Lawmakers have raised concerns over police efforts to collect unpaid traffic camera fines, scheduling a parliamentary debate after authorities announced plans to check for outstanding penalties at airports and urged drivers to verify their status online.
The House Legal Affairs Committee will examine both issues during its session on Wednesday, April 2, with senior officials from two ministries, two commissioners and numerous civil servants invited to address questions about the legality of these police initiatives.
MPs have expressed irritation over a police announcement encouraging drivers to check for outstanding fines through the system operator’s platform, which included warnings of potential criminal prosecution for non-payment.
A second point of contention involves police plans to conduct checks at entry and exit points to deliver unpaid fines using a “Photo Radar List” application, according to committee documents.
The measure is part of efforts to serve more than 200,000 outstanding traffic camera fines to offending drivers, authorities said.
Police maintain they have the legal authority to implement such measures, comparing it to existing practices where vehicles with automated number plate recognition (ANPR) systems identify stolen vehicles, MOT violations, or wanted persons.
The police believe they have the right, when a citizen is before them, to check if they are wanted or if anything is pending against them.
However, some parliamentarians argue that police cannot stop and check citizens without reasonable suspicion and that such actions potentially violate individual rights.
The Legal Affairs Committee previously discussed the notification methods for traffic camera fines, with MPs criticising relevant departments for lacking legal grounds for their approach. The Law Office countered that inviting the public to voluntarily check for outstanding fines did not violate any laws.
Read more:
