Tint law is not for some, but for all

…Top Cop warns officers

Police Commissioner (ag) David Ramnarine has warned members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) that unless they were granted a special exemption for tint on their private vehicles, they would equally be subject to what the law stipulates in regard to tint.
At a passing out parade, the (acting) Commissioner, known for his stern lectures to members of the Force, admonished Police officers for initially ignoring a message to remove tint from car windows.
“There is a law for tint. The law is not for some. The only law I know is when the chief licensing authority grants an exemption, and in a few other cases,” he said. “Some three weeks ago, a message was circulated for tint to be removed from police patrol vehicles, but it was disregarded by some. And therefore, to (ensure) the compliance that we want, a combined course of action was taken.
“(This) resulted in nine other vehicles (having their) tint removed, and 58 private vehicles owned by members of the Force (having their vehicles treated likewise). My question is: what do we have to hide behind dark windows? Is it our identity, our actions or both?”
He recounted a previous incident in which he was travelling in a taxi on the East Bank when he saw a uniformed Police Sergeant without a seat belt. He used this anecdote to urge officers to maintain the laws they enforce.
“We charge dozens of people every day for failure to wear seat belt. And here is a sergeant of police, in uniform, not wearing a seat belt. We had a constable who was on duty and left his rifle with a civilian, as he had something to do. Supervisor visits, finds the rifle with the civilian…”
Last week, a total of 45 vehicles which are privately owned by ranks of the Guyana Police Force were removed. According to a statement from the Force, the Police Force also removed tint from nine police patrol vehicles, and the campaign is expected to be conducted in all police divisions.
It is understood that a record is being maintained of the vehicle and number, rank and name of the member of the Force, and a warning has been given in the first instance. Ranks found to have breached the tint regulations would face disciplinary sanctions, Ramnarine pointed out.
Last year, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had noted that Government would be moving to review the existing policy regarding tint on motor vehicles, as one of the components of the National Crime Fighting Strategy. It was announced that tint meters would be used to determine the density of the tint on vehicle windows.
Additionally, as it currently stands, only certain vehicles are permitted to have tints without the expressed permission of the Minister of Public Security. These include diplomatic vehicles and those belonging to senior Government and high-ranking military officials.