MTU Bags ¢3.1 Billion From Motor Fines

A total of ¢3.1 billion was realised as court fines following the prosecution of recalcitrant drivers from January to date.

Their offences include drunk driving, over speeding, careless driving, jumping traffic lights.

One hundred and thirty two of the drivers, who could not pay their fines ranging between ¢500,000 and ¢1 million have been sentenced to various prison terms.

This came up at an emergency meeting held by the Inspector General of Police, Patrick Acheampong, in Accra yesterday with heads of the Police Motor Transport and Traffic Unit MTTU Commanders of the Accra Metropolis.

The meeting was to discuss how best the officers could share their experiences and check excesses by some personnel of the unit.

The IGP expressed concern about some of the procedures adopted by personnel of the unit in the course of their work.

He said the Police Administration and the Police Council had received many complaints of the unorthodox activities of some personnel, which include extortion and removal of car stickers and warned such officers to desist from those acts.

He said it was not right for a driver to give out money to a police officer or alight from their vehicle when they are stopped for suspected motor offence.

Drivers with genuine documents need not get down from their vehicles to see a police officer who had stopped them.

The IGP said the Police institution was a noble profession and would not allow any personnel to tarnish its image and reputation, stressing that 'the law will deal ruthlessly with any officer who breaches the law.'