I refer to the letter Reckless drivers: RTD needs to step on the gas with great concern. Firstly, it is understandable that as the enforcer of road traffic laws, RTD will draw flak from certain quarters in any action it undertakes.

This statement honestly comes from the acknowledgement and fact that more and more of our road-users are endangering themselves and innocent others with their reckless behaviour while driving. In the department's latest effort to bring reckless drivers to book, it is heartening to see it developing into a polemic much discussed at either end of the spectrum, for and against it.

Thus it is so with the open invitation for the public to snap pictures of traffic offenders and submitting it to the Road Transport Department. Regardless of scepticism on whether an agency is uncommitted towards enforcement or otherwise, public response on this matter is overwhelming. This augurs well for a number of reasons on which this effort aims to achieve, as below:

1. To bring to book reckless drivers anytime anywhere;

2. Empowering the public to become part of enforcement;

3. Create a deterrent environment for would-be offenders;

4. Negating the need for an enforcement officers to be physically there to spot offences, thus eliminating RTD’s manpower issues

5. To protect the majority good road-users from the minority of offenders

6. To prepare our road-users for electronic enforcement soon to be implemented.

When a picture is sent to us of an offence, the process is as follow. The owner’s data will be extracted from our database then cross-referenced to eliminate anomalies such as fake plate numbers and differing vehicle models. Then, particulars of the offence are verified such as time, location and date and the type of offence committed. This is important as to ascertain whether the offence can be taken action against as permitted by the Road Transport Act 1987.

An investigation notice will be produced for the vehicle owner to surrender himself at any RTD office within 14 days to own up to the offence or produce the driver of the vehicle at the material time of the offence. A summons will then be issued to the offender. Failure to comply with the notice will result in blacklisting of the vehicle or the driver’s licence. Ignoring the notice is also an offence, punishable under Section 114 of the Road Transport Act which carries a penalty of RM5,000 or a jail term of not more than one year or both.

Simultaneously, an acknowledgement that action has been taken against the offender is sent to the complainant. If the complainant fails to produce the particulars when prompted by the department or if the complainant cannot be contacted, the vehicle-owner is issued a warning letter and the case is closed. This is done after the investigation officer is sure all exhaustive measures have been taken to pursue the case but to no avail. This process is spelt out in our standard operating procedure (SOP) for investigations.

It must be understood here, however, when it comes to enforcing the law, any agency with the authority must adhere to the due process of law. In any case, basic and incriminating evidence must be produced without 'mala fide' intentions. In layman terms, you don’t send in complaints just because the person eyeballed you when his vehicle cut into your lane while driving. A person making a report must bear responsibility as it is not wished that the innocent to be called in for investigations instead.

In that, the writer of the letter above is spot on. The public must be taught how to make a proper and responsible complaint so as to allow the authorities to take the necessary action. Furthermore, the complainants must also be aware that by making a complaint, they automatically will become the main witness if the case is challenged in court.

Sadly, however, the letter above steers RTD’s latest effort to nab errant drivers straight back to the issue of the department’s integrity. I believe any person making a report to the RTD has only the intention of helping to make our roads safe - not to judge or gauge the department’s effectiveness in handling a complaint. I also believe that all the help from the public is needed by RTD to better enforce our traffic laws.

Even information via SMSes or e-mails to this department are acknowledged and looked into as this information - although may not warrant a conviction of the offender - can be used to plan our enforcement operations. To the writer and all road-users alike, just get your passenger to snap away at these offenders and sent us the pictures and particulars. We will do the rest.

The writer is director-general, Road Transport Department.