The Road Traffic Act which took effect on Tuesday has sharply increased the penalties for several offences. Here are some of the penalties and the fines:

1) A motorist who fails to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle will be fined $25,000.

2) Driving a vehicle closer than 50 metres behind an emergency vehicle or stopping a vehicle within 100 metres of where the emergency vehicle has stopped will attract a fine of $5,000.

3) A motorist who uses a wireless communication device while driving as well as smoke marijuana while attempting to, or driving will attract a fine of $10,000.

4) Motor cars and cycles whose muffler systems exceed 85 decibels will attract a fine of $10,000, while small trucks must not exceed 90, and large trucks, 95 decibels.

5) Motorcyclists will also be fined $10,000 for doing a ‘wheelie’ on roads.

6) People operating a vehicle that is not insured will face a fine of $20,000.

7) Operating a motor vehicle fitted with or which displays lamps emitting a blue light for will attract a fine of $15,000.

8) Using a revolving lamp used to warn other motorists and indicate priority of movement in traffic will attract a fine of $10,000.

9) Unlicensed driving schools can be fined up to $100,000 in the parish court, while failure to prominently display the valid licence or certified copy of licence of a driving school will attract a charge of $10,000.

10) A fine of up to $300,000 or imprisonment for up to six months will be given for falsely advertising that a person is the holder of a licence to operate a driving school.

11) Drivers who damage a road sign with a motor vehicle will be fined $50,000, while those who stop a motor vehicle at any point within 12 metres of either side of a bus stop sign erected on the same road will be fined $10,000.

12) Motorists carrying dangerous goods without the appropriate transport emergency cards and manifests can be fined up to $250,000 in the parish court or be imprisoned for five months.

13) If drivers transporting dangerous goods are not certified to do so they will be fined $20,000, and $25,000 for transporting a passenger who is not appropriately qualified.

14) Motorists who permit a person to travel or drive in or on a motor vehicle or trailer with parts of their body protruding beyond the sides or rear of the vehicle will be fined $5,000.

15) A load on a motor vehicle or trailer that projects more than 30 centimetres beyond the rear of the vehicle without the use of a required warning device to indicate the length or width of the projection will attract a fine of $50,000.

16) People who do not tow a motor vehicle on a toll road using a tow truck will face a monetary penalty of $20,000.

— JIS