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Traffic fines could be adjusted to match offence severity
A traffic policeman writes down a fine: The Government has proposed an increase of the spot fines for traffic offences to a minimum of Rs. 2,500. Pic by Amila Gamage
A committee studying the huge increase in traffic spot fines is set to make its recommendations by the end of the month as views for and against the proposals flow in.
The committee, headed by Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, was appointed by Cabinet after protests from the Lanka Private Bus Owners Association about the proposed fine system.Chairman of National Council for Road Safety (NCRS), Dr Sisira Kodagoda, said he and other members of the committee were studying the gravity of offences to work out the new spot fine system.
Dr. Kodagoda said all the fines should not be increased to Rs 2,500 but all fines should be sizeable and match the gravity of the offence.
“The smallest fine currently in use is Rs. 20, which is imposed for reversing onto a main road, an act that can cause many accidents, yet anyone can get away with it by paying this small amount,” he said.
Such an offence should merit at least Rs 1,000 to force people to be concerned about road rules, he said.
The NCRS is submitting its own proposals on the amendments.
Dr. Kodagoda said bus owners should not opt to go on strike when the government has imposed a law applicable to all.
“If offences are not committed no-one will be fined,” he pointed out.
A legal officer of the Transport Ministry said fines are imposed by courts for traffic offences also need to be revised in keeping with the new scale of spot fines.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Traffic) Palitha Fernando said implementation of the new system would not begin until police are properly briefed about the fines. “We can only act if it is gazetted or the Act is amended,” he said.
Will the number of road accidents come down with the increase in fines ask some