Principal Magistrate, Martha Nanzushi, of the Milimani Traffic Court on Thursday, June 8, explained two scenarios in which motorists can be charged in court for driving a dirty vehicle.
During an interview on Spice FM, the magistrate explained that driving a dirty vehicle was a traffic offence and that police officers were tasked with paying keen attention to number plates.
The number plates of dirty cars were often obscured, making it difficult for officers to identify the vehicle.
Nanzushi also expounded that the visibility of the number plates was important as it helped pedestrians and motorists get justice in case of accidents.
"You may have driven through mud and splashed it all over your vehicle, obscuring your number plate. This means that the police cannot follow you in case of anything. Number plates must be visible at all times.
"Let us see it in reverse. If you are knocked by a vehicle, and you cannot see the number plate owing to its poor road condition, how will you get your justice?" she asked.
On the other hand, the magistrate disclosed that motorists risked arrest if other road users complained about their dirty vehicles.
"People in traffic can turn and take notice that the vehicle is dirty. My understanding of that law is that you are causing discomfort to other road users," the magistrate elucidated.
Nanzushi maintained that the traffic law applied to both dry-weather and all-weather roads.
In particular, she noted that if a motorist pleaded guilty when arrested in such situations, the court could proceed with conviction.
If found guilty, the suspect risks a fine prescribed by the court, a warning or a suspended sentence, but motorists could explain themselves and walk scot-free
According to the Traffic Act, "Any person who uses on a road a motor vehicle or trailer the identification plates of which are not clearly visible or legible shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand shillings."
