The increased number of people owning vehicles has come with an exponential rise in the number of arrest cases recorded on petty traffic offenses.
Most people own cars but are unaware of some of their expectations while on the road. These minor offenses have compelled them to pay expensive fines and even others have had their licenses revoked.
With the recent upsurge in the cost of fuel, most car owners have resolved to convert their motor vehicles to run on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). According to Traffic laws, this is illegal when done without following the proper laid down procedures. Before one converts from running on petrol to using cooking gas which is considered cheap, the manufacture must approve.
"Only proper fuel to be used in motor vehicles. No fuel shall be used in the motor vehicles except that which is specified on the vehicle license," the Traffic Acts Reads in part.
However, this can be done once approved by the Ministry through a special gazette notice.
Lending a car to a friend who then violates the speeding caps is punishable by law. According to the Traffic Act, if a person borrows a motor vehicle and is caught overspeeding then the car owner is eligible to be charged alongside the person caught.
"No person shall drive or being the owner or person in charge of a vehicle, cause or permit any other person to drive a vehicle on a road at a speed greater than as may be prescribed as the maximum speed for that vehicle."
This also includes car hire. To avoid this petty mistake, it is better to install a tracker.
Another petty mistake that may land one behind bars is driving a car in a dangerous position. This includes hanging behind mini trucks and lorries in a way that is likely to distract other operators.
Another interesting point touching on matatu operators and taxis, is refusing to refund fares after delaying one's arrival for more than four hours.
"Where at any place in its scheduled route, a motor omnibus by reference to the relevant timetable more than four hours late due to breakdown or any fault or neglect of the owner or its servant, any passenger who has paid his/her fare may choose to alight from that motor omnibus and recover the proportion of the fare paid in respect to the proportion of his/her journey," the law dictates.
Driving without a license is also a Traffic offense. Although the rollout of digital licenses and the use of National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) online application is allowed in some cases, some traffic offenses require one to present the original copy of their driving license.
Driving motor vehicles without proper registration in Kenya is enough to land one in jail.
"No motor vehicle imported for home use shall be used on a road unless it is registered: Provided that a commercial vehicle which requires inspection shall be inspected and registered within 30 days of release by the customs."
If a car owner fails to produce a registration book within the time frame issued by the law enforcement officer, a person is liable on first conviction to a fine not exceeding Ksh10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, and on each subsequent conviction to a fine not exceeding Ksh20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
One thing most people do not know is that when one is relocating outside the country, the owner is supposed to return the registration details.
"Where the owner of a motor vehicle intends to move the motor vehicle permanently to a place outside Kenya, the owner shall forthwith, return the identification plates and registration certificate issued under this Act in respect of the motor vehicle to the Registrar for cancellation. The Registrar shall, after canceling the registration certificate returned under subsection (1), issue a deregistration certificate to the registered owner in such form as may be prescribed."
Other mistakes include; driving under the influence of alcohol, overspeeding, driving unroadworthy vehicles among others as listed in the Traffic Act.
