Local daily New Straits Times (NST) reported earlier today that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), specifically its Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT), revealed that it has nearly 41 million in unpaid traffic fines recorded.
“Since 1990 up to June this year, a total of 40,962,240 fines, amounting to approximately RM4 billion, remain unsettled,” revealed Bukit Aman JSPT director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri.
Additionally, he also detailed that 51,128 of which, amounting to roughly RM5.1 million, involved foreign nationals from neighbouring Singapore, Brunei and Thailand. Topping the list here are Singaporean offenders with 35,011 fines, altogether totalling at roughly RM3.5 million.
Yusri notes that the department will issue notifications to offenders to inform them of their outstanding fines. Yusri called upon these individuals to pay up or risk both legal action and get black-listed by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) for a any major offences.
Offences leading to motorists being blacklisted include running red lights, driving in emergency lanes, overtaking across double lines, using communication devices while driving, queue-jumping, as well as speeding.
The top cop also reminded that summonses can now be paid online via MyBayar, meaning no trips to police stations are required. He also detailed that his department will step up efforts to have foreign offenders address their unpaid fines when they are leaving or entering the country.
Additionally, discounts for overdue fines are selectively offered based on agency requests, clarifies Yusri. “We have seen substantial recoveries. Recent collections are estimated in the hundreds of millions of Ringgits,” says Yusri regarding PDRM’s annual discounted fine payment promotions.
