MUMBAI: The traffic police has started a sustained campaign against vehicles with tinted glasses, particularly in south and central Mumbai. Dr A B Road, Girgaum Chowpatty and Senapati Bapat Marg are some of the roads where cops have been regularly cracking down on errant vehicles.

“Every traffic division has one officer who has received special training in operating a machine which measures the transparency of tinted glass in percentage points. A team of two officers works in shifts,” an official said. Ever since the drive started, the police have registered over a dozen cases daily at each chowky.

“If the transparency is below the mandatory mark, the vehicle owners have to cough up a fine of Rs 100. If they are unable to pay the fine, their licenses are confiscated and they are asked to change the glass in two days,” the officer said.

According to the Central Motor Vehicles Rule, 1989, vehicles fitted with dark glasses or tinted glasses need to have 50% transparency on the side windows and 75% transparency on the front and rear windows.

Between January and April, the traffic police registered cases against 10,220 vehicles for having tinted glasses and collected Rs 7.14 lakh in fines.

Anil Thakker, chairman of the Traffic Committee, Western India Automobile Association (WIAA), said, “The rationale behind the rule is that the driver of the vehicle should be visible. Also, manufacturers of the glass are aware of the traffic rules and regulations. But if there are so many cases, then people may be adding more films to reduce the transparency. They should try to adhere to this rule.”

Entry Filed under: Delhi,Mumbai Road Accidents,Mumbai Traffic News