ACP Angwubotoge Awuni, Director of Motor Transport Traffic Department (MTTD) has charged police personnel of the department not to abuse the new spot fine and bring the name of the department into disrepute.
He indicated at a day�s workshop for Regional and District Commanders of the MTTD in Kumasi that not all police personnel were mandated to venture into the exercise, as it takes off soon, but rather a special task force, including officers of the rank of Inspectors and above, and personnel from a financial institution, and stakeholders like the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and National Road Safety Commission (NRSC).
ACP Awuni explained that the new spot fine was not to make money, but intended to bring a change of attitude on the part of drivers, to help reduce unnecessary accidents, and also reduce corruption and interference on the part of opinion leaders.
DSP Sasu Mensah, a Facilitator at the workshop, explained that the spot fine was money a person has to pay as punishment for breaking or infringing upon the law at the spot where one committed the offence, for which payment is made at the time of breaking the law, or at the scene of action.
He said payment of a spot fine for traffic infringement was a conviction levied against a person who commits a traffic offence, or acts contrary to the requirement of Act 683 2004 and L.I. 2180.
According to him, in 2004, the Road Traffic Act 683 was enacted as an update and consolidation of Road Traffic Ordinance of 1952 Act 683 of 2004 provided among comprehensive legal regime to help address the emerging road safety issues, and ensure public safety on the nation�s roads.
He said subsequent to that, and in pursuant of section 133 Act 683 of 2004, the Road Traffic
Regulations L.I. 2180 was enacted in July 2012 for effective implementation of Act 683 2004.
He further noted that L.I. 2180 had introduced a number of regulations in line with global best practices, and one such regulation was spot fines, provided under regulation 157 of Road Traffic Regulations L.I. 2180 of 2012, and stressed the need for all the stakeholders in the transport sector, including the media and travelling public, to collaborate with the police to make the exercise a successful one for the benefit of all the citizenry.
In a related development, ACP Awuni has met with all the stakeholders and transport owners and educated them on the spot fine.
He said Ghana was not the only country in Africa to embark on a spot fine, saying the exercise was long overdue, and called for collaboration between the NRSC, DVLA and the police to enlighten drivers and passengers about the new development in the system, which is about to take place, and to make sure the law is operational.
ACP Awuni explained that the exercise was not yet in operation, because there was the need for the police to get the contributions of all the stakeholders before it takes off.
He said the spot fine would benefit and serve as a protection to all. �If you are the bread winner of a whole family, and your absence will affect many people in the family to suffer, you need to cultivate the attitude of self control, and if you can�t control yourself, we will control you,� he cautioned.
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