A policeman checks a car with tinted glasses at Dakbungalow roundabout in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Aug. 23: Police today started their drive against cars with tinted glasses but politicians and bureaucrats were left out of the ambit of the drive.

City central superintendent of police Shivdeep Lande said around a dozen vehicles with tinted glasses were intercepted and fined.

The cops seized an SUV with black tinted glass in the Mithapur area under Jakkanpur police station. Its driver and a passenger escaped leaving behind a large volume of alcohol in the vehicle, said Lande.

He also said most of the cars stopped by the police today were driven by youths. “We are checking their licences.”

The officer said: “The drivers of vehicles having tinted glass were fined Rs 100 each, and the black tint was scratched off.”

Sources said the police were yet to receive a response to the missives they had written to the Assembly Speaker and the chairman of Vidhan Parishad seeking a list of names of legislators, who had been allowed to use tinted glass for their vehicles.

“It will be difficult to act on them if we do not get a reply. The police first need to know which legislators have been allowed to use tinted glass for their vehicles,” said a police officer.

The Telegraph had reported on the letter in its August 22, 2011, edition.

The officer added that the police had sent a similar letter to the transport commissioner. But he has not replied either.

According to the rules, the windscreen of a vehicle should have 80 per cent visibility, whereas the side screens and the rear should have 50 per cent and 30 per cent visibility, respectively.

“There are some special cases in which legislators, VIPs, ministers, policemen and bureaucrats are allowed to have windows that are absolutely dark. Those who are under X-, Y- or Z-grade security can have dark windows. Also, police parties on special operation, against criminals or Naxalites, can use dark glasses. Ministers, legislators and policemen, who are on the hit list of Maoists, and people’s representatives from Naxalite-hit areas are allowed by the state government to use tinted glass for their cars,” said Lande.