The new law regulating the tint in your car, outlined in statutory instrument number 19 of 2011 goes into effect tomorrow.
To be compliant you'll have to have a tint graded 50% VLT on your front window and at the top of your windshield. 50% VLT means visible light transmission - or how much outside light the tint allows to pass through.
Now, most vehicles in Belize are at a VLT that's rated under ten - which won't work - AND THE traffic police will know for sure that you're in violation because they've gotten specialized meters to test the tint. Today we got to see one of the photometers at work. These are the devices that will test the tint to see how much light passes through it. A random check tuned up cars with 3% and 8%, way darker than the 50% mark - which means they would all be illegal.
And so while we suspect most vehicles are non compliant, there is a slight break - we found out more from the commissioner of transport today:..
Garreth Murillo, Commissioner of Transport
"Well the window tint regulations are coming into effect tomorrow, however they do allow a 30 day grace period within which our personnel and other traffic personnel across the country will be advising motorists as to whether their tints are legal or not and that they will then have that 30 days to remove the tint before they face any penalty. We want to assure the public that we do indeed have the meters already in the country and we will be offering free test to all motorists so that they can come into our offices and have their vehicles tested."
Jules Vasquez
"I was just reviewing the legislation. I see that it is not a ticketable offence - it is a summary offence. How does that work?"
Garreth Murillo, Commissioner of Transport
"Well how that works is that rather than giving a person a ticket for a fine which they pay, we will be issuing a summons and then they must make an appearance at Magistrate's Court."
Jules Vasquez
"What is the maximum fine for having a tint that exceeds the legal limit?"
Garreth Murillo, Commissioner of Transport
"The fine goes all the way up to $500. It will be impose not by the transport department but by the courts."
Jules Vasquez
"Now a lot of people are concern Mr. Commissioner that there will be two laws, one for regular citizens and one for elected officials - one connected individuals for police which will allow all those people to continue to have a very dark tint."
Garreth Murillo, Commissioner of Transport
"As a matter of fact some of the first tests that we be conducting will be on government vehicles. We are in the process of drafting a schedule for the various ministries and we will be offering tests for those particular government vehicles first and foremost."
Jules Vasquez
"But when you say government vehicles you don't mean ministerial vehicles?"
Garreth Murillo, Commissioner of Transport
"When we say government we mean all vehicles, the long fleet of vehicles of the government of Belize. The law does permit for certain exemptions. Those requests for exemptions would have to be analyze on a case by case basis. Besides security concerns we are also aware of certain medical conditions which may require persons to reduce their exposure to sunlight, but as I said those cases will be examine and will be analyze case by case."
Jules Vasquez
"Will those be analyze by technocrats or will the ok be given, it is one of those things that the minister may permit?"
Garreth Murillo, Commissioner of Transport
"Well it will have to be analyze by technocrats who by the legislation will then make a recommendation to the minister."
Those free tint tests will be carried out at transport offices countrywide.
Traffic officers from all over the country will go in for a two day training session tomorrow at Transport Headquarters in Belmopan.
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