Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh has issued a firm warning to motorists that strict enforcement of Guyana’s updated vehicle tint regulations will begin on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, with no discretion to be applied by officers and court action awaiting those found in breach.
The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Tint) Regulations 2025 come into full effect on Wednesday, bringing an end to the grace period during which drivers were given time to bring their vehicles into compliance with the new legal standards.
Speaking in an interview with the News Room, Singh made clear that the period of leniency has passed.
“My expectation of the public is that when you didn’t have legislation governing tint to make it lawful, now you have it, you cannot expect that we would just allow it to go,” he said.
Singh confirmed that enforcement will be applied uniformly across the country and that officers will have no room for discretion.
“It’s court at the end of the day. No discretion is allowed to a police man or woman. Any bias by the police man or woman or neglect of his duty, it will be investigated departmentally and they will be charged,” he said.
Investigations will not be limited to vehicle owners. Singh warned that authorities will trace illegal tint installations back to the businesses responsible.
“We will be enquiring where you install the tint and then it goes back to the ones who own or operate that tint shop,” he said.
Under the updated regulations, front side windows for drivers and passengers must allow a minimum of 25 percent Visible Light Transmission, while rear windows must allow at least 20 percent. Front windshields are permitted only a top visor strip at 25 percent VLT, with no additional tint allowed beyond that strip.
The penalty for non-compliance is $30,000 per infraction, not per window. Motorists unsure of their compliance can visit police stations across the country, many of which are equipped with tint meters for on-the-spot testing.
Exemptions are available for members of the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force, licensed security agencies, emergency services, diplomatic officials, individuals with certified medical conditions requiring reduced sunlight exposure, and businesses involved in high-risk cash handling or security-sensitive operations.
SOURCE: News Room Guyana, “Strict enforcement of new tint laws begins Wednesday as police warn no discretion will be applied,” March 31, 2026
