Crackdown on rear seat belt offenders

New Straits Times, 1 January 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Back-seat passengers must from now buckle up or will be issued with a compound fine of RM300.

A spokesman of the Road Transport Department said enforcement officers would start a nationwide crackdown on those who violated the rear seat belt ruling, which took effect from 12.01am today.

Under the latest ruling, offenders above the age of 17 will be individually fined.

On the other hand, if rear-seat passengers under the age of 17 are not buckled up, the car driver will be fined for the offence.

Rear-seat passengers who do not wear seat belts will be fined except for:
- vehicles registered before Jan 1, 1995;

- vehicles registered after Jan 1, 1995 but without anchorage points;

- commercial vehicles, including taxis and rental cars;

- vehicles with more than eight passengers (not including the driver);

- goods vehicles with a maximum load limit of 3.5 tonnes; and,

- the fourth rear-seat passenger in a car with three seat belts at the rear.

From July, the RM300 compound fine will be increased to a maximum fine of RM2,000, or up to a year's jail.

The new rules are contained in the amendments to the Motor Vehicles (Safety Seat Belt) Rules 1977, under the Road Transport Act 1987.

Ahead of the midnight deadline last night, the RTD mounted a nationwide operation to nab errant motorists in conjunction with the countdown to the new year.

A total of 500 officers were posted at roadblocks nationwide under Ops Ambang Tahun Baru 2009, which started at 10pm. They also inspected vehicles for illegal high intensity discharge (HID) lights and other offences.

In the Klang Valley, two major roadblocks were placed at the Jalan Duta-Kuala Lumpur and Batu 3 toll plazas on the Federal Highway.