Crackdown on tinted glass in cars

PHUKET: The traffic police will launch a drive soon against vehicles with very darkly tinted windows, it was announced today. Pol Lt Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station told the Gazette that a new law comes into effect on June 6, making it illegal to have car windows that have tints cutting out more than 40% of the light passing through the glass. “Those who know that they have darker tints should change their tinted windows to 40% or less, because once we have the necessary equipment we will stop them and fine them,” Lt Col Teeraphol stressed. He said he was not sure when equipment to test tinted windows would arrive in Phuket but added that the media would be asked to remind motorists nearer to the time. As soon as the equipment is here, he emphasized, it will be put to use, and motorists contravening the law will be fined up to 1,000 baht. There will be no exceptions, he said. “Some women have told the police that their windows are tinted to keep people from looking at their legs; I don’t think that’s a good reason.” He added that although the number of cars in Phuket with heavily tinted windows is small, such tinting can conceal infractions of the law ranging from seat belt violations to serious crimes in progress, such as kidnapping.