Perak Pakatan Rakyat is prepared to challenge the Road Transport Department (RTD) in court if vehicle owners are prevented from renewing their road tax after being blacklisted by the police for not settling speeding tickets from 2000 to 2009.

dap cny pasir pinji function 240210 nizar State chief Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin ( right ) claimed that about 10 million traffic summonses had been left unpaid during the period, amounting to RM2 billion.

“There is no logic in blacklisting the names of vehicle owners... when (they) cannot recollect the speeding incidents after nearly 10 years, as other parties could have been driving the vehicles at the time of the incident,” he told a press conference today.

“What the police should have done (immediately) is to serve the summons on the vehicle owner to determine who was driving the vehicle, and then take the offenders to court and prove them guilty.”

Nizar advised vehicle owners to check with the police department - before their road tax expires - as to whether they have been blacklisted.

If the owners are not happy about the speeding tickets received, they can approach the state Pakatan office for help and advice.

traffic police 170206 Pakatan’s lawyers will then take the cases to the Ipoh High Court to obtain declarations that blacklisting is an unlawful practice and that the RTD cannot deny vehicle owners the opportunity to renew the road tax.

Nizar claimed that the blacklisting of defaulters is an indication that the government is in serious financial difficulties.

“First, we had the increase in prices of fuel, gas and sugar and now (there is a) move by the government to use stern measures to force (traffic offenders) to pay up,” he noted.

He also called for old speeding tickets to be cancelled, as it is “unfair and grossly inappropriate” to make vehicle owners settle their fines after 10 years.

‘Trial cases’

Other Pakatan leaders at the press conference included Tronoh state assemblyperson V Sivakumar, state PKR vice-chief Chang Lih Kang and state PAS election coordinator Asmuni Awi, who is also the party legal adviser.

NONE Asmuni ( left ) claimed that a blanket ban cannot be imposed on the renewal of road tax because of outstanding speeding tickets.

“The move is null and void, unlawful and unconstitutional. We intend to get a High Court ruling by way of declaration,” he said.

“We will first (take a trial batch of) about 20 cases. If the High Court gives a ruling (in our favour), then it will be legally binding on (other cases nationwide involving speeding tickets).”

Asked how vehicle owners would be affected while their cases go to court, he said they would have to wait until the court makes a ruling.

Asmuni alleged that there have been cases of the authorities being uncertain as to whether or not motorists have been speeding - they then tell vehicle owners to pay the fine and that  photographic evidence will be produced later.

The lawyer questioned whether police are able to keep such evidence intact after 10 years, as “the characteristics of such photos would have changed over time”.