The Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC) has issued a stark warning regarding the government’s newly announced $75,000 fine for illegal window tinting on vehicles, questioning whether the measure serves as a genuine road-safety initiative or merely adds another financial burden on ordinary citizens.
With many police officers earning just over $100,000 per month, VPAC argues that this policy risks transforming law enforcement into a system of street-side negotiations, where a tint meter might serve as an unwelcome income supplement rather than a legitimate tool for safety. “Guyanese already know what this means: repeated stops, selective targeting, and pressure to ‘sort it out’ on the roadside,” the committee stated.
While energy is being directed toward enforcing tint regulations, VPAC contends that more pressing dangers on the roads remain unaddressed. Issues such as reckless speeding, overloaded trucks, unqualified commercial drivers, and poorly maintained heavy-duty vehicles continue to plague communities and contribute to the deadliest accidents in Guyana. “Instead of addressing the threats that take lives, we are prioritizing the shade of someone’s window,” VPAC emphasized.
The organization advocates for a road-safety strategy that is fair, evidence-based, and primarily focused on saving lives, rather than one that opens the door to abuse, harassment, and predatory enforcement. “Until the real issues are confronted, this tint crackdown will feel less like safety and more like the government finding a new way to collect money under the guise of law and order,” VPAC concluded.
As discussions around road safety continue, the committee urges the government to prioritize comprehensive measures that target the root causes of vehicular accidents and enhance public safety effectively.
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