FCT Police Warn: Tinted vehicle owners face arrest, permit or not

Motorists using tinted vehicles in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) may face arrest and prosecution regardless of whether they possess valid permits, following a renewed enforcement drive by the FCT Police Command.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, issued the warning as the command intensified efforts to curb crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking and other criminal activities often linked to the use of heavily tinted vehicles.

Speaking in a video released by the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, Sanusi stated that police officers would no longer distinguish between motorists with tinted permits and those without during enforcement operations.

“There is a total ban on the usage of tinted vehicles. We’re not looking at whether you have a tinted permit or you don’t have a tinted permit. Whether you have permit or not, if we get to you with your tinted vehicle, we will arrest you,” he said.

The police commissioner explained that criminals frequently exploit tinted vehicles to conceal their identities and evade detection while carrying out unlawful activities.

According to him, even motorists who present valid permits would be subjected to scrutiny, as the police intend to verify the authenticity of such approvals and determine whether permit holders genuinely qualify to use tinted vehicles.

Sanusi warned that permits could not be used as a shield for criminal activities, noting that some offenders may obtain permits and subsequently exploit them to transport weapons, drugs or kidnap victims.

He also addressed claims by motorists who rely on medical reasons to justify the use of tinted vehicles, insisting that such exemptions must be supported by verifiable medical evidence.

The police boss, however, distinguished between factory-fitted tinted glasses and heavily darkened aftermarket installations, explaining that many factory-fitted vehicles still allow visibility into the interior.

He maintained that investigations have shown that heavily tinted vehicles have featured prominently in several criminal operations, including kidnapping and one-chance robberies.

The enforcement campaign forms part of the FCT Police Command’s broader crackdown on tinted vehicles, covered number plates and unregistered vehicles, which security agencies believe are commonly used to facilitate criminal activities and frustrate investigations.

Residents have been urged to comply with existing regulations, as violators risk arrest, prosecution and possible impoundment of their vehicles.