The traffic police prides itself on booking over 35,000 drivers of cars with tinted glasses for violating the Supreme Court’s order banning the use of films for the windows in the interest of security. But it seems to be targeting mainly private cars as several government vehicles are still getting away with plying on the roads with tinted glasses. They include BMTC buses, police and army vehicles and cars belonging to the BBMP and other civic agencies. “Hardly any action has been taken against government vehicles so far. It’s hard to understand why when the Supreme Court’s order is applicable to everyone,” says a traffic expert.
The traffic police, for its part, says the BMTC has sought time for removing the black films and advertisements on its buses as it needs to wait for its contracts with the advertisers to run their course. “But over the next three months most vehicles, including those used by government agencies, will have to fall in line,” says a police officer.
The traffic police seems happy that most vehicles have complied with the Supreme Court’s order and voluntarily removed the films from their car windows. “Already 80 per cent of the cars in the city and 90 per cent of yellow board vehicles have removed their tinted glasses. The one month awareness drive we conducted in the city has paid off,” says Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), M.A. Saleem, claiming that most police and other government vehicles too are now tint film–free. “We have already written to various government departments to keep their car windows clear. The department heads have in turn directed their employees to make sure their vehicles have clear glasses too,” he adds, warning that those who defy the court’s order are attracting action.
“The ones who have not removed their tinted glasses are being booked . So far over 35,000 drivers have been fined for the offence,” he says.