KUALA LUMPUR – No private vehicle owners have been hauled to court for failing to settle compounds issued for violating window tint regulations, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke (Seremban-PH).
Addressing lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat today, Loke said that he had confirmed the matter with the Land Public Transport Agency and the Road Transport Department (RTD).
“From a legal perspective, any party that does not adhere to road laws and fails to pay a fine can be brought to court. This is a general rule for all laws, not just those regarding window tints,” Loke said in his Budget 2024 winding-up speech.
“All this while, there has never been a case of someone being brought to court over window tint regulations. The issue of a person being sent to jail (for the violation) does not arise.
“I hope that my explanation on the matter provides clarity to the public. It’s not that the government is seeking to put people in jail over tinted windows.”
Loke said that he was compelled to address the matter since several quarters on social media had raised concerns when RTD last month reminded road users of window tint regulations, which were gazetted under the Motor Vehicles Rules 1991 in 2019.
The regulations state that the visible light transmittance for a vehicle’s front windscreen should be at least 70% and at least 50% for the front side windows.
Rear side windows and the rear windscreen, however, are allowed to have 9% visible light transmittance.
RTD had said that drivers who violate these regulations may be fined up to RM2,000 upon conviction or imprisoned for up to six months for a first offence, while subsequent convictions could result in a RM4,000 fine or a maximum 12-month jail term.
Besides that, Loke said that when he was transport minister in 2019 during Pakatan Harapan’s first stint in Putrajaya, he had eased window tint regulation after receiving feedback from road users.
He added that vehicle owners who wished to apply for the cars to be fully tinted could do so by submitting the necessary documents to RTD, which will conduct its own checking process into the application before it is handed over for the minister’s approval.
“For VIPs such as ministers and the Inspector-General of Police, their vehicles are allowed to be fully tinted. Any party who feels that they qualify (for blackout tint) due to security concerns are allowed to make an application.
“There will then be an RM5,000 charge for the permit, which will need to be renewed every two years.”
It was previously reported that those who require their windows to be tinted dark for health reasons are exempted from this payment, as long as a letter from a government doctor verifying the matter is attached to the application. – November 2, 2023
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