New tint rules set limit at 20-25%

Dec 30, 2025 News

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…as Govt. admits tint regime had collapsed

(Kaieteur News) – After years of confusion, selective enforcement and widespread abuse, the Government has finally conceded that Guyana’s vehicle tint regime had collapsed, with more than 70 per cent of vehicles operating illegally under an outdated and unrealistic law. And the administration on Monday walked back on its 35 percent tint policy to now 20-25 percent, even as it announced a three-month window for motorists to get in line.  Government last month had announced that a new 35 percent tint regime was coming into force on December 31, 2025, but Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond on Monday said adjustments have been made and the new regulation will now come into force on Thursday, but citizens will get another three months comply.

According to Walrond, when she assumed office, the law technically amounted to a near-total ban on tinted windows, permitting tint only by exemption and even then limiting it to a minimum 65 per cent Visible Light Transmission (VLT). “Despite this clarity, the reality on our roads reflected widespread non-compliance, with over seventy percent (70 %) of vehicles operating far outside the legal limit. It was evident that our country had outgrown what was, in effect, a ban on tint, and that a more progressive, practical, and enforceable legal framework was necessary to reflect modern realities while safeguarding public safety,” the minister stated.

She said it is against this background that “I have moved to have enacted the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Tint) Regulations 2025, which will come into force on January 1, 2026, as part of our continued efforts to strengthen public safety, enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement, and provide greater clarity, consistency, and fairness for all road users.” Walrond said Guyanese will be pleased to know that the new Regulations allow all vehicles to carry some level of tint without the need for an exemption; introduce new clearly set permissible VLT standards; and establish a modern policing regime using approved tint meters, removing ambiguity and supporting fair, consistent enforcement nationwide.

“Following my initial announcement earlier this month, we received public feedback and, in keeping with the hallmark approach of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration, we listened carefully and made further adjustments.”

“Therefore, with effect from the commencement of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Tint) Regulations 2025 on January 1, 2026, the following will apply:

1. Front windscreen:

• No tint is permitted, except for a visor which must not exceed 6 inches measured from the top of the windscreen.

2. Front side windows (driver and front passenger):

• Minimum 25% VLT

3. Rear side windows:

• Minimum 20% VLT

4. Rear windscreen:

• Minimum 20% VLT
• The use of mirrored or reflective tint is prohibited under the new regulation.

Exemptions and Application Process

Recognising that certain categories of vehicles require enhanced protection or accommodation, exemptions are in place for:

• Vehicles used by the President and Prime Minister
• Designated senior government officials
• The Police Force, Defence Force, Fire Service, and Prison Service
• Emergency services, including ambulances
• Diplomatic and consular missions
• Licensed private security agencies
• Individuals with certified medical conditions requiring reduced exposure to sunlight
• Businesses engaged in high-risk cash handling or security-sensitive operations

Exemptions

Meanwhile, the minister said applications for exemptions must be submitted using the prescribed system to the Minister of Home Affairs who shall consider the application and may issue or refuse to issue an exemption certificate.  She said in the case of exemptions on medical grounds, applications must be supported by certification from a registered medical practitioner. All approved exemptions will be recorded in a digital national tint registry.

Updated Fines

The new regulations also provide for adjusted fines of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for offences related to the installation or use of non-compliant tint, including for vehicle operators and businesses engaged in applying tint contrary to the law. These fines were carefully calibrated to serve as a deterrent without being punitive or excessive, and to reinforce compliance rather than create hardship.

Government will closely monitor compliance, enforcement patterns, and public impact during the implementation phase, and where necessary, further adjustments, including increases to fines, will be considered.

Amnesty Period

Additionally, the minister announced that to support an orderly and fair transition, a three-month amnesty period will take effect from the commencement of the regulations. “During this period, the Guyana Police Force will establish voluntary tint testing sites across the country, allowing vehicle owners to test their vehicles and make adjustments where necessary without penalty. Information on the locations and operation of these testing sites will be released shortly. At the conclusion of the amnesty period, full enforcement will commence.” “I encourage all motorists to take full advantage of the amnesty period and to ensure compliance with the new standards as we move forward together in the interest of safer roads and stronger public trust. The Government remains committed to safeguarding public order, protecting lives, and strengthening confidence in our road traffic and public safety systems as Guyana continues its national transformative development,” the minister stated.

APNU concerned

Meanwhile, in a swift reaction to the minister’s announcement, APNU Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan said the explanations provided by the minister confirmed the concerns raised, the party had raised back in November regarding the tint enforcement regime. “The minister has now acknowledged that the previous system lacked structure, was widely non-compliant, and required formal regulations, calibrated standards, and safeguards to correct what she herself described as a lawless environment. The introduction of clear VLT thresholds, a defined commencement date of January 1, 2026, a three-month compliance period, certified equipment, and a digital registry underscores that regulatory clarity was essential before enforcement could be fairly applied,” Duncan noted in a statement.

He said while APNU welcomes the movement toward structure, transparency, and reduced punitive emphasis, the sequence of events reinforces our central point: enforcement must follow law, not precede it. He said citizens should not be subjected to policing practices before rules are clearly gazetted, communicated, and uniformly understood. “The minister’s explanations also highlight areas that still require parliamentary attention, including the scope of discretionary exemptions and the mechanisms to ensure equality before the law. APNU will continue to support measures that enhance public safety while insisting that all enforcement initiatives remain grounded in statute, applied consistently, and subject to legislative oversight,” Duncan stated.

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• Oneidge Walrond, Sherod Duncan, tint, tint rules, windscreen

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