The Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ) has been busy conducting Ops Khas Cermin Gelap in the state to ensure that vehicle owners comply with the rules that have been set.
According to new regulations announced by the then Transport Minister Anthony Loke, motorists are allowed to tint their rear side windows and windshield as dark as they want on the condition that the vehicle has two side mirrors.
Previously, the visible light transmission (VLT) percentages for the rear side windows and windshield were set at 30%. The VLT percentages for the front windscreen and front side windows are maintained at 70% and 50%, respectively.
Alternatively, vehicle owners who wish to apply darker tint for the front windscreen and front side windows for health and security reasons can apply with JPJ.
For the latter reason, applicants will be charged with a RM50 service fee for each application submitted. Upon approval, they will have to pay RM5,000 to have all their windows fully tinted. Each permit only lasts for two years and owners will have to reapply once it expires.
However, applicants who are applying for fully tinted windows for health concerns are exempt from said fees.
Despite the leniency shown by the government, motorists, especially those who drive luxury cars, continue to flout the tinting laws. According to Bernama, the Penang JPJ has issued 7,100 summonses for various offences from January to August this year. Out of that number, 5,638 or 79% were for dark windows while the remaining were for number plates that do not meet JPJ specifications.
