By ‘Majirata Latela
The Road Fund department has urged traffic police to use the electronic ticket system for collection of spot fines.
This after the department received information that some traffic police officers were declining to use the equipment.
According to the department of Road Fund public relations manager, Phumla Moleko some of the challenges facing the department since the inception of the system was lack of technological expertise.
The system was launched in September 2019 and rolled out in December 2019.
“Some of the challenges are technological challenges as the system is technology based. We also have encountered some resistance from some police officers in fully using the machines,” she said.
However, she admitted there have been some successes as the new system helped in easy collection of sport fines. To date, she said, 45 639 fines were issued which she said resulted in a significant increase in collection for a period exceeding a year.
“It should, however, be noted that issuing of fines has decreased sharply because of the Covid-19 pandemic which has resulted in reduced mobility. The actual revenue collected has not been fully reconciled due to late payments of fines and use of different means of payment and therefore figures are not yet available for publishing,
“The system has helped a lot in keeping of records of fines committed and individuals who committed the fines. With such records we have been able to track outstanding fines by individuals at roadblocks. The system is also able to indicate police officers issuing most fines,” Moleko said.
She added that the success they have experienced since the system came into place was an improvement on the quality of vehicles on the roads.
The system also allows for a tracking of drivers who have been found at fault with the law on the road. It enables officers to track the unpaid fines.
The e-spot fine was intended to improve collection of money and keep records of unpaid fines. By instantly capturing spot fines and tracking unpaid fines, the M14-million system was intended to actually enable traffic law enforcers, namely the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), Department of Traffic and Transport (DTT) and Road Fund, to maximise revenue collection.
The electronic enforcement gadgets are able to capture both offender and vehicle details, and print out a ticket for the motorist.
While Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli welcomed the machines as an overdue intervention in September 2019, he conceded that a huge chunk of spot fine money did not go to the fund’s coffers but was pocketed by some officers.
The Road Fund handed over the 70 electronic devices to the traffic department in a bid to enhance revenue collection. The system also improved record keeping of fines issued by the traffic officers.
Police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli admitted that some resistance has been met among some officers who claim to be not conversant with the use of the devices.
“Yes there has been some resistance as some of them were failing to use them to collect spot fines. But the challenge was overcome and the machines are fully utilised now,” he said.
