If you have films of any percentage of tint pasted on the window glasses or windshields of your car, peel it off before going for a joyride in June. Else, you will be penalised.

The state transport department has issued instructions to the district transport officers (DTOs), motor vehicle inspectors (MVIs) and the traffic police to conduct drives to remove all kinds of tinted window films from vehicles and charge fines from owners from the first week of June.

The principal secretary of the transport department, R.K. Mahajan, told The Telegraph that the decision in this regard was taken after review of a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, followed by a meeting with all DTOs in the state and officials of other agencies concerned.

The Supreme Court judgment reads: “The rule not impliedly, but specifically, prohibits alteration of such VLT (visual light transmission) by any means subsequent to its manufacturing. No black film or any other material can be pasted on the windscreens and side glasses of a vehicle. The directions contained in this judgment shall become operative and enforceable with effect from May 4, 2012.”

Mahajan said: “Several provisions in Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 prohibit the use of tinted window films above permissible visual transmission of light (VLT) in a vehicle. But the recent ruling of the apex court has put a blanket ban on all kinds on tinted films. In order to ensure that both the directives are strictly adhered to in the state, we had convened a meeting of all DTOs, MVIs and enforcement officers of the police department among other agencies on May 22 in Patna to finalise a fresh implementation strategy.”

He added: “It was decided that aggressive campaigns would be conducted across the state, especially in the capital, against use of tinted films from the first week of June. Owners of vehicles found with any kind of films pasted on the factory-made window glasses would be fined Rs 100, as prescribed by Central Motor Vehicles Rules, and the films would be removed immediately.”

In Patna, the enforcement of the directives would be ensured by joint drives conducted by the traffic police and transport departments.

Mahajan claimed that he would personally review the progress in the implementation of the directives on a regular basis. The apex court in its ruling on April 27 ordered a blanket ban on tinted films that are pasted on factory-made glasses of cars to alter or enhance their opacity.

Some residents are unhappy over the transport department’s move, though. Ajit Kumar, a resident of Chakaram, said: “I understand that such drives are aimed at controlling criminal activities but I don’t think it would be of big help.”

Another citizen said it was a ploy of the transport department to harass car owners.