Rs.25,000 fine for seven traffic offences: Gazette notice issued

2 April 2019 03:55 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

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The gazette notice to increase fines to Rs.25,000 with regard to seven traffic offences was issued on Monday night, the Transport Ministry said.

According to the gazette notice, the ministry will present the new traffic fines to parliament after amending the Motor Traffic Act.

"Violation of traffic rules and careless driving by drivers has resulted in several road accidents. The proposal to increase the earlier prescribed minimum fine of Rs.2,500 was made in 2017 considering the increase in the number of accidents," it said.

“The seven traffic offences were identified at a meeting held with private bus associations and three-wheeler associations at the Finance Ministry on December 21, 2016. It was at that time the fine of Rs.25,000 was decided,” the Transport Ministry said.

However, following several protests held by bus and three-wheeler associations, the President intervened and agreed to appoint a five-member committee comprising Finance Ministry Secretary, Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary, Solicitor General of the Attorney Generals Department and the Motor Traffic Department Commissioner to study the feasibility of the fine. The fine has been increased to Rs.25,000 for seven traffic ofences in the wake of the committee decision.

According to the Gazette notification, the Rs.25,000 would be applied for driving without a valid license, assigning a driver without a valid driving licence , driving under the influence of alcohol, entering a vehicle into a railway crossing irresponsibly, driving without a valid insurance cover, driving at a high speed and overtaking from the left side.

"Driving a vehicle over a railway crossing was a new offence added to the Motor traffic Act while driving by underage persons, reckless and drunk driving, speeding, driving without concern for others, using mobile phones while driving will be added to the list in the future," the ministry said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Comments - 8

Mm Tuesday, 02 April 2019 05:22 PM

So does this apply to ministers and their backup vehiles too??

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Concerned Citizen Monday, 08 January 2024 03:02 PM

Fine system is good if they are practiced equally. The main issue in the country is that law is applied to the rulebook for the average citizens only. There are lot of people who are above the law who are treated with royalty. Human life is something invaluable. Penalties bring only money to the govt but there is nothing said about how they are going to use this money for the poor innocent families who become victims of the road accidents. They will always be turned a blind eye, as always the case in this Serendib

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T.Siva shanker Tuesday, 02 April 2019 06:27 PM

fines to be further increased Rs.100,000.

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Channa Tuesday, 02 April 2019 06:32 PM

Happy hunting for police . they will earn their monthly salary with in days

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Saranga Tuesday, 02 April 2019 07:04 PM

Seriously people here are commenting on corruption side but no one bothered to say anything about lives that are lost on daily basis BTW where is patriotic GOMA,, I only see car permits, school issues from them? Docs or Devil's

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Hassanda Tuesday, 02 April 2019 07:26 PM

VIP’s and Politicians Drive Recklessly Will fine them Rs 25k First Issue the Dadakola to these Non- law Abiding Politicians

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TJ Tuesday, 02 April 2019 07:27 PM

How do define reckless driving? If it is not properly defined, policemen will have hay days ahead

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Anton Hemantha Thursday, 11 January 2024 08:16 AM

Good start. Don’t change anything in the proposal. Even if there will be issues like police bribery increase, it’s good to start this program. Police bribery increase will discourage drivers to break the law.

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