a check on Friday revealed that many government vehicles had failed to implement the rule.

Following a press release of the department, vehicle owners had removed the sunscreen film from their vehicles to avoid being penalised by the police. The department had issued the directive in October, fearing misuse of vehicles with tinted sunscreens for committing offences.

The police had said that it had come to their notice that four-wheeler users, especially car owners, were using black film on the windscreen, hind glass and side and rear windows, preventing identification of people or objects inside the vehicles. Apart from the possibility of such vehicles being used to carry weapons, it would be difficult to identify the driver in hit-and-run cases.

Satish Kumar said that the department had only reminded the owners of the provisions of the Act. “As per the Act, windscreens, and windows of motor vehicles, shall be in such a way as to allow a clear vision of the inside from outside and vice-versa,” he said.

Admitting that there had been opposition from vehicle owners for this rule, given the fact that it would be difficult to drive vehicles in summer, Kumar said the department would proceed against the violators.

On violation of rules by government departments, he said the identity and authority of the person using the vehicle was clearly visible from outside.