NIGERIAN motorists daily face the dilemma of which instruction to abide by regarding the use of tinted motor glasses.
It is a case of confusion and exploitation of motorists by law enforcement agents, who have taken advantage of the double speak on the part of government on the issue.
While the Police authorities have warned motorists with factory fitted tinted glasses to get permit, the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Humphrey Abba had disclosed that vehicles with factory fitted tinted glasses are exempted.
According to the Minister, violators of the order will be arrested and prosecuted, with effect from March 21. The Minister said this is in line with the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act 1991. The ban was extended to users of ‘SPY number plates’.
The major reason adduced for such outright ban was that some criminally-minded individuals were using tinted glass vehicles to perpetrate crimes.
A cursory look at the security implication suggests that the idea of restricting the use of tinted glasses to certain personalities is not out of place.
Highly placed personalities like top government functionaries, diplomats, politicians and security personnel, performing essential duties could be excused as a result of the peculiarities in their movements and activities, which ordinarily should be regulated.
There is justification for such calibre of personalities to be accorded such privileges. Presently, only the President, Vice President, Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker and governors are allowed to use vehicles with tinted glasses.
But as we know, Nigeria is a country where people like to take advantage of every opportunity for self-aggrandizement or for pecuniary gains.
Mischevious people could hide under such privileges to commit heinous crimes as several innocent people have allegedly been assassinated or kidnapped using vehicles with tinted glasses.
The tendency is there for criminally-minded people to use the cover of tinted glasses to beat security checks at road blocks, to carry out nefarious activities.
Regrettably, government has not helped matters as it has been a case of double speak from the same government.
The ambiguity created by the failure of government to make an official position known to Nigerians has encouraged unscrupulous law enforcement agents to take advantage of the lacuna to exploit the people.
To avoid giving the impression that the government is confused and inconsistent, a definite policy statement should be issued by the relevant authorities without delay.
The present logjam is not new. A major problem confronting developing countries like Nigeria is that of policy somersault, poor planning, lack of political will, inconsistent public actions and inactions. In other climes, where such issue exists, the official position is as clear as the crystal ball.
For instance, in India, Rule 100 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 provides that the glass of windscreen and rear window of motor vehicles should have a visibility of at least 70 per cent and that of side window, a minimum visibility of 50 per cent. The specification of glass should conform to Indian Standards (15:2553, Part 2 of 1992).
Similarly, the Arkansas Tint Law states that a motorist shall be exempted from the use of tinted glass if a physician has diagnosed the motorist as having a disease or disorder, including, but not limited to, albinism and lupus. Vehicles used for the transportation of human dead bodies are also allowed to use tinted glasses.
A Nigerian motorist does not know whether there is outright ban or that tinted motor glasses could be used with the appropriate Police permit. Also, are owners of factory fitted tinted glass vehicles exempted from applying for such a permit? Then, which body handles the enforcement — Police, FRSC, or VIO?
The country will continue to crawl in its strive towards becoming a world leader if public policies are treated like the pendulum string.
To stop the on-going misconception, the government should make a public statement on its position on tinted glasses while the law enforcement agents should henceforth desist from exploiting and harassing innocent motorists.
This is what the government should do and the time for that is now!
Mr. ADEWALE KUPOLUYI wrote from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State