§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) from what organisations he has received representations about vehicles with blacked-out windows;
(2) what is his assessment of the effectiveness of regulation 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986;
(3) how many prosecutions have been made under regulation 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. KeyWe have received 15 representations about blacked-out windows from members of the public during the last three years.
Regulation 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 makes the fitment of excessively dark glass illegal. The British and European standards to which this regulation refers requires not less than 70 per cent. light transmission through all window glass. We believe that all vehicle manufacturers comply with this regulation.
Details of prosecutions for obscuration of windows are not available because prosecutions for all construction and use offences are recorded jointly. We understand that the police would be more likely to bring prosecutions under regulation 30 which relates to the driver's view of the road being unobscured. Some police forces have ordered darkened windows to be cleaned, or dark plastic film to be removed, under their vehicle rectification schemes.