Amended Road Transport Act effective Feb 1
Published: Jan 17, 2011 2:50 PM | Updated: Jan 17, 2011 8:53 PM
Amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 that was approved by Dewan Negara on Dec 22, will come into force beginning Feb 1, said Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha today.
RTD now can take action against traffic offenders in areas such as farms, gardens, villages, residential areas and multi-storey car parks.
Amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 that was approved by Dewan Negara on Dec 22, will come into force beginning Feb 1, said Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha today.
However, not all the amended clause would come into force as technical issues involving hybrid cars and fully electric cars would need to be fine tuned before being implemented, he said.
"We are still processing the vehicle type approval and also to determine some technical details of the vehicle like how to convert electric power into horsepower (cc) and to determine the amount of tax that they need to pay," he told reporters after visiting the Road Transport Department's (RTD) data centre in Cyberjaya today.
Amendments that come into force include expanding the powers of RTD to take action against traffic offenders on all roads in the country, including areas such as farms, gardens, villages, residential areas and multi-storey car parks.
The amendments to the Act also require vehicle owners who change their address to give two-weeks notice to the JPJ, failing which, legal action can be take against them, including a fine of up to RM300.
Kong said the RM49.5 million data centre would operate round-the-clock and enable the department to maintain all information on all types of licenses and vehicle records including road tax renewals and vehicle inspections.
Fully enforced by March
Meanwhile, RTD director-general Solah Mat Hassan said there were 50 amendments and new areas in the amended act and that the changes would be fully enforced by March.
Speaking to reporters Solah the department was working to quickly iron out details of the amendments that would not come into force on Feb 1 and expected the amendments to be fully enforced by March.
He added that contrary to claims that JPJ was seeking more powers to burden the people, Solah said the amendments were aimed at providing better protection for the people, especially motorists.
"For example, in the past accidents at parking lots or areas are not covered by insurance but through the amended act they can make such claims," he said.
Solah said the data centre would allow all information, including that from other agencies like the police, to be updated in real time and this would overcome current complaints of drivers still appearing as blacklisted after having settled their summonses.
Since information could be easily accessed, it would also allow the department to suspend offenders under the demerit system within 21 days instead of the six months previously as it would no longer require drivers or vehicle owners to physically surrender their licenses.
- Bernama
However, not all the amended clause would come into force as technical issues involving hybrid cars and fully electric cars would need to be fine tuned before being implemented, he said.
"We are still processing the vehicle type approval and also to determine some technical details of the vehicle like how to convert electric power into horsepower (cc) and to determine the amount of tax that they need to pay," he told reporters after visiting the Road Transport Department's (RTD) data centre in Cyberjaya today.
Amendments that come into force include expanding the powers of RTD to take action against traffic offenders on all roads in the country, including areas such as farms, gardens, villages, residential areas and multi-storey car parks.
The amendments to the Act also require vehicle owners who change their address to give two-weeks notice to the JPJ, failing which, legal action can be take against them, including a fine of up to RM300.
Kong said the RM49.5 million data centre would operate round-the-clock and enable the department to maintain all information on all types of licenses and vehicle records including road tax renewals and vehicle inspections.
Fully enforced by March
Meanwhile, RTD director-general Solah Mat Hassan said there were 50 amendments and new areas in the amended act and that the changes would be fully enforced by March.
Speaking to reporters Solah the department was working to quickly iron out details of the amendments that would not come into force on Feb 1 and expected the amendments to be fully enforced by March.
He added that contrary to claims that JPJ was seeking more powers to burden the people, Solah said the amendments were aimed at providing better protection for the people, especially motorists.
"For example, in the past accidents at parking lots or areas are not covered by insurance but through the amended act they can make such claims," he said.
Solah said the data centre would allow all information, including that from other agencies like the police, to be updated in real time and this would overcome current complaints of drivers still appearing as blacklisted after having settled their summonses.
Since information could be easily accessed, it would also allow the department to suspend offenders under the demerit system within 21 days instead of the six months previously as it would no longer require drivers or vehicle owners to physically surrender their licenses.
- Bernama
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