UNITED BENETTON of COLORS

17 April, 2007 Over-tinted car windows: Offences up by 3x

Thinking of tinting your car windows?Read on, because overdoing the tint can lead you to a hefty fine -or even a jail term. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued 382 summonses last year to motorists with illegally tinting vehicle windows - 3x the tally in 2005.
Tinting is allowed,as long as the rear windows allow at least 25% of light to pass through,and the front windows and windscreen allow at least 70%.The rules are different in Malaysia:There,all the windows must let in half the light,while the windscreen must allow 75%.
The LTA said that tinting violations here soared last year mainly because it had stepped up enforcement in response to the public feedback.People make many other illegal modifications to their vehicles,the most common being to the exhaust pipe.Wrong tint on the windows are the next common violation.
All in,acted on 1,430 cases last year,about the same as the 1,416 cases in 2005.Figures in earlier years were as high as twice.Although you can replace the tailpipe of your car or motorbike with something snazzy from an accessories shop,it must meet requirements from the LTA and National Environment Agency.
Other illegal modifications that the LTA has cracked down on pertain to lights - either the fitting of additional lights or unapproved decorative ones.Even stepping up the wattage of the headlights are not allowed.All in,about a dozen modifications have been outlawed.
Most motorists know they cannot modify the engine and gearbox,and that the bodykit cannot protrude beyond the bumpers.But not many people know,for example,that disabling the switch that automatically turns on a motorbike's headlights is illegal.The switch became mandatory in 1997.Motorcyclist Tim Liu-McIntyre,38,said that this important safety feature make the motorcyclist more visible to other motorists.
The editor in the Peak Magazine said he was riding with his headlights on in the day time even before it became mandatory."In bad weather,it's be suicidal not to,"he said.Another little known regulation requires that any car with the chassis deemed "badly damaged and beyond repair" be scrapped,the LTA said.
Industry observers said motor insurers regularly auction off damaged cars which they deemed uneconomical to repair.However,some of these end up being repaired anyway - and sold to unsuspecting buyers.Mr Lee Nian Tjoe,29,editor of Torque motoring magazine,said"Off all the rules,this one is probably the least enforced."
Motor trader Vincent Ng,42,said this was an undesirable practice as the vehicle's crash worthiness would have been compromised.The product manager of Honda agent Kah Motor said it would be ideal if the residual taxes paid on the damaged vehicle - especially one that is fairly new - could be transferred to a new car.
Those caught making illegal modifications to their vehicles can be fined up to S$1000.00 or jailed up to 3 months.Repeat offenders face twice the penalty.If you are not sure what is allowed,call LTA at 1800-2255-582.
News report from christan@sph.com.sg

Posted by THE SAINT :: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 :: ---------------oOo---------------