Tinted Window On Cars: Is it Legal In India?

• Tinted window

In India and other countries, tinted glass is used on cars to block the sunlight from entering the interiors. The summer heat is quite bothersome even while the air conditioner is going on full blast. The summer is the season when you feel the need for tinted glasses. In India, there is a law governing the use of tinted glasses. You don't get a new car fitted with tinted glass. You can paste the sunscreens on the car glasses to ward off the sun from affecting you. The tinted glass prevents the interior of a car from getting heated and also protects the gadgets and upholstery of the car. This glass also is used to keep the privacy of the passengers.

The role of the tinted window is to block the light of the sun and also provide privacy. Tinted windows are pre-fitted by some car manufacturers in India. These are fitted on the premium models of some cars.

• Why the ban

The ban has been imposed as per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. The act mentions that the glasses of the car, including the windscreen, should have more than 70 per cent visual light transmission. Tinted glass is not allowed in India.

The supreme court of India ruled in 2012 that tinted glasses and sun-films are not to be used in cars. The ban on dark glasses came in on account of the crimes committed inside the cars. Many crimes were committed in which the criminals were hidden behind heavily tinted glass covers. Low visibility caused by tinted glasses is also one of the reasons to ban the glass.

• The law is protested by some people

Everybody in India did not take the law very kindly and they went on protesting against the ban vehemently. The reason for the protest has been the harsh summer of India when the car passengers are badly affected by the hot sun rays streaming through the windows of the car. It is all the more inconvenient for cars that are not fitted with air conditioners. Due to this reason, the new generation cars come fitted with such glasses that follow the law and protect the people against the hot sun. This is due to the marvel of technology. Many people suffer from skin problems that are caused and aggravated by the sun's rays. This change is especially welcome for them.

• What you should note

The government has not completely prohibited the use of tinted glasses. If the glasses or the sun films conform to the norms set by the government, the government has no objection.

It should be noted that the glasses don't have to be dark to ban the UV rays. There are glasses available today that provide good visibility and protection against the harmful effects of the sun. If the product is manufactured by a good brand you are sure of its efficacy. You could have used tinted glasses in your car had you used them before 2012. The law came into force owing to the steep rise in the crime graph in India. For many people, the ban has proved to be a boon since the passengers now feel safe, especially women, who have to ride alone sometimes, especially during the nights. The RTOs of India came up with new regulations to ban tinted glasses. If you flout the rule, you may be penalized for the offence.

If the VLT of the glasses is more than 70 per cent for the windscreen and more than 50 per cent for the windows, these tinted glasses can be used. The law conforms to this standard. So, we can say that tinted glasses are banned with some conditions.