EDITORIAL : THE NEW STRAITS TIMES, MALAYSIA

Befitting the crime

HEFTY fines for traffic offences are no deterrence when unaccompanied by effective enforcement. It is well and good to threaten offenders by, in theory, striking hard at their wallets. But when the threat is not followed by action, few would pay any mind. Even in developed-country legal systems, contempt for the penalties against such misdemeanour can run deep. In late April, for example, it was reported that a Manchester City footballer, in utter disregard for the consequences, had chalked up parking and other fines amounting to tens of thousands of pounds -- despite being able to afford paying them easily. However, road users dependent on their vehicles and without money to burn are shown to be more mindful of the outcome of their transgressions. Even then the road to payment must be accompanied by a big stick. For example, when summonses come from the police, people are more likely to cough up because retribution is immediate: vehicle road tax is not renewable until all outstanding fines are paid.

So the incentives and general argument in favour of payment have to be compelling. Being given a parking ticket is often viewed as a needless inconvenience imposed by petty dictators or just another way to fill the public coffers. These types of offenders do not see themselves as being a public nuisance, hence the bad attitude. But they are a pain. Congestion has become a major problem in many urban areas, particularly when there is no more space for road widening or street parking. There is also an economic rationale for getting tough. Ironically, as car use becomes more pervasive and thus problematic, government policy has to switch to encouraging public transport. This means that parking fines and their collection, among others, have to be stringent.

Streamlining such fines upwards, as announced by the Housing and Local Government Ministry will bring the gravity of traffic offences home. Making payment easier will minimise excuses for non-payment. Many fines are already payable through the post office and even online. Penalties should be uniform, no matter whether the summonses are issued by the police or local authority. Bear in mind, too, that non-payment of these fines is in itself an offence. Amnesties and discounts reinforce the perception that these offences are trivial. But traffic offences are what they are because of what they cause: this spans the spectrum, from public nuisance to endangerment. A maximum fine of RM300 appears appropriate for the severity of these infractions. There is then no need to make it any easier if the fines are truly intended to deter.