Chinamasa hikes traffic fines

Motorists are in for a fix as they now face being fined $100 for 'entering' a red traffic light.

That is a massive hike from $20.

The proposed new fines are with effect from 1 January 2016.

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa made the announcement during his 2016 budget presentation.

Chinamasa said most of the carnage is a result of human error arising from failure to observe road traffic regulations.

"The most common offences committed include, proceeding against red robots, overtaking against white solid lines, driving on the wrong side of the road, dropping passengers at undesignated points and failing to stop when instructed to do so by the police, among others" said Chinamasa.

"Whereas, road traffic fines are meant to be a deterrent for criminal behaviour, the current standard scale of fines which was last reviewed in 2009, does not however, promote safety and discipline on the roads. The traffic fines are also generally lower than those obtaining in the region.

"I, therefore, propose to review the level of road traffic fines to begin from level 2 and end at level 4 of the standard scale of fines, with effect from 1 January 2016".


Table shows selected examples of levels of fines.