Traffic fees hike halted
The Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS) has put on hold its earlier decision to hike traffic offences’ fines and fees which were to be effected on January 1, 2020.
In a press release date 31 December, 2019, DRTSS says the directorate will maintain the prevailing Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Fees) Regulations of 2015 and Road Traffic Prescribed Offences and Penalties Regulations 2014.
“Further to our earlier communication in respect of the amended Road Traffic Regulations, 2019… the Directorate of Road Traffic and safety services wishes to notify the general public that the implementation of the revised Miscellaneous Fees, Prescribed Offences and Penalties has been put on hold until further notice,” reads the statement.
The directorate earlier made a communication to the public through a press statement released on December 26 last year informing of the upward adjustments.
Among other fines, driving a motor vehicle without a driving licence was set to be adjusted from the current K10, 000 to K15, 000.
Other adjustments including first registration of motor vehicles would be costing K25, 000 from K15, 000 and applying for new driving licence was set to be adjusted from K15, 000 to K20, 000.
In an interview with The Daily Times last week, DTRSS spokesperson, Angelina Makwecha said the fees were set to be adjusted due to the rising operation costs.
She said the last adjustment was done in 2015 and that consultations with relevant stakeholders were done before making the final decision.
The announcement to hike the fees attracted an outcry from motorists including driving school owners with some of them hinting on increasing their fees.
Mathews Kasanda is a journalist who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from University of Malawi (The Polytechnic).
In 2015, Media Institute of Southern Africa awarded him the Best Print Media Education Journalist of the Year accolade.
He joined Times Group Newsroom in September 2019.
