Motorists will have three additional months to comply with the new tint regulations scheduled to take effect on Monday, September 1, following a Cabinet decision to suspend enforcement until December.
In a statement, the Ministry of Transport and Works confirmed that Cabinet, at its meeting on Thursday, August 28, agreed to the moratorium and also approved a relaxation of some stipulations in the law. The changes follow a stakeholder meeting a day earlier involving representatives of the Barbados Police Service, the Barbados Licensing Authority, and vehicle tint suppliers and installers.
At that meeting, police officials detailed how criminals have used heavily tinted vehicles to commit offences, including fatal shootings, and highlighted the risks officers face when approaching such vehicles during traffic stops. Stakeholders agreed that while the law will not prevent crime entirely, it would assist police in carrying out their duties more safely.
The Ministry also revealed that amendments have been made to the Road Traffic Regulations, reducing the required visible light transmission of rear windscreens from 70 per cent to 20 per cent. The legislation allows for a margin of error of three percentage points in tint testing.
Public Service Vehicles, including minibuses and route taxis, will be subject to the same tint restrictions as private vehicles. Persons with medical conditions may apply for exemptions but will be required to provide a letter from a specialist doctor.
Tint installers also assured that modern technology now allows for lighter films that provide the same protection from sunlight as the darker shades used in the past.
Meanwhile, the Ministry said it will continue to provide free tint testing at selected sites, which will be announced in due course, to help motorists determine their level of compliance.
