JOIN USIn the last few months, the Bangalore Traffic Police has set up various centres across the City to remove sun films with extra tint from car windows and windshields, as a measure to check criminal activities. This order was passed by the Supreme Court (SC) on May 4 and the deadline was extended to June 5. But as is the case with most rules, this was conveniently ignored by a large majority of the public.
To ensure that the law is implemented, the Ulsoor Traffic Police recently organised a free sun film removal camp for vehicles at Trinity Circle. The traffic police on its website said that 180 sun films were removed in total throughout the day. One
hundred and five owners came voluntarily, while 75 defaulters were caught, fined and their sun films removed after the camp had ended.
There are bound to be conflicting opinions on this issue, considering that many feel that those who had not removed it till now should have been sued, not pampered with the free service.
“These camps were organised long ago when the decision was announced and citizens should have removed the films by now. A free camp of such nature is a good initiative. But the focus should be on fining people who have still not removed their sun films. I don’t see traffic cops religiously fining people who are not following this rule and see numerous vehicles with sun films still on driving the same roads I do,” says Rohit K, a young professional, who had promptly abided by the SC order.
However, Bikash Kumar Das, a former commando of Indian Air Force, feels that this was a good move by the Bangalore Traffic Police.
“I drive an old Maruti 800, which has a very mild, original company fitted coating, which is almost transparent. I strongly oppose dark films in any vehicle. With the crime rate on the rise, citizens should behave decently and support such campaigns. I support the law and police for its quick action in addressing the issue,” he says.
The authorities are aware of both sides to the issues. Still, their attempt seems
genuine and they seem positive about making a change with such camps.
“The rule has been there since the Motor Vehicles Act came into existence. No one took it seriously back then and to reiterate this, Supreme Court passed a ruling against it and directed all governments to fine people and remove sun films.
Six months ago, we started such camps as a part of an awareness campaign to educate people. For those who do not show up for these, a fine is levied, cases are booked and the film is removed. The ultimate outcome of these camps is that at least a lot of people cooperate with us and abide by the law,” informs Lokesh Kumar, officer DCP (East).
He also mentions that apart from the common people, these camps have also been carried out for Vidhan Soudha and High Court vehicles. Other than this, routine checks are done everyday by the officers and defaulters are fined and their sun films removed.
There are also those who got the sun films removed, but are unhappy with having done so, purely for safety reasons. “I'm firmly against the rule that has been implemented for quite a few reasons. What happens in my car when I'm with friends and family is only my business. Also, I did not place sun films on my windows for their cool quotient but instead, for the privacy and also protection against UV rays. The added expenses to remove it were quite an inconvenience for a 19-year-old like myself,” says Hariharan Mahadevan, a student.