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‘Exempting officials from car window tinting unnecessary’
A proposed bill seeking to exempt members of the Legislature from an existing law on car window tint is “unnecessary” and should be the “the very least of lawmakers’ concerns,” according to a couple of House representatives.
The Senate on Friday passed several bills, one of which is Senate Bill 19-28, introduced by Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz (R-Tinian). S.B 19-28 seeks to exempt vehicles used by elected officials from window tinting restrictions and government license plate requirements.
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.”
For Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan), however, “tinted windows should be the very least of our concerns.”
“I have serious problems with this bill that will exempt elected officials from car window tinting. If security is a concern, then why do we have no security up at the Legislature? Anyone can walk in to the House or Senate anytime. There is no screening whatsoever,” Propst said.
The lawmaker added that while this may upset his colleagues in the Senate, “I cannot in good conscience support this bill.”
“I do not feel comfortable supporting any bill that gives public officials special privileges over the very people we were elected to represent. As public servants, we must ensure that the same laws that apply to our constituents must also apply to us equally,” Propst said.
Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) said he is also “surprised” about the passing of the bill in the Senate. “I don’t see the urgency,” he said.
“I respect the Senate, whatever decisions they make, but for me, officials are already being given privileges. What more do we want?” he said.
