Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 556: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Garda Commissioner has raised with him the reason that car owners are entitled to blacken out windows within their vehicle; if this issue has been brought to his attention in view of the difficult job that gardaí have to do in respect of identifying persons in vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1003/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed that the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicle) Regulations 1963, made by the Minister for Transport, set out the legislative basis for prosecution due to impediments to car drivers' views. Tinted windows can be used in vehicles only in accordance with the legislation.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that members of An Garda Síochána enforce the relevant legislative provisions, and prosecutions are brought for breaches of these provisions.

I am also informed that on 21 December, 2009 the Minister for Transport made the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 567 of 2009). These Regulations provide for additional items to be included in the National Car Test from 1 April, 2010. These include a glass opacity test on the windscreen and front side windows, and a light transmission level of not less than 65% will be required in order to pass the test.