18 April 2019 03:45 am
The Transport and Civil Aviation State Minister Ashok Abeysinghe yesterday said the Ministry is considering to amend the fine imposed for overtaking the vehicles on the left side, out of the seven offences for which the least fine of Rs. 25,000 is imposed.
He said the fines for the seven traffic offences were not taken to debate in parliament as yet, and it would be taken on the next parliament gathering on May 7.
“There is a chance to make revisions on the road offences. Numerous requests made by a large number of drivers for the amendment of the fine imposed for overtaking the vehicles from the left. As a Deputy Minister, I also agreed over the revision of the fine, as it was not applicable for the roads in the country,” he said.
He confirmed that the Gazette was already issued for imposing the least fine of Rs. 25,000 for seven traffic offences.
"There were no objections received over the revision on other fines, except for overtaking vehicles from the left," Minister Abeysinge said.
The Rs.25,000 fine would apply for driving without a valid licence, assigning a driver to drive a vehicle without a valid driving licence, driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, entering a vehicle into a railway crossing irresponsibly, driving without a valid insurance cover and over-speeding, he said.
Fines for seven traffic offences had been decided to increase to Rs. 25,000 with the aim of reducing the number of deaths caused by road accidents, the Minister said.
He said that he would discuss this revision with the Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary, Solicitor General of the Attorney General's Department and the Commissioner of the Motor Traffic Department. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)