Traffic cops going after 2,900
Bus drivers in deeper trouble over unpaid summonses
KUALA LUMPUR: The traffic police are going after some 2,900 bus drivers who have been served warrants of arrest for failing to settle their summonses.
Bukit Aman traffic chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Abdul Aziz Yusof said they would be given a grace period to settle their summonses under Ops Warta.
“We will give them a date to appear in court or pay up their summonses.
“If they disobey, we won’t give them any more chances. We will arrest them and drag them to court,” he told reporters at the end of an operation at the Integrated SouthBandar Tasik Selatan Transport Terminal (TBS-BTS) here yesterday.
The operation, involving 55 traffic policemen, saw 65 bus drivers being hauled up for having arrest warrants over unpaid summonses.
They were given a week to either appear in court or settle their summonses.
SAC Abdul Aziz said there had been an alarming increase in bus accidents up to August this year, which was 14.5% higher than the corresponding period last year despite fewer fatalities.
“Of course, we can arrest them on the spot when we issue the warrants but we need to consider the ‘human factor’ in our operations.
“Some of these drivers may not have the time or money, and arresting them on the job can cause inconvenience to their passengers,” said SAC Abdul Aziz.
Some drivers booked at the terminal were angry when they received warnings from the police, claiming that they were not aware that they had traffic summonses or arrest warrants.
“My employers never told me I had them. Now, they tell me I have six summonses and one arrest warrant that I have to deal with,” said bus driver Arumugan Subramaniam, 32.
Another driver Letchumanan C. Muniandy, 43, said he had given money to his employer for a speeding summons he received four years ago and was shocked to find out that it had not been settled.