Call to delay new tint legislation amid concerns over technical issues, enforcement

A former transport minister stepped up his call to postpone the implementation of new vehicle window tint regulations, set to take effect on September 1, after a magistrate threw out a charge against a motorist for breaching the original rule governing tints.

“I understand what the government is trying to do, but I believe with the inconvenience and the issues from other stakeholders, I think that it wouldn’t defeat the government if they delay the matter so that all things can be met,” said Michael Lashley who held the transport and works portfolio under the Freundel Stuart administration from 2013 to 2018.

Lashley, a senior counsel, was speaking to Barbados TODAY moments after the prosecution withdrew a tint charge in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court before Magistrate Alison Burke.

Jason ‘DJ Indian’ Maloney of Green Hill, St Michael had been accused that on January 9, while driving along Constitution Road, he was in breach of Regulation 20 (7) in Part III of the Road Traffic Regulation 1984, by permitting the glass to be “tinted to such a degree as to make the driver of the vehicle unidentifiable from a reasonable distance by a person outside of the vehicle”.

Informing Maloney that he was free to go, the magistrate said: “Because the new law is soon upon us, we cannot go far with this, given the position that we will not be able to deal with this before September.”

Insisting that he did not have an issue with the legislation, Lashley said that with technical issues also arising, including different percentage readings from the tint meters, the authorities “need to delay it to have these issues looked at properly”.

He said: “Pushing back the matter will not hurt the attempt or the implementation of the amendment to the Road Traffic Act. I also must say this, that we’ve seen it with the breathalyser legislation, where they pushed it back. There’s no harm in pushing back this amendment. Parliament is supreme, so I cannot tell Parliament what to do, but I can tell you that given what has happened out there, I think that a push back will not harm motorists or the government.

Lashley declared the island already has a comprehensive Road Traffic Act compared to other jurisdictions, but acknowledged that issues arose from its policing.

He highlighted that the Electronic Vehicle Registration (EVR) system is a step in the right direction, but noted that more personnel within The Barbados Police Service’s Traffic Department would also be required.

“The EVR is one step in terms of moving towards using technology to deal with road traffic breaches and violations,” Lashley said. “Further, I also want to say that we might have to really improve and put more personnel within the Traffic Department of the police force. I think that is where we’re lacking, in that the Traffic Department needs to be beefed up.” 

jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb