Unruly rush to grab summons discount
Queue jumpers delay 250 from paying up
GEORGE TOWN: Chaos ensued when some 250 people did not get to pay their traffic summonses despite having waited for hours during a police event.
A special counter was set up during the George Town district-level 211th Police Day celebration at the Straits Quay in Tanjong Tokong yesterday.
It was to offer a 50% discount on traffic summonses, except for non-compoundable summonses, traffic accidents and Ops Selamat 2018 summonses.
Although the event was to open at 10am, OCPD Asst Comm Anuar Omar said people started queuing up as early as 8.30am for the special discount, which was circulated widely on social media.
“We tried to go online with Bukit Aman’s internal system at 9.30am but couldn’t despite numerous attempts,” he said.
“We then decided to move the counter indoors at 10.45am, and announced that numbers would be given out instead.
“However, impatient motorists, who were supposed to be queuing, rushed to the front to grab the numbers,” he added.
Policemen, who distributed the numbers, were heard saying sabar, sabar (be patient) to the crowd.
The computer came online at 11.10am and the motorists started to pay their summonses in an orderly manner.
However, the computer went offline again about 30 minutes later.
To resolve the matter, police decided to allow those with the numbers to settle their summonses at the district traffic police branch in Patani Road tomorrow.
ACP Anuar said what happened was unforeseen due to technical problems.
“About 700 motorists turned up for the event, which ended at 1pm,” he said.
A motorist, who wished to be known only as Elaine, said she arrived at 9am, hoping to pay her summonses for speeding.
“The fines would have amounted to RM600, but if I pay now, it’ll only be RM300.
“I’m disappointed I could not settle my summonses today. I now have to take time off to get it done on Monday,” she said.
Other than the special counter to pay traffic summonses, there were also exhibitions by the various police branches, a police band performance, and a 45-bike convoy travelling from the George Town police headquarters to the venue.