A strong warning was conveyed by the Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, Benjamin Turi on defective vehicles, that police will soon implement arresting of drivers and owners of vehicles that are found to be operating unroadworthy vehicles.
ACP Turi confirmed he has conducted a meeting with the Road Traffic Authority, National Capital District Commission, Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited, Transport Department and Traffic Police Officers which they have agreed to roll out this exercise.
This has come following public concerns raised prompting action from the relevant authorities.
He stated that they will start with the defective buses that are taking up space and causing traffic jams around the city.
“We have to start somewhere to make those who breach traffic laws aware that there are laws to punish traffic offenders. We will profile vehicles and drivers and circulate this information within the agencies involved to ensure that defective vehicles do not return to the road once caught,” ACP Turi said.
“This media statement is part of an awareness campaign that will begin in late May and continue going forward. To vehicle owners, please ensure your vehicles do not breach any traffic offenses. Your drivers must have licenses from MVIL and CPTA. To bus owners and taxi owners you are given one month to start fixing your car registrations and other defects.”
Despite a number of awareness campaigns been made, the police, RTA, MVIL, NCDC, Transport Department, Central Provincial Transport Board, and others responsible for the movement of vehicles had failed to enforce them.
Mr. Turi said, the team will start somewhere, and that will be next month when the police will start arresting traffic offenders. He mentioned that those with a permanent residential address can be issued Traffic Infringement Notices (TIN) depending on the offense they commit.
He announced, he will be speaking on FM 100 on Wednesday about how they will go about enforcing the traffic law.
The police media team and other media platforms will be utilised to disseminate information on the awareness and progress of the work they will be doing regarding the operation of cleaning the city of defective vehicles and other traffic offenses.
