Traffic fines increased upto Rs. 25,000

10 August 2017 02:18 pm - 29 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The government has increased traffic fines to Rs. 25,000 which will be implemented for offences such as driving without a valid driving licence, deploying persons without driving licence in services, driving under the influence liquor and drugs, access of vehicle in to a railway road unsafely and driving a vehicle without a valued insurance cover, Cabinet spokesman and Minister Gayantha Karunatilaka said.

The cabinet that met on Tuesday gave the nod to increase the traffic fines drastically on a memo presented by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva under the provisions of the Motor Traffic Act, he added.

“The revision of fines charged for traffic offences was also been proposed to increase for 7 traffic offences to Rs. 25000 in 2016 in a bid to reduce the number of road accidents but with opposition coming from bus associations and three wheeler associations, a committee of officials was appointed by the president, and the proposal made by the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, to implement following recommendations of the said committee was approved by the cabinet,” Minister De Silva told the cabinet in his memo, Minister Karunatilaka said.

Accordingly, fines will also be increased to Rs. 25,000 for speeding. Spot fines, according to the percentage of over speeding as followers: Up to 20% - Rs. 3000, 20% - 30% - Rs. 5000, 30% - 50% - Rs. 10,000, and beyond 50% - Rs. 15,000.

Overtaking from the left - minimum spot fine to be increased to Rs. 2,000, driving with disregard to other people - a minimum fine of Rs. 10,000, reckless driving - minimum fine of Rs. 10,000, driving by underage persons - increase of the exiting fine of Rs. 5,000 to 30,000, Minister Karunatilaka noted..

A minimum fine of Rs. 2,500 for offences not stated in the Motor Traffic Act: impose a spot fine of Rs. 2,000 for use of Mobile phones while driving and accelerate the implementation of marking process for drivers.

Measures to be taken to minimize traffic accidents and nab those who violate traffic law: Installation of CCTV cameras in places with recurrent accidents for taking information for punishing offenders, prompt implementation of the proposal to use electronic payment method to charge spot fines, properly demonstrate speed limit boards on highways and expressways, implement a combined time table or a suitable arrangement for the running of SLTB and private buses, establishment of regulatory institutions for regulation of three-wheelers and school transport vehicles., establishment of an efficient public transport service and the use of high-tech tools to minimize irregularities of some law enforcing officers and to improve transparency in law enforcement. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

Video by RM

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Comments - 29

Zinka Nate Thursday, 10 August 2017 02:51 PM

.. and you bribe 5,000 and you are scot free!!!

lkboy Thursday, 10 August 2017 05:08 PM

And the police will be rich in no time!

nic Friday, 11 August 2017 09:36 AM

This is an unofficial income increment to the corrupt, illiterate traffic cops who have no clue of the traffic code!

Be Fair Friday, 11 August 2017 10:06 AM

We need to change our attitude, thats whats killing all of us. Your comment "Bribe and you are scott free" you need to change mate. If we the citizens stops bribing so will be the taking of it.

kaboos Thursday, 10 August 2017 02:58 PM

The fine should be impose not only for liquor . and for other drugs also. . Private bus strike in the pipeline.

DamithW Thursday, 10 August 2017 04:21 PM

Worst is "under the influence" of CELL . Phones.. Fine should be at least 100 000 Rs.

ANTON Thursday, 10 August 2017 03:01 PM

I AM GOING TO APPLY FOR A POLICE CONSTABLE JOB.

Lalith Perera Friday, 11 August 2017 10:19 AM

OOh Anton. Eec 5:10 says "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless".

Daily Boru Thursday, 10 August 2017 04:10 PM

GMOA please do something. Anthare fight for drivers course.

Lion Viswanathan Friday, 11 August 2017 09:31 AM

Weerawansa will you fast to death for this issue?

Dr. A.C.B. Jayaweera Friday, 11 August 2017 09:16 AM

Only Traffic Police Officers are benefited by this, means extra bonuses in addition to the salary.

Aladeniya Kirimathaya Friday, 11 August 2017 09:18 AM

If Govt. has no money to run the show must find some other way and not to fine the innocent people like this, what a crime.

Lion Viswanathan Friday, 11 August 2017 09:20 AM

Before imposing these fines, Government should curtail the traffic conjections with better plans.

S.T.M. Jabeer (Attorney-at-Law) Friday, 11 August 2017 09:23 AM

While imposing these fines, Mr. Minister - please increase the Bribery Commission Staff to over-look Police Officers.

