Regulations on car window tint out in 2018

The Department of Transportation is expected to release in the first quarter of next year an order setting the allowable grade of tint for car windows.

Tim Orbos, the transport undersecretary for roads, said they were just waiting for the final recommendation of the technical working group on the type of tint to be used.

According to Orbos, apart from addressing safety and security aspects, the regulation on car window tints will also help the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in its implementation of the “high-occupancy vehicle” (HOV) lane on Edsa.

Earlier, the MMDA extended its trial run of the HOV lane up to the first week of January to help it gather more data on the traffic scheme meant to encourage carpooling among motorists.

During its weeklong test, the MMDA monitored 27,524 vehicles on the HOV lane. But most of these, specifically 14,645 vehicles, had heavily tinted windows, making it impossible for the agency to check if drivers complied with the policy. Only vehicles with a minimum of two occupants are allowed on the HOV lane located on the innermost lane of Edsa.

Orbos said that once they come out with the order within the first quarter of 2018, all motorists would be expected to comply with it.