No fines reduction for five traffic offences

Star: PUTRAJAYA: There will be no reduction in compounds for five serious traffic offences – speeding, queue jumping, beating traffic lights, overtaking on a double line and driving on the emergency lane.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and police had agreed that there should be no compound reduction on these offences, which posed a danger to other motorists.
He said this after a meeting with officials from JPJ, the Road Safety Department, the police, the Internal Security Ministry and City Hall here yesterday. It was the first meeting to be held after last Wednesday’s Cabinet decision to postpone a proposal by the police to slash traffic compounds by as much as RM200.
The police had earlier insisted that it had the power to reduce the compounds without having to consult the Transport Ministry.
Chan said the authorities would meet later to streamline the rates of compounds for other offences such as illegal U-turns and parking, wrong-doings involving driving licences and the non-wearing of helmets by motorcyclists.
“We agreed that the streamlining of these rates would involve some form of reduction. However, we decided there should be no reduction for the five serious offences, as they pose a danger to other motorists,” he added.
“It’s important that the right message is conveyed and that drivers must be disciplined regarding these five offences.”
At present, JPJ’s compound rates for traffic offences are higher by as much as RM100 than those meted out by the police.
Chan said both the JPJ and the police had two weeks to come up with the new compound rates for other offences which he would submit to the Cabinet for approval.
Later, when approached, newly-appointed Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the motive behind the initial proposal to slash traffic compounds by the police was good.
“But the implementation was not right,” he conceded, insisting there had been “no breakdown in communication” between the different ministries.