Cabinet has approved the Land Transport (Amendment) Decree 2012, and the Land Transport (Photographic Detection Device) Regulations 2013.
Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities Timoci Lesi Natuva.
Minister Natuva said that the Land Transport (Amendment) Decree 2012 amends the Land Transport Act in order to provide for the implementation of the photographic detection device project.
He said that a photographic detection device is an approved device that captures images of offences committed under the Act and the subsidiary laws made under the Act.
“The Amendment Decree provides that offences detected by a photographic detection device will be on an owner onus basis.
“This means that the owner of a motor vehicle will be held liable for the offence detected by a photographic detection device.”
He said that the Amendment Decree provides for a Traffic Infringement Notice to be issued to the owner of a motor vehicle in respect of an offence detected by a photographic detection device.
He further said that the Amendment Decree also exempts the following types of motor vehicles from the payment of any penalty under the Act or subsidiary laws made under the Act, in respect of offences detected by a photographic detection device:
I. any motor vehicle used by a fire brigade established under the provisions of any written law;
II. any ambulance used by the National Ambulance Service under the National Ambulance Decree 2010;
III. any motor vehicle used by the Fiji Police Force;
IV. any motor vehicle used by the President of the Republic of Fiji including his or her motorcade and support vehicles;
V. any motor vehicle used by a Cabinet Minister, including his or her motorcade and support vehicles; and
VI. any motor vehicle exempted by the Chief Executive Officer.
The Minister said that the Land Transport (Photographic Detection Device) Regulations 2012 will enforce traffic safety laws, identify and record images of motor vehicles that enter an intersection in contravention of a red light or red traffic arrow, identify and record images of motor vehicles that exceed the speed limit; deter illegal activities on the road; ensure that the use of motor vehicles is regulated for the purposes of safety, protection of the environment and law enforcement; and establish a method that identifies each motor vehicle used on the road and the person who is responsible for it.
He said that the Regulation establishes the Photographic Traffic Infringement Processing Unit. The Unit will be responsible for the installation of the photographic detection devices, the certification of images produced by the photographic detection devices and the institution of proceedings against offenders.
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