THE Yangon Division Traffic Police Force announced plans late last month to start fining drivers with dark tinted windows on their vehicles.

“In the past we have only fined cars with tinted window stickers that are added after cars are purchased, but we haven’t fined vehicles with tinted glass that is imported and installed by car manufacturers at industrial zone factories,” said Police Captain Myint Aung.

He said the Police Force will announce a deadline by which tinted windows must be replaced by clear glass.

“We are now negotiating with local car manufacturers to determine how quickly they can replace tinted windows with clear windows, and then we will decide on the exact deadline,” he said, adding that the amount of the fine has not yet been decided either.

Drivers caught with tinted window stickers are fined K51,500 each time for first and second offenses, and K101,500 for each additional offense.

“When people drive with tinted stickers or glass, they cannot be seen from the outside,” said Police Captain Myint Aung. “They could be committing serious crimes inside their cars, and terrorists could even carry explosives without being seen.”

He said another reason for the crackdown was that tinted windows reduced the ability of the driver to see at night, thereby increasing the chance of road accidents.

He said the Police Force stepped up its enforcement of the window sticker ordinance in August, pointing out that 131 fines had been handed out between August 1 and 25, while only 72 were given throughout July.