KATHMANDU, Sept 22: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Ashika Tamang has questioned the practicality of the existing legal process for challenging traffic penalties, saying ordinary citizens should not have to travel long distances simply to contest a fine.
Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Tamang said Section 171 of the Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 1993, allows individuals dissatisfied with action taken by traffic police or police to file a complaint with the director general of the Department of Transport Management within 35 days.
She questioned how practical the provision is for ordinary citizens, citing the example of a driver in Darchula who is fined Rs 500 by traffic police but has to travel to Kathmandu to file a complaint if he is dissatisfied with the action.
Tashi Lama elected General-Secretary of International Tamang Co...
“Can a driver from Darchula spend Rs 50,000 to travel to Kathmandu because he is dissatisfied with a Rs 500 fine?” she asked.
Tamang said the enforcement of traffic rules and the process for challenging penalties should be made more accessible and efficient through an online system in every district.
“We should make the enforcement of traffic rules and related proceedings efficient and effective through an online system in every district. Otherwise, provisions and sub-provisions that burden the people should be scrapped immediately,” she said.
She also drew the government’s attention to recent incidents during traffic enforcement, saying greater transparency was needed in the working procedures of traffic police.
Referring to an incident in which a young man lost his life over a parking-related issue, Tamang said the government should pay greater attention to the conduct and working methods of traffic police.
She also called for all traffic police personnel to be equipped with body cameras to ensure greater transparency in traffic enforcement.
“Every traffic police officer must have a camera attached to their body,” she said. “Action should be taken based on photo and video records so that proceedings are factual and transparent.”
