Nepal cracks down on illegal tinted vehicle windows

Traffic police across Nepal are aggressively enforcing a nationwide ban on illegal tinted vehicle windows, removing black films and issuing tickets to offenders. The intensified campaign is spearheaded by Home Minister Sudhan Gurung, who has directed officials to crack down on the practice.

Authorities summoned traffic police officials to the home ministry, emphasizing the need to remove unauthorized tint from all vehicles. Police are now moving beyond warnings, issuing tickets and referring cases for further action. Instructions have been circulated to police units nationwide to enforce the removal of tinted windows from both public and private vehicles.

The crackdown is motivated by concerns that opaque windows facilitate various crimes, including drug and gold smuggling, illegal money transfers, and the movement of fugitives. Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle stated that heavily tinted windows hinder surveillance, preventing cameras and officers from visually monitoring activities inside vehicles. This lack of visibility can enable criminal acts and make it difficult to identify suspects.

Enforcement relies on Section 39 of the Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 1993, which prohibits unauthorized vehicle modifications, and Rule 12 of the Vehicle and Transport Management Regulations, requiring official approval for any equipment changes. Section 136 of the Provincial Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 2018, specifically bans opaque glass and films that prevent visibility into a vehicle, with a narrow exception for security-sensitive vehicles granted official approval for tints up to 20 percent.

Former senior police officials have endorsed the renewed enforcement, viewing restrictions on tinted windows as crucial for crime prevention and public safety. Police also argue that dark window films can reduce driver visibility, increasing accident risks.

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People inside such vehicles can harass others, commit robberies or transport suspects involved in criminal offences while remaining invisible from outside. We rely on surveillance technology, but heavily tinted windows prevent cameras from capturing what is happening inside. They also make it difficult for officers to conduct visual monitoring.