Inside the new Road Traffic Act and Regulations
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