New rules on vehicle tinting to be enforced May 1 next year

The enforcement of the new vehicle tint rules will be from May 1 next year, said Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad.

Initially the new rules were to be enforced on Nov 1 but the date has been postponed to provide sufficient time for all motorists, especially those with imported vehicles to get their respective windscreen replacements.

"After taking into consideration the problems faced by motorists, it's only fair that a reasonable period of time be given for them to take the necessary corrective action, especially for owners of imported vehicles who need to get replacement windscreens with the new Visible Light Transmission (VLT)

rate.

"The time given is up to April 30, next year, and after that period, beginning May 1 enforcement action will be taken against the use of tinted glasses that do not comply with the specifications of the new VLT," he told a press conference at his office here today.

The new rules specify VLT levels of 50 per cent for the front side windows and 30 per cent for all other windows (rear side windows and rear screen) and minimum permissible VLT levels of 70 per cent for the windscreen.

Based on regulations prescribed under the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Certain Types of Glass) Rules, 1991, road users can be compounded RM300 and if the case is brought to court, they can be fined up to RM1,000 or jailed up to two weeks or both.

In the meantime, starting Nov 1, JPJ will be carrying out a special integrated operation comprising the Royal Malaysia Police and the Land Public Transport Commission against motorists who use 'strobe' lights, High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lights or xenon light, and with size of registration numbers not in accordance with specifications.

Vehicle owners have been given until Oct 31 to change the size of the registration number in accordance with specifications, replace the HID lights (not installed by the vehicle manufacturer) as well as remove the strobe light installed on their vehicles or be issued summonses