Ardent Basaiawmoit wasn’t stopped at police checking: SP
Shillong, Sept 7: In a little over two months, the Shillong Traffic Police have collected ₹13,35 lakh from 1,788 vehicles found using black films on the windows.
There were also 30 government vehicles among the violators of a Supreme Court directive against use of black films in vehicles.
“In order to uphold the Supreme Court directive, Shillong Traffic Police have been conducting vigorous checking against use of black films and thus, detected 1,788 cases realising fine amount of ₹13.35 lakh with effect from July 1 to September 6,” said Sylvester Nongtnger, SP of East Khasi Hills district police.
The detected black films were also removed from the cars.
Use of black films of any percentage Visual Light Transmission (VLT) on the safety glasses, windscreens (front and rear) and side glasses was prohibited by the Supreme Court order in 2012. The order was in response to several cases of crimes committed against women in vehicles with tinted windows.
Urging all vehicle owners to refrain from using black films in their vehicles to avoid penalty, he asserted that the drive against the use of black films would continue and stringent action would be taken against violators.
Meanwhile, replying to a question, he clarified that only one vehicle of a minister or MLA is allowed to use black films.
He was reacting to VPP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit’s recent allegation about being stopped during a random checking on black films.
Asserting that the MLA was not stopped by police, he said, “During a random checking by Mawlai police to detect vehicles using black films on August 22, the MLA’s vehicle had to stop as the police signalled a private vehicle ahead. But as the police came to know about the MLA’s vehicle behind, it was released without checking.”
“Some of the ministers and MLAs have already submitted (number plates of such vehicles) to us and accordingly we are acting on that,” the SP added.
He also mentioned that a committee was constituted in 2012 to consider cases for grant of exemption on use of dark films on vehicle windows.
