BY MELVILLE TITIULU
Magistrate Mrs Pauline Smith Taroimae, on Monday, April 30, imposed a fine of $100 on a man found guilty of operating a public service bus with dark-tinted glass when the matter came for sentencing at the Juvenile Court room.
The offender, Sammy Abeta of Ngali Fesi Village, Malaita Province, at 11am on January 12, 2026, at the central market bus stop area, during an HCC operation, was spotted driving his public bus that was licensed to carry passengers for reward (bus fare) with a dark tinted window glass.
The offender was then accordingly charged as the licensee (owner).
The $100 fine was imposed upon the offender after the court took into account his extenuating factors such as; he is a first-time offender, he was remorseful, and was cooperative with the law enforcement officers when told to remove the black tint from his public bus.
The Honiara City Council (Regulation of Business License) Ordinance 2011 has conditions which prohibit the licensee operator (public vehicle owner) from using tints on the windscreens and windows of the bus when licensed to carry passengers for reward (bus fare).
The main reasons behind the removal of tinted glass on public transport came about as a result of safety concerns raised for women and girls travelling at night in light of the alleged abduction incident in 2024.
The regulation conditions also aim to improve the visibility and safety for passengers.
These had prompted the introduction of the ordinance which later came into effect on December 2, 2024. That same day, there was a mass protest from disgruntled taxi and bus owners in response to the ordinance condition requiring the removal of tinted windows from buses and taxis.
It follows, the public transportation within the Honiara city was disrupted with workers and daily commuters who rely on public transportation were forced to walk.
Despite the controversies surrounding the regulation conditions, the HCC Prosecutor Mr Harry Bisafo, told Island Sun that the business conditions are still effective and hence, it is compulsory for all public tinted vehicles including buses, taxis, 3-ton, 2 ton or a semi-trailer, not to have black-tinted wind screens. Except for private vehicles.
Mr Robert Madeo, Director of HCC law enforcement unit also told Island Sun that his team will continue to enforce this business license conditions on all public buses and taxis.
Consequently, any licensee operators licensed to carry passengers for reward who failed to comply with the license Conditions is liable to Maximum Penalty fine of $5,000-00.
Prosecutor Mr Harry Bisafo from the HCC is prosecuting the matter while the offender was self-represented in court.
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