JPJ issues 14,527 notices to foreign road users during 20-day op

KUALA LUMPUR: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has issued over 14,000 notices to foreign nationals for various traffic offences following a 20-day special operation nationwide.

JPJ senior enforcement director Datuk Lokman Jamaan said the department issued 14,527 notices in total, with the main offences being: operating a vehicle without a valid licence (6,268 cases); not having insurance coverage (2,667); riding or driving with expired road tax (2,657); and technical modification offences (1,948).

"We will not compromise with traffic offenders especially foreigners who operate vehicles without valid licences as they pose a risk to other (road users).

"They are a potential hazard as they are not familiar with our traffic regulations," he said when met at a JPJ joint operation along Jalan Bangsar here on Sunday.

On the joint operation, Lokman said a total of 100 personnel from his department along with the police Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, as well as the Immigration Department, were involved.

"We checked a total of 1,459 vehicles and issued a total of 443 notices for various offences.

"Among these were not having a valid licence (327), expired road tax (143), expired insurance (123), tinted windows (98), fancy number plates (80), and technical offences (36).

"During the operation a total of 34 foreigners were also detained for not having valid documentation," he said, adding that police also arrested two men for driving under the influence of alcohol.

He said the operation's objective was to cultivate compliance with the law and regulations under the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) and the Rules under it, especially on offences that contribute to fatal accidents.

JPJ Federal Territories director Mohd Zaki Ismail also took part in the operation.

"We also want to remind commercial vehicle operators to comply with the time-limit ban on certain routes currently in place, as strict action will be taken against drivers who violate the ban.

"The ban was set to avoid traffic jams during peak hours as well as for the safety of road users, especially users of small vehicles that use the route," Mohd Zaki said.

He advised road users to always obey the rules, be prudent while driving, cultivate values to control attitudes, and avoid risks and negligence while operating vehicles.