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Increased fines for traffic offences, Spot Fines in force
Regulations to impose increased fines for traffic offences came into effect this week, but Police have sought a month’s grace for the new rules to be fully operational. Provisions to impose spot fines, where the offender will be issued the ticket instantly, and pay the Spot Fine at a post office thereafter, has also been introduced. The Spot Fine Regulations were made by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, under the Motor Traffic Act. There are 32 offences for which a spot fine can be imposed.
DIG (Traffic) L.F. Pathinayake said that printing of forms detailing traffic offences liable for spot fines have to be in all three languages and hence, at least a month’s time is needed to get all the paperwork in order. “There are certain issues that we have to attend to before the spot fines are fully operational,” he said. Along with the Spot Fine rules, fines for a few traffic offences have been enhanced. Fine for exceeding the speed limit has been raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000, non-compliance with traffic rules from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000, reversing a motor vehicle for a long distance on a road from Rs 20 to Rs 1,000 and non-use of seat belts from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. The Regulations state that, where a police officer makes a detection in respect of certain traffic offences and, where the person involved admits liability for such offence, such person may, in lieu of prosecution for such offence, become liable to the Spot Fine.
The Spot Fine will have to be paid to the nearest post office, as per the charge sheet received from the traffic police officer. The licence can then be obtained from the relevant police station. The offences under the Spot Fine regulations include failure to wear protective helmets, failure to obey directions and signals by the police, carriage of persons in excess of the authorised number and failure to carry the Emission/Fitness Certificate in the vehicle.