The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has recorded 2,088 infringements across the country

By Daily News Reporter

During the 2023 festive Season RTSA conducted a night operation in different provinces and following the operations the agency recorded the highest province which is Lusaka followed by copperbelt.

RTSA recorded the highest offence which was expired road tax with 398 offenders,followed by expired fitness certificates with 198 and 137 motorists which were impounded for drunk driving.

The majority of offences included 150 motorists impounded for expired road tax ,85 motorists booked for driving under the influence of alcohol,40 unlicensed drivers, 34 violations for expired motor vehicles insurance and 26 motorists for expired driving licences.

Speaking to the media in lusaka RTSA Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eng Amon mweemba stated that the agency will make sure that all road users comply to the regulations of the institution and the zambia police

"Through collaboration with Zambia Police it will enforce the law for motorists to comply without fail,"Mweemba said.

He further said that the agency will expedite the process of enacting the law on point demerit system,

"This system will deduct points from drivers committing traffic violations and will lead to suspension of their licenses,"Mweemba said.

And Public Protector Mrs. Caroline Sokoni has also noted with concern reports of the increase in unlawful impounding of motor vehicles by some traffic police Officers.

The Public Protector noted that the impounding of motor vehicles by Zambia Police has increased even in circumstances where the offense committed is not impoundable under the law.

Mrs. Sokoni has observed that in most cases members of the public are law-abiding and are willing to pay fines that go into government coffers. However, some traffic police officers prefer impounding vehicles as a scheme to solicit bribes from inconvenienced motorists.

The Public Protector stated that the act by traffic police officers is obstructing the government’s fight against maladministration and corruption when law enforcement officers must not be the ones who cause these vices to flourish.

Mrs. Sokoni says as an institution mandated by the law to ensure adherence to processes and procedures in public institutions, the Office of the Public Protector will not allow a few officers under the Traffic Department dent the image of the Zambia Police Service due to their failure to follow the laid down procedures when carrying out their duties.

"I call on the Zambia Police Service Traffic Officers to be professional and avoid procedural improprieties as they execute their duties that lead to the impounding of motor vehicles without proper justification and victimization of members of the public," Mrs.Sokoni Said.

She has further urged the general public who have been victims of police impounding their vehicles for questionable reasons to obtain the name and service number of police officers and the police station manning the roadblock and report to the Office of the Public Protector or the Police Public Complaints Commission.