Motorists To Start Getting Instant Fines For Minor Traffic Offenses Via Text, Emails From June 1, NTSA Announces

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced the rollout of instant fines effective June 1.

In a briefing on Thursday, the authority said it has reviewed minor traffic offences and developed internal procedures to guide the implementation framework following the withdrawal of the earlier notice on the rollout of the Minor Traffic Offences System.

The review, it said, was done in collaboration with the National Police Service (NPS), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, and other relevant enforcement agencies.

“NTSA wishes to notify members of the public that the Government will operationalise a modernised enforcement framework for minor traffic offences under Sections 117 and 117A of the Traffic Act (Cap. 403), effective June 1, 2026,” the authority said on Thursday.

The move seeks to enhance road safety for all users, increase compliance with traffic laws and reduce congestion in traffic courts.

It also aims at promoting transparency, accountability, and efficiency in traffic enforcement.

Under the new framework, motorists who commit certain minor traffic offences will no longer need to appear in court immediately.

Instead, NTSA said they will receive a Police Notification of traffic offence upon their detection, either by police officers during routine enforcement or electronically via traffic cameras and other digital monitoring systems.

“These notifications may be served in several ways, including personal delivery by police officers, affixing the notice to the vehicle, or electronically via SMS, email, or an approved digital traffic enforcement platform. Motorists are therefore encouraged to ensure their contact details in the NTSA registration system are accurate and up to date,” the statement adds.

The authority said the notification will only be sent to the driver or registered vehicle owner once sufficient evidence has been gathered.

It shall contain key details such as the nature of the offence, the date, time and location it occurred, the prescribed penalty, payment instructions, and response deadlines.

Upon receiving a notice, motorists have the option of admitting liability and paying the prescribed fine within the stipulated period or disputing the allegation in court.

“If the motorist chooses to pay the fine, the matter can be settled without the need for a court appearance. However, the court retains the power to reduce or refund the penalty based on mitigating circumstances (if any) and administer demerit points against the driver’s licence where appropriate.”

“Failure to respond, pay fines, or appear in court when required may result in harsher penalties imposed by the courts. Motorists have the right to access evidence, such as photographs or video recordings, supporting the alleged offence,” the authority warned.

It also assured that all personal data collected will be handled in accordance with the Constitution and the Data Protection Act.

Meanwhile, all motorists are advised to obey traffic laws to avoid being subject to fines.