Appeals to Overturn Traffic Summonses

Mr Hri Kumar Nair asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs with respect to traffic and parking summonses issued by the Traffic Police and the Land Transport Authority; (a) how many appeals are received on average per month; (b) what percentage of appeals are successful; and (c) what resources are used to handle appeals.

In 2013, the Traffic Police received about 2,600 appeals for traffic-related offences per month, while the Land Transport Authority (LTA) received about 7,900 appeals for illegal parking offences per month.

Both agencies adopt a firm but fair enforcement stance, which seeks to reinforce the message that motorists are required to comply with traffic rules to avoid, causing danger to other road users or impeding the smooth flow of traffic. We want to deter errant road behaviour and promote good road use habits to keep our roads safe for all users. In line with this, both the Traffic Police and LTA adopt a firm stance when reviewing appeals for summonses to be cancelled or waived. Each appeal is considered carefully on its merits and this does require considerable resources. As a policy, the two agencies will not accede to appeals unless there are very strong extenuating factors. In particular, as summonses from the Traffic Police usually relate to moving offences, which can pose serious danger to other road users, very few appeals to cancel or waive such summonses are acceded to.

Road users should be responsible and abide by traffic rules at all times and those who commit traffic violations will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

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