It is perhaps the first of several legislations/regulations that the 21-month old Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) government is expected to modify or reverse.
Championed by back-bencher serving a second term as a Legislator, motorists of all walks have been begging the government to make allowance for a darker shade of tint to be used on motor vehicles on Montserrat. Last week the government made such allowance by amending the Regulations in the Road Traffic Act, acting on the advice of Cabinet.
Under the modified Regulation a person can place a film tent or any other obscuring device not exceeding ten (10) inches in height from the top of the windscreen. The previous limit was set at six (6) inches.
Some motorists will also be pleased with the news that 15% tint can be used on the front side window and 10% on the rear side window. The previous law had mandated a minimum of 30% on all side windows. The Regulations were also amended to allow 10% of visual transmission of light through the rear windscreen.
The degree of the visual transmission of light will be determined by a tint meter measuring device or any other measuring device approved by the traffic commissioner.
Another modification allows persons to use “A letter or a number forming an identification mark of a licence plate on a motor vehicle shall be no less than 2½ (two and one half) inches in height.
The space between a letter or a number forming an identification mark of a licence plate on a motor vehicle shall be sufficient to ensure that the letter or number does not touch another letter or number.”; and a letter, number, symbol or image placed on a licence plate and not forming part of the identification mark shall not exceed 3/4 of an inch in height; and be placed at least 1/2 of an inch away from a letter or number which forms part of the identification mark.””
Honourable member David who has been leading the push for the amendment says the move is aimed at providing that level of protection to the interior of vehicles. He recalls that in 2012 the former MCAP government made an amendment, “which I was against in some ways, because I think, and I explained to them that this is not right, because you’re thinking about one for protecting your interior of your vehicle.”
Osborne said that, “You’re talking about reducing the ultraviolet waves that are coming into the vehicle… about having the tint on to help to cut the ultraviolet rays and keeping the car cool…”
