Differing views on ministry’s proposal on summonses

PETALING JAYA: The proposal to reduce certain traffic summonses from RM300 to RM150 has drawn mixed reactions from various groups and the public.

While some were supportive of the proposal, others argued that doing so would take away the deterrent value of a summons.

Among those opposing the move was the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) whose president, S.M. Mohamed Idris said reducing the fines was no way to curb accidents or unruly behaviour on the road.

“If people do not pay their summons, go after them and charge them. If not, they will be waiting for times like this where they expect to pay a lower amount.

“The lives of people are most important and what we want is to improve road safety. Now, you find that motorists are just not afraid of getting a summons.

“The higher the summons is, the more deterrent it is,” he said.

According to him, there were about 7,000 fatalities and 200,000 road accidents each year.

Malaysian Road Safety Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said it was right for traffic summonses to be reduced but only for non-serious offences, such as parking illegally.

He said there were many types of traffic offences and not all summonses should be the same amount.

“Driving recklessly, speeding and beating the red light, these are serious offences and offenders should be given the maximum fine.

“All these summonses will have to be paid and in my view, there should be no discounts given.

“By offering discounts, it would send the wrong message to motorists. It’s also unfair to those who have paid in full,” said Lee.

Engineering student Melvin Tan was supportive of the move, saying it was better if it only applied to firsttime traffic offenders and not to every motorist.

“Those who have multiple and repeat offences should be made to pay the full amount of RM300 right away.

“Hopefully, this will deter them from breaking traffic rules as they like,” he said.

Businessman Jimmy Teoh, 32, said the proposal would encourage those with a summons to pay up early instead of keeping it for a year or two, hoping for a discount.

Traffic offences that carry a RM300 compound include speeding, wrongly using the emergency lane, having unreadable, blurred or fancy number plates, and not giving way to vehicles on the right at a roundabout.