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DPS’ opinion sought on car-tinting exemption for officials
Comments from the Department of Public Safety are needed regarding a proposed bill on a car window tinting exemption for elected officials.
According to House Speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan), he expects DPS Commissioner James C. Deleon Guerrero to weigh in on the proposed bill.
The proposed bill was introduced by Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz (R-Tinian). Senate Bill 19-28 seeks to exempt vehicles used by elected officials from window tinting restrictions and government license plate requirements.
The Senate passed the bill last week; it now heads to the House of Representatives.
“What we will do is, once we receive it, we will pass it to the proper committee and wait for the DPS to give comments and recommendations,” the House speaker said.
Depending on what the comments are from DPS, the House of Representatives can then introduce amendments, he added.
Cruz earlier said the proposal to exempt elected officials from the ban on car window tinting is about security and safety and nothing more.
“This bill is for the security and safety of elected officials,” Cruz said, adding that the proposed bill will serve no other purpose.
Cruz said he feels that this measure is “very urgent, very important,” adding that his own personal experience during the 17th Legislature was one of the reasons he filed the bill.
“My car was shot [at] twice during the 17th Legislature in 2011, so I feel this is very urgent, very important,” he said. “Unlike in other countries, we do not have security here.”
The senator said it is the prerogative of other lawmakers to have a different view of the proposed law, but there is “no need to make this an issue.”
According to the proposed bill, “this will ensure that elected officials cannot be easily attacked while traveling on the road or in a parked vehicle.”
Other lawmakers, however, said the bill is not necessary and not urgent.
