The new road traffic bill provides for the auction of impounded vehicles, with proceeds first used to cover the cost of impoundment, under procedures to be set out in a Ministerial Order. According to the bill, fees related to impoundment, including how they are calculated and paid will be determined by the Minister in charge. Where auction proceeds exceed the costs incurred, the remaining balance will be deposited into the appropriate account, and the vehicle’s owner or legal representative notified to withdraw the excess amount within five days after the auction. ALSO READ: Errant drivers face year-long ban under new traffic points system The bill, passed by the Chamber of Deputies on January 5, is part of a broader package of reforms aimed at strengthening road safety. These include increased use of technology and the introduction of a merit and demerit points system to promote responsible driving and penalise traffic violations. Once published in the Official Gazette, the law will repeal the 1987 road traffic law that has governed Rwanda’s transport sector for nearly four decades. MP Hope Tumukunde Gasatura, Chairperson of the Chamber of Deputies’ Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, said the auction provisions are designed strictly to offset impoundment costs and nothing more. ALSO READ: Why Rwanda is revising a 38-year-old road traffic law “The proceeds may not always be enough to cover all the costs, and in such cases the government bears the loss,” she said. “The priority is to protect vehicle owners from unnecessary charges or from having other property seized to settle these costs.” Tumukunde added that under the Ministerial Order, vehicle owners will be notified at least three months in advance, allowing them the option to sell their vehicles themselves to maximise value rather than relying on an auction. The bill defines vehicle impoundment as a decision by the head of the department in charge of road safety to park a vehicle in a designated area for road safety purposes until it is returned to its owner or auctioned. When a vehicle is impounded, the responsible authority must complete an official impoundment form, a copy of which is given to the vehicle owner or driver. The road safety authority will determine the format and content of this form. ALSO READ: Law Reform Commission to complete review of road traffic bill by August 18 Impoundment may be preceded by immobilisation if an investigator of road traffic offences or a qualified agent considers it necessary, in line with the law. The legislation lists grounds for impoundment, including abandonment of a vehicle on a road or pavement where the owner cannot be identified; failure to address reasons for temporary immobilisation; failure to meet technical inspection requirements; involvement in a fatal accident; or when a driver’s blood alcohol content exceeds the legal limit. The maximum duration of impoundment is three months from the date the decision is approved by the competent authority. If the vehicle is not collected within that period, it may be auctioned or destroyed in accordance with existing laws. The law also allows for the lifting of an impoundment decision upon request by the vehicle owner or a designated representative, once the grounds for impoundment no longer apply and all related fees have been paid. A competent court may also waive impoundment through a summary procedure. The Ministerial Order will further determine where impounded vehicles are parked, as well as the structure, organisation and management of these facilities. Vehicle valuation will be conducted on the spot. Addressing concerns over property rights, Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore said the government has no intention of arbitrarily auctioning citizens’ property. “The law is clear,” Gasore said. “The cost of impoundment is covered by the vehicle itself and nothing beyond that. Government intervention in people’s property has never been an option.”
