Tainted if tinted?

The recent media discussion on the tinted car windscreens issue fuelled by reports of Singaporeans who have unwittingly found themselves being fined and incarcerated after being pulled over by Malaysia’s traffic police, has alarmed many Singaporean car owners.

The current regulations for tinted windows are:

Singapore

• 70% light transmittance for front windscreen and front side windows
• 25% light transmittance for rear windscreen and rear side windows

Malaysia

• 70% light transmittance for front windscreen
• 50% light transmittance for all side windows and rear windscreen

Malaysia’s stricter requirements on side windows and rear windscreen have created much concern among local motorists. According to the Malaysian Road Transport Department’s website, anyone whose car has either tinted glass, or tinted film that does not meet its light transmittance requirements can be fined up to RM500 and jailed for two weeks. When interviewed, General Mohamed Bin Dalib from Malaysia’s traffic police department told Highway, “Singapore cars driving into Malaysia on a temporary vehicle permit should be regulated according to its own country’s (i.e. Singapore) laws.

Singapore-registered vehicles are thus allowed to conform only to its own
country’s legislation.” When Highway cited recent cases of Singaporeans being prosecuted for having the incorrect tinted glass on their cars, he said that this was “a misunderstanding.” A spokesperson from the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore told Highway, “Our view is that we agree with (what) the Malaysian traffic police chief (has said). The Malaysian High Commission has written to the Policies and Road Transport Department in Kuala Lumpur hoping to convene a meeting and get a final answer on this issue – but so far we have heard nothing.” Highway will keep its readers updated on Malaysia’s windscreen regulations.