By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: The Uganda Traffic Police have Monday morning launched an Express Penalty System-(EPS) which will help to curb minor traffic offences.
Dr. Steven Kasiima, the Director of Traffic Uganda Police Force, says the Express Penalty System will help to reduce the number of drivers dodging payment of penalties. Kasiima says that “Some drivers have unpaid penalties worth Shs5 Million, which will no longer be the case because the automated system tracks vehicle location, making it easy for police to impound it if the offender refuses to pay.” He added that “The system has functions, which include identifying the offender, tracking vehicles with pending penalties, reading vehicle number plates and driving permit details and outstanding penalties as well as a payment system.” Kasiima noted that more than 1400 traffic officers have been trained on using EPS system and their details incorporated. Traffic officers shall be going for duty with a gadget that would be used to read the offence of the driver and the pending penalties
. Kasiima says only 50 percent of traffic offenders have been paying but the EPS will rectify the situation. According to the new system, Vehicles without insurance will be fined Shs40,000, obscured number plates will pay Shs40,000, driving without a valid permit Shs100, 000, permitting a person not enrolled in driving school Shs100,000 and Shs200,000 for using good’s vehicle in a manner that is dangerous to others. Kasiima revealed that Police collected Shs8 billion from penalties last year but that this figure is set to rise when they operationalize the new system.
