Traffic police boss clears the air about road fines
Traffic police officers at work.PHOTO | FILE
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Mr Musilimu clarified that traffic police officers should be sensible when determining the nature of offence committed by motorists instead of forcing the same onto them.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s Traffic Police commander Fortunatus Musilimu has expanded on issues explained by Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Lazaro Mambosasa about fines charged by traffic police officers.
Mr Musilimu clarified that traffic police officers should be sensible when determining the nature of offence committed by motorists instead of forcing the same onto them.
On Friday Mr Mambosasa directed police, including the traffic police officers, to use wisdom when clarifying on traffic offences so there could be no complaints of victimisation and oppression to motorists. He insisted that the police force was there for protecting the civilians and their properties and enforcing the country’s laws.
Speaking to The Citizen, Mr Musilimu said traffic police in the country have been directed to pay focus on offences as stipulated in the law because their main duty was to ensure that traffic regulations were adhered to so that accidents that cause loss of lives, injuries and damage to property can be prevented.
He urged officers to apply common sense when handling traffic cases on site--at all times focusing on protection of human life and property.
As for traffic police stopping a car for inspection, the commander observed that police officers should always be guided by the relevant regulations and traffic laws of the land.
Furthermore, Commander Musilimu urged motorists and other road users not to pay fines whenever they were not issued with the electronic receipts or police notification form No. 101.
