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Minister, Robeson Benn, in an invited comment, told DPI, that the GPF should be commended for taking the lead in implementing the services since, “tinting is a tedious job now, in the way it is being administered”.
He said the new process, which the ministry hopes can become a reality in the new year, will reduce the inconvenience police officers face when dealing with drivers, who either have too much tint or have tinted vehicles without permits.
“This inconsistency creates unwanted confrontation that is not needed and we want to take away all of that” the home affairs minister noted.
He said the MMG payment portal will reduce the burden sometimes caused by the application process.
“What we are going to establish with MMG and our people [home affairs ministry], is to establish a way for people to put in their application online, verifying that application, having the payment being made for the application, and with a reduction in paper and [with the] verification of payment, and the approval, which will then be forwarded to the police and the applicant, this [process] will also identify the period for which the tint permit is valid for [when approved]”, the minister said.
He added that, “The verification process tends to cause unnecessary delays because applicants fail to submit all the relevant information and, in many cases, submit incorrect information.”
The Motor Vehicle Traffic Act allows the permitting of 35 per cent light penetration into the vehicle, which can be measured by a tintometer.
This permissible percentage of tint is compliant with the law, which requires that a person looking from outside, must be able to recognise all individuals in the vehicle without difficulty.
If a vehicle fails the required level or the light penetration, the certifying officer can revoke the tint permit which could lead to the prosecution of the driver.
The Road Traffic Offence Act, Regulation 103 (A) 2, also allows for two demerit points to be added to a person’s driver’s licence for the use of prohibited tint. Where the demerit points accumulated by a person amount to 10 or more, but less than 16.
