By: Gavincia Clarke
Nevispages.com
(CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS) – The Traffic Department of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has expressed concerns about the level of non-compliance with the Federation’s traffic laws, especially as it relates to tinted vehicles.
The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, has recently announced that they will now be paying close attention to motorists driving vehicles that are darkly tinted and do not comply by the stipulations of the ‘Vehicles and Road Traffic Act’.
Inspector Stephen Hector, informed this media house on Thursday, January 23, 2014 that the traffic department on Nevis has decided to step up the enforcement after realizing that a number of vehicles are on the road that are darkly tinted.
“We have found that there are quite a number of vehicles on the road that are darkly tinted; we are therefore sensitizing the general motoring public of our intent to increase efforts to enforce the legislation as it relates to the tinting of vehicles act”, he said.
Hector also highlighted, that vehicles are now being imported with custom-tint by the manufacturers of vehicles. According to the Inspector, any vehicle that allows less that 35% of light to pass through is termed as a ‘restricted motor vehicle’.
He indicated that he understands that vehicles that are custom-tinted create a special difficulty and a financial burden to get the tinted glasses removed. However, he explained that no motor vehicle will be allowed on the road if the windows or windscreens are tinted, whether the glass has been custom-tinted by the manufacturer or applied by another person.
The Inspector also informed this media house, that the Traffic Department has teamed up with the Customs Department and as a result, no vehicle will be cleared from the port if the vehicle tints do not meet the requirements of the laws.
“From this point going forward, no one can use the excuse that they got their vehicle from the manufacturer tinted”, he said. He stated that persons now have to make sure that their vehicles are compliant with the rules and regulations of St. Kitts and Nevis.
He also stated that darkly tinted vehicles give society a feeling of discomfort. He is also of the opinion that tinted vehicles opens up greater opportunities for crimes. Hector reiterated that the police force has a zero tolerance towards crime.
Hector reminded motorists, that if anyone fails to abide by the laws, their vehicle may be impounded or they may be brought to the Magistrate Court where the Magistrate may order the offender to pay a fine.
In conclusion, Inspector Hector noted that the degree of light transmission will be determined by a measuring device known as the ‘Mars Window Transmeter’.