'Don't penalise motorists for different tyre brands'

Traffic police officers have no right to penalise motorists for having different tyre brands on their cars, national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba has said.

Her clarification came after an outcry from motorists who were being fined for having tyres from different manufacturers.

"We have noted with great concern an outcry by motorists who are being penalised by the police for using unauthorised tyres on their motor vehicles. For the avoidance of doubt, police would like to clarify and put on record that it's not an offence to have different tyre brands on a motor vehicle as long as they comply with provisions of Section 53 as read with Section 14(6) of Statutory Instrument 129 /15, which delineates that a motorist can't fit a tubeless tyre on one side and a tubed tyre on the other," said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

She said this law has nothing to do with brand names.

"The provision further explains that tyre construction may be radical or cross ply. This explains how the tyre is threaded rather than the manufacturer or brand name.

"The size of tyre has to do with the issue of tyre profile and dimension. Therefore motorists can't be penalised for fitting tyres of different brands if such tyres meet all other provisions of Section 14(6) of Statutory Instrument 129 /15."