THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has advised traffic police officers to desist from confiscating driving licences from motorists who have not displayed motor vehicle insurance discs.
RTSA public relations manager Mukela Mangolwa said the grace period for the display of insurance discs would elapse on February 1, 2016.
Mr Mangolwa said this in reaction to a Ndola motorist who complained that a police traffic officer confiscated his licence when there was a grace period for the display of insurance discs.
He said it was not in order for any traffic officer to confiscate licences or impound motor vehicles because the extension of insurance disc display still stood.
“We have communicated to the Zambia Police high command on this issue. No one is supposed to grab any one’s licence and our stance on the issue still stands. People have to differentiate between an impoundable and non-impoundable offence,” he said
Mr Mangolwa further advised members of the public to ensure that their documents were in order before the February 1, deadline to avoid prosecution.
“As an agency we would like to implore members of the public to put their papers in order so that they are not caught unawares.
“People have a tendency of waiting for the last minute before putting things in order.”
Last week, a traffic police officer only identified as a Mr Malama, confiscated David Kaunda’s driving licence for failure to display his motor vehicle insurance disc.
Mr Kaunda said he was shocked that the police officer at a check point on Kwacha Road confiscated his driving licence just because of the insurance disc even when there was an extension.
Me he took my aussie licence for not having fitness which was just expired 3 weeks before. And he was like this offence is big you have to pay K300 now. I was like I have no cash, @ bring your keys and licence your car will remain here until you bring the money. These kitwe cops awe sure.
RTSA is the biggest Culprit on this too corrupt Mine is still at RTSA with a small Gal called Mwaninda and Seketi Chishala.
Also tell your cops to have genuine receipt books & charts showing fees to all penalties for all offences & not the verbal fees. You know what I mean iwe Kanganja!
I Hope the Kabwe traffic police are also listening to this timely advice because they are the biggest culprits where impunity and gross corruption. Kabwe traffic police needs a seriopus clean up. The officers are just out there to make money. In Kabwe you are more comforted when you bump into a RTSA check point because they act in a professional manner . I wonder what trainings things guys in kabwe have done because to me they look like grade 7 drop outs.
..does it mean motor vehicles in Zed have been allowed to move on public roads without a valid car insurance certificate..??…eeih!!….maybe for a road licence….insurance and fitness MUST always be current/valid…
Equally police officers from Mtendere police post in Lusaka like mounting road blocks near Hill Top in Lusaka especially Fridays and Saturdays for reasons best known to them for their choice of these days!!!!
In fact, no police office should ever confiscate anyone’s license for whatever reason!! And true (Spark Jarrow), these cops do not have chart fees at these road blocks. Unless it is a very serious offence, their duty is to educate the drivers and not to start with pronouncing fees!!
Manje bazadya chani banzanu shuwa if they haven’t confiscated the licence. kikikiiki
@Mighty Shansha, the even tell you ati nganshikwikete nalalenshi. They only survive by arresting you and ask for bribe. These guys are building mansions that their monthly salary can not afford not even their annual pay can buy the houses these guys are building. Look at that land by wusakile roundabout by the police station on your right when coming from Ndola, all those houses are police officers most of them, all corrupt money.
ZP officers should not be handling cash …there is no police officer who handles cash!!
These cops rejected their Minister’s instructions & you expect them to listen to RTSA. The solution is in us in us protecting ourselves against these thieves. Traffic police corruption is institutionalised with roots up to the IG’s office. In the police force, being assigned to traffic duties is promotion. That’s how you see old men & women in white hats still at constable rank.
Simply remove all of them from top to bottom and recruit new ones incorporating modern technics!!
These cops rejected their Minister’s instructions & you expect them to listen to RTSA. The solution lies in us protecting ourselves against these thieves. Traffic police corruption is institutionalised with roots up to the IG’s office. In the police force, being assigned to traffic duties is promotion. That’s how you see old men & women in white hats still at constable rank.
Which David Kaunda is this one? Sure not KK wamuyaya. Or is he unson son of KK? I look to the day when both police and RTSA will work professionally. #AVINOCAYA, police in certain countries have certain areas where they mount their road block or police checks. Unmarked police cars and moving police cars can of course stop anyone anywhere. Fridays and Saturdays are days when many people drink a lot and that’s why these two days have more police presence on the roads
I have learnt a lesson that its safer and wiser to by pass a road block even if you have all the required documents than facing these dull chaps,they are fault finders and are extremely corrupt to an extent of sinking so low of accepting a ZMK10.Just a simple fault indicator bulb can cost you 300 imagine and they have no sense to reason that bulbs are electrical things and can malfunction at any time without notice.
You can say that again I was fined 300 k for a defective brake light- one of the 3 I have. And worse I had a set of spare bulbs I keep for the purpose of replacement should one burn out; and had just left my work place barely 250m from the gate when this happened. I explained to the COP at the brake lights were fully operational when I left home in the morning a 100km away and was parked at the office until 17hrs when I was leaving the work premises, could he just allow me to replace the bulb (2 minutes) and I would be fully compliant for the rest of my 100 km home.
But “awe sure”, he refused and in stead told me” ni mulandu uyu- 300Kw or I will impound your car”–” I do not have that kind of money now I am just from work” O.K uli nazingati?”– “50K” — “O.K yamene iyo”. Being a responsible citizen, I refused, in stead left my car, went to an MTM withdrew the 300K paid before I proceeded on my 100km journey 2 hours late! I was wondering to my self all the way – Is this the Police fines should? Is it extortion to raise money for the government? How does a 66% compliant car be fined 300k and detained for 2 hours for a 15k component requiring barely 5 minutes to rectify. Surely something is terrible wrong with the system or bu kopo bwafulisha na kalijo bwa fulisha.
I was not aware of this grace period. I was recently pulled over by traffic police in Lusaka. I had the insurance disc but I did not have a sticker yet. The police ganged up on me for not displaying. They told me the fine was K500 for not displaying. I assumed this government was very stupid to put a ridiculous fine for something so petty. I have businesses to run and I did not want to waste time so I negotiated… They let me off at K50. CROOKED BY THE POLICE!
The traffic police in this country are a huge barrier to economic growth.
Shame,who is responsible for for vehicles impounded and parked at the police station or check point for safety?
Yes. Sum overzealous cop got too excited and wanted to charge me 4 not strapping myself in the seat belts,when I ws jus drivin out of my yard,nina mukanila ine mukwai