Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Traffic Appeals by Members of Parliament on Behalf of their Constituents, by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Question:

Mr Zainal Sapari: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) in the last two years, what is the monthly average number of appeals to Traffic Police made by Members of Parliament on behalf of their constituents; (b) what is the percentage of successful appeals for waiver of fines or demerit points; and (c) what assistance is provided to the appellants when they are unable to pay the fines or when their driving licences, which are needed for their livelihood, are suspended.

Answer:

1. 1. In 2017 and 2018, the Traffic Police received about 350 appeals per month from Members of Parliament on behalf of their constituents. Traffic Police waived the fines or demerit points in about 3% of the appeals.2. Motorists who flout traffic rules put themselves and other road users at risk. To ensure that our roads are safe for everyone, Traffic Police applies the traffic rules consistently for all motorists. Appeals for the waiver of fines or demerit points are considered only if the motorist can show proof that traffic rules were breached during a medical emergency.3. In cases of financial hardship, the appellant will need to request for general financial assistance from other Government schemes, where the appellant qualifies.