New Tint Regulations Passed Despite Further Dissent

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Cars

Tuesday, 19 April 2011 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - The Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Amendment Act 2011 continued to stir mixed reaction as it travelled through the senate into law on Monday.

During its earlier passage through Parliament, members on the government side had expressed their disapproval of the requirement that MPs conform to the public standards of allowable tint on their vehicles.

MPs Dr Jacqui Quinn-Leandro, Wilmoth Daniel, and Eleston Adams were quite vocal in their disagreement.

When the bill reached the Senate however, Leader of Government Business Dr Errol Cort explained that the measure was not targetting MPs, put spoke to a bigger concern.

"The issue really is law enforcement, and allowing them to see who are the people driving these vehicles that are being used to commit serious crimes in this country," he said.

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This was echoed by Senator Joanne Massiah, who noted, "We have challenges in our country where crime is concerned. ... As our borders become more often, as technology becomes more accessible and available, the sort of crimes become more sophisticated. We have to fight it in every alley, in every street, in every lane, in every community. And we're starting here."

Their colleague, Senator Colin Derrick, nonetheless contended that the fines to be imposed were insufficient.

"If you have a tinted window, they charging you $200. ... on a commercial side, $150. When somebody puts that on paper and sends it to be signed, do they do the calculations?" he asked, outlining the process in bringing someone to court, and the possible non-appearance by would-be offenders. "Do you know how much it costs in time for a police officer ... even the books to write them up cost more than $200."


Meanwhile, opposition senator Lennox Weston said it was imperative that the government meet with the entrepreneurs, most of them young people, who would be stripped of their livelihood. "(You) don't want to just wipe them out of business," he said.

The acceptable degree of tint now ranges from between 25 and 35 percent. These restrictions do not apply to armoured security vehicles, hearses, the emergency service providers, and the prime minister.

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