NEW DELHI, April 29: Even if Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh or any other senior official travels in a car with dark windows and windshields from May 1, it is likely that he will be fined Rs 100 by a traffic policeman.The Delhi Traffic Police claim, in a plastic sticker pasted on 10,000 cars today: ``Your Sun film is unacceptable. Change it before May 1.'' This is currently part of an advertisement blitz which will change into a drive against tinted car windows two days later.
The current drive has been planned to prevent recurrence of incidents similar to one in which a Japanese girl was abducted and allegedly gangraped inside a Maruti car with tinted windows.
Another aspect which has also been considered is that several accidents occur because the driver's visibility is reduced if the car windows are very dark.
DCP (TRaffic) M S Upadhye says that enforcement will be very strict this time round. The only vehicles which will be exempted are bullet-proof cars used by VVIPs.
Transmission of light through windshields of all vehicles should not be less than 70 percent. That through car windows should be at least 50 percent.Violation of the specifications for the first time will lead to a fine of Rs 100 on the spot, while subsequent violations will cost Rs 300.
``The idea is that even if there are solar films or tinted glasses, visibility should be such that a traffic policeman is able to see right through the vehicle from any side,'' says Upadhye.
Fifty mobile teams -- comprising an officer, a constable and a helper -- will be checking vehicles from May 1. And each of these teams have been supplied with 5cm x 5cm samples of tinted glasses. They will compare the samples with the tinted windshields and windows.
``If the deviation is more than 15 percent, erring motorists will be fined on the spot. The traffic police team will also remove the solar films and clean the windows,'' says Upadhye.
Solar film suppliers have also been informed about the drive and have been asked to sell their wares according to the latest specifications. The same has been done in the case of those who manufacture and supply tinted glasses.
Upadhye adds: ``If motorists wanted protection from the sun while driving, it is advisable that they use tinted glasses and not solar films. Initially, tinted glasses will cost more by only Rs 400, but it will benefit the car owner in the long run.''
The drive will continue till the irregularities are removed from the approximately 60,000 Delhi-registered vehicles which have solar protection.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
