KUALA LUMPUR: Those charged with causing death due to dangerous or reckless driving can face up to 10 years in jail and a maximum fine of RM50,000 if convicted.
These are among the proposed amendments for the Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2020 which was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The Bill proposed that those charged under Section 41 with dangerous or reckless driving can face between five and 10 years as well as a fine of not less than RM20,000 and not more than RM50,000.
In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, a person can face a 10 to 15 year jail term, and a maximum fine of RM100,000, should the Bill be passed.
Those who cause deaths due to dangerous or reckless driving will also have their licenses disqualified for five years.
Currently, Section 41 of the Act states that those guilty of the offence face between two and 10 years in prison and a fine of between RM5,000 and RM20,000.
The Bill also proposed that those who are charged with dangerous or reckless driving can also have their licenses disqualified for a period of five years, instead of the current two-year period.
Apart from that, it proposed that those charged under Section 43 for careless and inconsiderate driving can face a fine of between RM5,000 and RM10,000, as well as be liable for a jail term of not more than 12 months for the first offence.
Second or subsequent convictions will see an individual being fined between RM10,000 and RM15,000, and be jailed for not more than 12 months.
The Bill also proposed that anyone who drives a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, liquor or drugs and to an extent of being incapable of having proper control over the vehicle, or has alcohol content exceeding the limit, which can cause the death of anyone can also face harsh punishments.
Under a proposed amendment in Section 44, anyone guilty of the offence can be jailed for 10 to 15 years and fined between RM50,000 and RM100,000.
Those convicted under this section will also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 10 years from the date of conviction.
In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, the individual can face jail time of between 15 and 20 years, and a fine between RM100,000 and RM150,000.
Those who drive a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, liquor or drugs and to an extent of being incapable of having proper control over the vehicle, or have alcohol content exceeding the limit that can cause injury to anyone, will also face the music.
They shall be liable to a jail time of between seven and 10 years and a fine of between RM30,000 and RM50,000.
In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, an individual can face jail time between 10 and 15 years, and a fine between RM50,000 and RM100,000.
A person convicted under this section can also be disqualified from holding or obtaining their driving licence for not less than seven years from the date of conviction.
The Bill also proposes to amend Section 45B and Section 45 C to increase the punishment and disqualification period for Offences related to failure to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for offences committed under Section 44,45 or 45 A of the Act.
It further seeks to amend Section 45 G to lower the prescribed limit of alcohol content allowed in an individual to be lowered to 22 microgram of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; 50 milligram of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood; or 67 milligram of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine.
Finally, the Bill also proposes to introduce microbility vehicles into the Act. A microbility vehicle is defined as any vehicle that is propelled by electrical means, an internal-combustion engine, or human power, or a combination of electrical means and having a maximum speed of 50kph.
