| James Kon |
ROAD traffic fines in the country will be increased with effect from February 1, 2017.
The decision was taken by the Land Transport Department under Ministry of Communications in consultation with the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF).
According to the new rule, the rate of compound fine, especially for the most common offences that cause accidents and affect road safety, will be raised between $50 and $500, according to section 91 (1) of the Road Traffic Order (Amendment) 2013.
The latest legislation also entails making a number of road offences that usually lead to a summons to compoundable offences.
The new rules that aim to reduce road accidents were unveiled by Dr Haji Supry bin Haji Ladi, Director of the Land Transport Department; Senior Superintendent Kevin Chiuh Ted Voon from RBPF; and DPP Christopher Ng, Deputy Senior Counsel and Head of Special Duties Unit of the Criminal Justice Division of the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), at a press conference yesterday.
The new penalty rates are currently under review and updates will be provided to the public before the implementation on February 1, 2017, it was revealed.
Meanwhile, compound fines issued before this date will remain at $50.
In case of pending summons from January 1, 2014, offenders are offered to settle their cases by paying a compound fine of $50 before February 1, 2017, Kevin Chiuh Ted Voon said.
Dr Haji Supry bin Haji Ladi, Director of the Land Transport Department at the press conference. – JAMES KON
According to RBPF, there are currently more than 2,150 summons cases that are yet to be settled.
Giving a detailed description of the new rule which allows some summons cases to be made compoundable ones, Dr Haji Supry explained that the new Road Traffic (Composition of Offences) Rules 2016 is an amendment to the existing Road Traffic (Compounding Offences) Rules 1967 and involves the switching of a number of road traffic offences of summons (court) cases to compound (fine) cases.
“From the 92 types of road traffic offences listed, 46 offences have been switched to compoundable offences that were being issued summons previously. All the 92 types of road traffic offences can be found on the website of Land Transport Department and the Royal Brunei Police Force.
“Examples of frequently committed road traffic offences that have been switched from summons to compound are driving without valid road tax, driving without valid driving licence, using mobile phone while driving, driving without the consent of the owner of vehicle, vehicle with tinted glass and driving without seat belt.”
The new move is aimed at reducing the number of road traffic cases being brought to the court, increasing the capacity of court in concluding pending cases, raising efficiency of law enforcement as well as improving road safety standards in the country, he said.
“The new rule is the early-phase implementation of a project under the initiative called ‘Ease of Doing Business Alternatives to Court’ that involves a number of agencies, namely: Ministry of Communications, Land Transport Department (the Chair), Royal Brunei Police Force, Attorney General’s Chambers, Roads Department under the Public Works Department – that have formed a committee for drafting and reviewing the laws and regulations of Chapter 68 under the Road Traffic Act, under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office,” the Director of the Land Transport Department said.
For more information on the new rule, members of the public can contact the Enforcement Division of the Land Transport Department at 7292017 or Traffic Control and Investigation Department under the RBPF at 2459500 ext 452.
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