MTTU halts implementation of spot fines

The Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) has postponed the implementation of the spot fine, to enhance public education of the new traffic regulations.

The MTTU earlier announced it will in May, begin charging a spot fine on motorists who flout road traffic regulations in order to punish these road traffic offenders and improve safety on the country’s roads.

But, MTTU Commander ACP Angwubutoge Awuni explains the postponement has been necessitated by calls from stakeholders to ensure enough public awareness before implementation begins.

According to him, between May and July, the Police in collaboration with some stakeholders like the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Ministry of Roads and Highways, Ministry of Transport, National Road Safety Commission (NRC) as well as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), will embark on a sensitisation campaign to ensure the general public is adequately informed about the regulation.

Subsequently, the Police will begin a pilot programme in Accra, Tema and Kumasi to ascertain the level of awareness and address any unforeseen problems before rolling out the spot fine nationwide.

Hence according to the ACP Awuni, the specific date for a nationwide implementation of the new regulation will be difficult to state at this point.

But an insurance practitioner, Mr Edgar Wiredu, is questioning the spot fine policy which places failure to renew driving license under ‘minor offence’.

According to him failure to renew driving license is equal to not having a license and as part of the country’s insurance policy, claims are not paid to such drivers in the event of an accident.

When the Police announced the implementation of the spot fines will begin in May, several institutions expressed reservations about the mode of implementation of the system.

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) suggested the Police administration should set up a unit that would monitor the activities of Police personnel who may be assigned to carry out the “the spot fine” project when it is implemented.

Some of the offences and their associated spot fines are as follows:

- Refusal to renew road use certificate will see offenders fined between 5-25 penalty units equivalent to between GHC 60-300.

Refusal to register number plates will also see offenders fined between 5-25 penalty units Refusal to renew road use certificate will see offenders fined between 5-25 penalty units equivalent to between GHC 60-300.

Refusal to register number plates will also see offenders fined between 5-25 penalty units equivalent to between GHS 60-300.

Failure to use seat belts will have offenders fined 10-50 penalty units equivalent to GHS 120-600

Exceeding the prescribed number of persons to be carried will have offenders fined 10-25 penalty units equivalent to GHS 120-300 equivalent to between GHS 60-300.

Disqualification of under age persons will see offenders pay GHS 120 for a 10 penalty units.

Failure to use seat belts will have offenders fined 10-50 penalty units equivalent to GHS 120-600

Exceeding the prescribed number of persons to be carried will have offenders fined 10-25 penalty units equivalent to GHS 120-300.

According to the Police, one penalty unit was worth GHS 12.