Revealed: Why traffic police chief backtracked on road fines
The Ministry of Interior has escaped a looming lawsuit after reversing an order imposing fines on motorists for violating traffic rules.
According to the order passed on Wednesday, motorists would pay a minimum of SSP2000 and a maximum of SSP50000 when found on the wrong end.
“The Administration of National Traffic Police has issued an order imposing fines for the contravention of motor vehicles, motorcycles and rickshaws due to gross violations and misconduct by motorists,” the order read in part.
According to Akok Noon Akok, the Assistant Inspector General of National Traffic Police, offences encompass anyone who has violated the traffic rules including driving on the wrong path, disobeying instructions and insulting traffic police officers.
The order also served that owners of vehicles without number plates, those with one number plate or with covered number plates will be fined as well as intoxicated drivers, drivers without licenses, drivers with expired licenses and logbooks and those without logbooks.
Backlash
However, the order attracted a backlash from the South Sudanese who regarded it as unfair and unjustified.
On Saturday, the South Sudan Bar Association issued a statement threatening to sue the Ministry of Interior if it would lift the ban.
“The Bar Association urges the Minister of Interior to immediately suspend the impugned and illegal order. We also urge the Minister to urgently issue appropriate notice to this effect.
“If this issue is not immediately corrected and in any event by close of business on Monday the 14th of February 2022, the Bar Association will have no option but to move to court to seek conservatory orders,” read a statement published Saturday.
Responding to the legal threat and public uproar, the assistant inspector general of the national traffic police cancelled the order.
“The Office of Assistant Inspector General of the National Traffic Police issued, on February 9th 2022, standing order bearing letterhead number (061) imposing fines on motorists in order to reduce those violations and misconducts by the motorists on the road,” the statement said.
“The traffic department has been monitoring the interactions of the public on various social media outlets and noticed that most people are not satisfied with these corrective measures.
“Therefore, I, Lt. Gen. Akok Noon Akok, the Assistant Inspector General of National Traffic Police issue this standing order cancelling the aforementioned order from the date of its signature 11th February 2022 AD,” it added.
