ABU DHABI: While it is boom time for motorists to buy window tinting to combat the summer heat, authorities warn that the UAE law permits up to 30 percent tint level only.
Khaled Abdullah, 28, who manages a car accessories shop on Hazza bin Zayed Street, said demand for tinting rises at this time of year.
“The weather is extremely hot with temperatures reaching as high as 50°C,” Abdullah was quoted to have said by The National.
The penalty for exceeding the permitted tint level is a Dh500 fine with the vehicle impounded for 30 days, according to the Ministry of Interior.
Harakat Auto Accessories on Salam Street was enjoying brisk business, handling four to 10 cars a day since the middle of June. The shop sells tints from 30 to 50 percent.
“When a customer asks for tints in excess of 30 per cent, we remind them about the law and the risks,” a staff member said. “They have to sign a receipt showing the tint percentage.”
Women prefer to have darker tints to protect themselves from heat and unwanted attention from men. Tints allow them and their families to have some privacy, he said.
Dr. Salaheddine Bendak, an associate professor in industrial engineering at University of Sharjah, said limits to the darkness of tinting on car windows should be strictly enforced and there should be more awareness campaigns targeting drivers.
Tinting shops should also be inspected regularly to ensure they comply with the rules, he said. “Municipality inspectors are generally strict on restaurants,” said Bendak, who has published scientific and research papers on seat-belt use, tire safety and child restraints.
