RIYADH, 16 October 2004 — Interior Minister Prince Naif has approved new regulations for shading car windows, according to Brig. Fahd Al-Bishr, director general of the traffic department. The new law, which comes into effect today, prohibits shading of the windscreen, the rear glass and front door glasses as well as using of curtains inside the vehicle.
The law also stipulates that the glasses of the vehicle must be 100 percent transparent. “The new regulations allow the use of transparent shading material that helps security officers see who are inside the vehicle,” Brig. Al-Bishr said. The glasses of rear doors in private cars and buses should be 30 percent transparent, he said quoting the law.
Shops specialized in shading car windows must keep a record of the car’s details such as its number plate, model, color, shaded windows, the material used for shading, date of shading and signature of the driver or its owner, his name and ID number.
Cars imported with tinted windows will be given one year to conform to the new regulations. However, used cars that are imported will not be cleared and registered in the Kingdom until their shaded glasses are changed in accordance with the law.
Brig. Al-Bishr said the new law also prohibits sticking of any pictures or advertisements on car windows. “Cars which are already shaded will be given three months to carry out the changes,” he added.
