Confusion about a new window tint law has caused considerablecontroversy, but a state legislator said Wednesday afternoon thatmotorists have until July 1, 2006, to come into compliance with thelaw.

District 53 Rep. Bobby Moak said bad information and confusionled to the release of erroneous statements that sparked thecontroversy.

“Somebody is putting out some misinformation on this thing,”Moak said. “They told me at the Highway Patrol that they had someimproper information that they sent out.”

A press release from the Mississippi Highway Patrol emphasizedthat there was no grace period to comply with the law, and MHPspokesmen repeated that information in interviews with themedia.

Lt. Ed Nelson, a MHP spokesman, had no comment on Moak’s claimthat MHP released bad information. He said only that the MHP doesnot expect everyone to comply in just one day and the agency will”give them some time to do so.”

Motorists actually have a year to comply with the new law, Moaksaid.

“The bill doesn’t say that July 1 you become counter to thislaw,” he said. “July 1 is only when the law begins to take effect.You have the entire year to come into compliance with thatlaw.”

Interpreted correctly, Moak said, all window tint inspectionstickers will become invalid July 1 and motorists will need toacquire one of the newly authorized window tint inspectionstickers.

Moak said that contrary to information released in the past fewdays, motorists will have one year to obtain new stickers beforelaw enforcement agencies will begin to enforce the new law. Theintent is for motorists to obtain the stickers when they updatetheir standard vehicle safety inspection stickers, he said.

The window tint inspection stickers, which will be placed oneach inspected window, will certify that the vehicle meets themaximum of 35 percent shading allowed under the law.

Brookhaven Police Chief Pap Henderson had previously said hewould not enforce the law because it did not give people time tocomply. He said he will now consider enforcing the law when ittakes effect in 2006.

“This sounds more sensible,” he said. “Now there will be noexcuse not to be in compliance when we do decide to enforce this,”he said.

The one-year grace period will also give businesses time tobegin offering the window tint inspections, Moak said.

Currently, no business in Mississippi Highway Patrol District 9provides the window tint inspections, Nelson said. District 9includes Adams, Franklin, Lawrence, Lincoln and Pike counties,among others. The nearest business currently offering the serviceis in Hazlehurst, with another reportedly in Columbia.