Three month amnesty begins ahead of new tint law enforcement

Motorists now have a three-month amnesty period to comply with the newly gazetted Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Tint) Regulations 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday announced.

The regulations were officially published in the Official Gazette on 1 January 2026, marking the formal enactment of the country’s new tint law.

During the amnesty, the Ministry of Home Affairs said drivers can adjust vehicle tints without facing penalties.

Full enforcement of the regulations is scheduled to begin on 1 April 2026, after which non-compliance will attract fines and other penalties under the law. Any person found operating a vehicle with tint darker than permitted will be liable to a fine of $30,000. Similarly, anyone applying tint that exceeds permitted levels will also face a $30,000 fine.

Under the new rules, no tint is permitted on the front windscreen, except for a visor. The visor must not exceed six inches from the top of the windscreen if it is less than three feet in height, or ten inches if the windscreen is three feet or taller.

Front side windows may have tint with a minimum visible light transmission (VLT) of 25%, while rear side windows and the rear windscreen may have tint with a minimum VLT of 20%.

Exemptions apply for certain individuals and vehicles. These include the President, Prime Minister, ambulance services, vehicles owned or used by the police, fire service, defence force, prison service, and Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit.

Diplomats, senior government officials, private security agencies, persons with certified medical conditions, and individuals engaged in high-risk cash handling or security-sensitive operations are also exempt.

Exempt persons must apply to the Ministry of Home Affairs for an official exemption certificate.

Tint inspections will be conducted by police using calibrated tint meters provided by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). Readings from these meters will be admissible in court proceedings.

The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Tint) Regulations 2026 form part of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen public safety, improve law enforcement effectiveness, and provide clarity, consistency, and fairness for all road users.