The Road Transport Department (RTD) today refuted claims that the compound for three traffic offences will be increased from RM300 to RM2,000 under an amendment to the Road Transport Act 1987.

The proposed hike, RTD deputy director-general Ismail Ahmad said, only applies if the case is taken to court where the judge will have the prerogative to impose the revised maximum fine of RM2,000.

"But for normal summonses or compounds issued to traffic offenders, it is still RM300, there is no change," he told a press conference in Parliament today.

Furthermore, he added that under the amendment, the system would be improved whereby the compounded fine would be less should the offender make an early payment.

“The concept that we are introducing is that the more you delay, the more you pay, but for offenders who pay quickly, for example within the first two weeks of the compound being issued, they only need to pay RM100.

“But if you delay to within 15 to 30 days, the compound becomes RM150 and if you delay further to 30 to 60 days the compound can become the maximum RM300, depending on the offence,” he said.

He added that an offender will only need to go to court and face the possibility of the maximum fine if they opt for it, fail to pay the compound within 60 days or is a habitual offender where the offence is committed thrice in two months.

The offences affected are for speeding and driving without a licence, for which the initial maximum fine for court cases were RM1,000, while the third offence is for beating the red light, for which the initial maximum fine in court was RM500.

Ismail added that the hike would help deter traffic offences particularly in the case of speeding which is the main cause of road accidents.

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