Seán Kenny
Question:97 Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the powers and equipment available to the Garda when dealing with a vehicle which has tinted windows. [25138/11]
View answerWednesday, 21 September 2011
Questions (95)
Written answers
I am informed by the Garda authorities that provisions of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicle) Regulations 1963, made by the Minister for Transport, allow members of An Garda Síochána to prosecute drivers whose windows fail to provide a view of the road and traffic on the road, as is necessary to enable him or her to drive safely.
Article 23 of the Regulations provides that every vehicle shall be so constructed that the driver, while controlling the vehicle in motion, can at all times have such a view of the road and of other traffic on the road in front and to the sides of the vehicle as is necessary to enable him or to drive safely. Article 34(2)(b) provides that all glass and all safety glass fitted to a vehicle shall be maintained in such a condition that it does not obscure the vision of the driver while the vehicle is being driven and shall be free of inessential objects or inessential stickers.
Following a tendering process, appropriate equipment capable of measuring tinted glass, in line with the relevant EU Council Directive, was purchased and is being utilised in all Garda Divisions since December, 2010.