Gov’t grants motorists extra time to comply with tint regulations

A three-month moratorium has been placed on the enforcement of the new tint law, which is set to take effect on Monday, September 1, along with a relaxation of some of the regulations.

As part of the amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations, the required visible light transmission (VLT) of the rear windscreen has been adjusted from 70% to 20%.

The legislation also allows for a margin of error of 3 percentage points in a tint test.

The Ministry of Transport and Works, in a statement, revealed that Cabinet, during its meeting on Thursday, August 28, took note of recommendations made at a stakeholder session the previous day.

That meeting brought together representatives from the Barbados Police Service, the Barbados Licensing Authority, vehicle tint suppliers and installers.

It was acknowledged that many motorists could not meet the original deadline due to the inability of tint installers meeting the heavy demand.

As such, enforcement will be further deferred to give drivers additional time.

Moreover, motorists applying for medical exemptions, must provide a letter from a specialist doctor.

Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), including route taxis and minibuses, will remain subject to the same regulations as private vehicles.

During the meeting, stakeholders agreed that while the enforcement of the tint law may not eliminate crime, it significantly assists the Barbados Police Service in carrying out its duties safely.

Installers also noted that advances in technology now allow for lighter tints that provide the same protection from sunlight as the darker films.

The Ministry will also continue free tint testing at designated locations, which will be announced on a later date.