Motorists may soon face hefty fines for violating traffic laws if new regulations fronted by the Kenya National Highway Authority (KENHA) are implemented.
The KENHA Draft Regulations 2023, outline different offences ranging from driving an overloaded vehicle to concealing number plates which need to be clamped down on.
In the new proposal, motorists who fail to display or conceal the registration number plates or use different registration plates other than the registration plates of that vehicle shall be liable to a fine of Ksh300,000 or an imprisonment of one year or both.
"A person commits an offence under these Regulations if that person fails to display or conceals the registration number plates or uses different registration plates other than the registration plates of that vehicle and shall be liable to a fine of Ksh 300,000 or an imprisonment of 12 months or both,"
the regulations read in part.
Per the regulations, any person who fails to honour any request, demand, requirement or order from an authorised officer shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh100,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three months.
Additionally, a motorist who commits an offence when they drive a vehicle with a gross weight of 3,500 kilograms and above, evades or avoids a weighbridge station, whether overloaded or not will be liable to a fine of Ksh400,000 or imprisonment of two years.
Regardless of the above guideline, if a motorist is found overloading, they will also be charged with the offence of overloading and paying the prescribed fine.
Suppose a motorist is found guilty of concealing numbers plates or evading weighbridges as listed above. In that case, the court shall cancel the driving license and declare the offender disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving license for three years from the date of conviction.
Also, any person who drives a vehicle exceeding the set mass weight without needing a special permit commits an offence and is liable to a fine of Ksh400,000.
All drivers ferrying abnormal loads will need to seek a special permit from the authority or risk paying the prescribed fines.
"A person who being the driver of a motor vehicle or in charge of a motor vehicle, disobeys a direction on a road sign created according to the provision of Regulation 9, or when required to submit the motor vehicle to be weighed on a weighbridge by an authorized officer, fails to submit the motor vehicle to being weighed on a weighbridge or be tested by a device, commits an offense," reads part of the regulations.
Additionally, any driver who uses a road which has specific load restrictions commits an offence that is punishable by a fine of Ksh200,000 or imprisonment of a term not exceeding one year or both.
While on the road, any person who causes damage to any weighbridge, weigh station, weighing equipment or any road infrastructure commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh400,000 or imprisoned for a term not exceeding two years or both.
"If any damage is caused to any weighbridge, weigh station, any weighing equipment or installations, bridge, road furniture or road pavement, the transporter shall compensate the national roads authority for such damage and shall be liable for any costs, charges or expenses in that respect," reads part of the regulations.
Additionally, if any structure is damaged, the Director General shall issue a certificate of cost on behalf of the authority stating the amount of fixing the damages.
The fines vary from Ksh15,000 to Ksh1,960,000 depending on the damage and structure affected.
