The new land transport law, which establishes reckless and careless driving of land vehicles as criminal offenses and enables severe penalties against violators, commenced implementation today.
According to the law, which was ratified by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu one month ago and published in the government gazette, implementation begins 30 days after gazetting.
The police announced today that the law has come into effect and publicized several of its penalties.
Under the law, the penalty for reckless or careless driving is a fine ranging between MVR 25,000 and MVR 100,000, depending on the severity of the act.
The law dictates that if such an offense results in injury to a person, the offender will be fined an amount between MVR 100,000 and MVR 500,000.
Even if an individual is fined under the land transport law for such an offense, criminal charges can still be pursued against them under the Penal Code.
Fines are not the only penalties prescribed for such offenders under the land transport law. According to Article 102(b) of the law, their licenses can be revoked for a period ranging between five and ten years. The court will determine that the right to hold a license is forfeited for that duration.
In addition to reckless driving, committing acts that facilitate such offenses is also categorized as a crime under the new law. One such act is relinquishing vehicle control to a person sitting in the passenger seat. If such an action is committed, the penalty is a fine ranging between MVR 25,000 and MVR 50,000.
If an injury occurs as a result, a fine ranging between MVR 50,000 and MVR 100,000 can be levied.
According to the new law, operating a land vehicle that requires a license without obtaining one, driving with an expired license, driving while a license is suspended, or driving without a temporary license is prohibited.
If someone drives without a license:
- For the first offense, a fine of MVR 1,000.
- For the second offense, a fine of MVR 1,500.
- For the third offense, a fine of MVR 2,000.
- For every subsequent offense, fines will double relative to the most recent fine issued.
In addition to issuing fines for driving a vehicle requiring a license without obtaining one, the law stipulates that the driven vehicle must be impounded for a maximum period of 30 days. The vehicle owner will also be fined MVR 2,000.
For illegal parking, the law specifies a fine of MVR 500 for each occurrence, with demerit points recorded on the vehicle driver's license. Furthermore, parking in specific designated zones carries a fine of MVR 1,500. Those locations are:
- Junctions or corners where roads or streets exit.
- Areas other than designated parking zones near schools.
- Bus stop zones.
- Pedestrian crossings.
