The Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore has explained why vehicle drivers who refuse to stop when ordered by a police officer will face stricter penalties under the revised road traffic bill. Speaking to The New Times, Gasore said the tougher penalties are intended to ensure compliance and road safety. The bill, which introduces heavier fines and possible jail terms for offenders, was approved by the Chamber of Deputies on Monday, January 5. ALSO READ: Mixed reactions from motorists over new road traffic bill Article 39 of the bill, adopted by 73 MPs, with two voting against, one invalid vote and one abstention, sets a fine of between Rwf400,000 and Rwf700,000, and imprisonment of three to four months for motorists who ignore police stop orders. The minister said there are two new offences related to the case. One is that you are suspected to be driving under influence. Then, you are stopped, but you refuse.” In that situation, he said that a driver is going to get penalties that are higher than the one who actually accepted to be tested. ALSO READ: Parliament passes road traffic bill replacing 39-year-old law “That makes sense, otherwise you would be incentivizing everyone not to use that device. If you are good and you think you are not under influence, you would better accept to use the device. But if you have other reason not to use it, you basically incriminate yourself. That's self-incrimination, he explained. Gasore added that the second offence is failing to stop when requested by a police officer. If the police officer stops you and you don't, it carries the risk of causing an accident and it happens very often.” He said that the target is to put a situation where people don't prefer to run. ALSO READ: Traffic point deduction system should be rolled out with 'caution' Gasore noted that motorists carrying illegal substances or involved in other crimes may also be motivated not to stop. MP Egide Nkuranga noted that some motorists would deliberately run away because refusing to stop attracted lighter penalties than being tested and found guilty of drunk driving. ALSO READ: Errant drivers face year-long ban under new traffic points system
