Mumbai: Despite zero tolerance by the Maharashtra Traffic Police, against those driving cars with tinted windows and windscreens, it has not stopped the violators from fitting them anyway. The state traffic police have collected a total of 15.98 crore since 2013, out of which Rs 5.57 crore was collected from January to May this year for 33167 violations. In 2012, the Supreme Court had prohibited the use of black film or any other material on a vehicle’s windscreen and windows. The Supreme Court order prohibits the use of black film or any other material on a vehicle’s windscreen and windows. 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 windshields.
A senior traffic police officer said, when caught, the most common excuse put forward by the violator is the soaring temperatures in the city. "Many violators claim the heat and increasing temperatures have prompted them to use tinted windscreens and black sun films on the windows of cars, in contravention of the Supreme Court verdict banning the use of dark films on four-wheelers. Backing the traffic police's claims, the car accessory dealers also pointed out that the extreme weather conditions had forced several car owners to add additional tint on the windows. Some use black sun films to keep interiors cool, they said. Police said cars with tinted windows are often used in robberies, murders and crimes against women, which also helps suspects evade detection during police checks.
Though the numbers acquired from the state traffic police show a constant decline in the cases of using black tinted glass, it does not fail to mention that several motorists continue to flout the rules despite the knowledge. In the last seven years, police have collected fines close to Rs 16 crore for the use of tinted black glass after the SC banned it. After the ban on April 27, 2012, the first year recorded 3.34 lakh cases and collected Rs 3.24 crore from the violators. However, the number of violators dropped to 73,747 in 2018 and from January to May 2019, over 33,167 violators were caught for flouting the SC orders.
"We have written to all traffic posts to conduct checks and take action as we have been getting lots of complaints lately," said Vijay Patil, superintendent of police (highway safety). If caught, a violator has to pay Rs 200 as a fine for using the black tinted glass for the windows and windscreens of their vehicle. A transport expert said, "The fine amount for the offence needs to be increased to discourage motorists. Many violators who are challaned, are repeat offenders who do not mind paying fine again."