AFVF Friday, 11 August 2017 09:40 AM

Bring on the points system rather than imposing huge traffic fines for critical offence and other traffic offence which does'nt come under the Traffic Act. Give a quota of 12points per annum and for critical offence deduct 5points and a spot fine for 5k and offence which does'nt come under the traffic act to reduce 2points and a spot fine of 1k. If you are done with your points then you cannot drive for the rest of the year. Obviously driving without a licence could be imprisonment and fine upto 25k. Increasing such huge monetary fine for traffic offence is going to benefit mainly the cops and not the public or government. I'm sure there won't be any cops sitting in their station from now onwards.

Casanova Friday, 11 August 2017 11:54 AM

Well said, our guys wont get this to implement.

K. C. John Friday, 11 August 2017 09:53 AM

Hope these fines will be unerringly applied to Tri-shaw and Bus drivers as well. At present, they seem to be driving under a different Highway Code.Also, how about applying the Highway Code "right of way" rule at roundabouts? Even Policemen stationed at roundabouts don't seem to know the rule!

Be Fair Friday, 11 August 2017 10:04 AM

Very Slowly but surely now things seems to be happeningRK GoneTraffic Fines up............. what next. I'm impressed

Justice Friday, 11 August 2017 11:28 AM

And politicians are exempted! Law makers and enforcing authorities should set example first.

ilham Friday, 11 August 2017 11:30 AM

Some listen to logic.Some listent to motivation.Some listen only to punishment.Let's take singapore as an example, where you are fined 500$ for simply drinking water inside the railway stations. This is one of their main reasons for success. This is a good move. Let's try to work as a nation to build on top of this decision.Who knows, I might get fined for accidentally breaking the traffic law tomorrow. :)

Don Friday, 11 August 2017 11:37 AM

Dear Poor Drivers fight it out ..Three wheelers, Private Bus drivers do not allow the Fight it out..This Government and country is squeezing the poor, see the essential items, private doctors charges , everything is so expensive. Not they want to squeeze us some by charging exorbitant traffic fines. It is very unfair..It should be increased smoothly. Fines are very important , but it should be in proportion to the crime. Drunken driving, driving without valid driving license or Insurance could be doubled..But Dear Government officials please think of the poor in this country , we are finding it very difficult to survive, now you are imposing exorbitant traffic fine? We did not give you the vote to burden us more and more day by day..

sunil Friday, 11 August 2017 11:38 AM

Have traffic police in civil clothes to catch reckless drivers and fine them immediately. They could produce the IDs to show they are from police. Dubai has a very effective traffic policing system - police cars parked without any policemen but with surveillance cameras , policemen as CID catching traffic offenders. These are required for the greater good of society.

Kirk Lawrence Friday, 11 August 2017 11:57 AM

I agree with you Sir, but SL to become Dubai standards it will take another 50 years. Loot at our dirty politicians previous or present, this is a good example.

Rufus Norton Friday, 11 August 2017 11:56 AM

There are all kinds of suggestions and hoopla about punishments for traffic offences all these months and years and people continued to be killed on the roads by offending drivers. At least now, we have a deterrent and it must be implemented strictly whether cops are making a buck or not is not a reason to avoid this.

PR Friday, 11 August 2017 12:02 PM

Unlike western world, the cops accept bribe here as their monthly takeaway is very low. Unless we fellow citizens correct ourselves, giving bribes cannot be stopped. BTW, many have dashboard cameras. The authority should act based on forwarded clips with numbers who violate and take action accordingly. This way action can be taken even if cops fail to do so. Overtime drivers could stop bribing too

ranjithsam Friday, 11 August 2017 02:44 PM

It is a good idea if the salaries of the Police officers are increased proportionately . Then the chances of bribing to get away from infringements are less. Think !

dave Friday, 11 August 2017 06:41 PM

it is advisable for all vehicles to have a dash cam

Senewi Friday, 11 August 2017 06:47 PM

Indirect way of increasing the salary of police people.

SA Friday, 11 August 2017 09:30 PM

1.same was said in November 2016(http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Rs-fine-for-seven-traffic-offences-119478.html)2.Attorney-at-Law Prathibha Mahanama says that fines increased on these offences would not be enforced simply because it has been approved by the cabinet. What he said was that if these amendments are to take effect it has to be passed in parliament and cabinet approval must be taken. He has also added that what is required for the Act in connection with traffic offences to be amended is a common majority of the parliament.

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Traffic fines increased upto Rs. 25,000

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