The Cabinet has decided to amend the Motor and Traffic Act to impose spot fines on violators of the seat belt regulation, the Government Information Department said a short while ago. President earlier instructed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to amend the regulation, so motorists can pay the fines through receipts instead of having to directly appearing before court.

Police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana on January 30 stated that according to the then law it was a must for motorists who violate the seat belts law to appear before court to stand trial for their offence while there is no capability of issuing a fine for it.

The government decided to amend the punishment for motorists violating the mandatory seat belts law by only fining the offenders, instead of producing them before court.

Excerpt of the cabinet release on the matter;

Spot fine against motorists contravening Seat Belt Regulations 

• On a proposal made by Mr. Kumara Welgama, Minister of Transport, cabinet gave its approval to amend Section 157 A( 4) of the Motor Traffic Act, to enable spot fines to be ‘imposed in similar manner, against drivers and passengers traveling in the front seat of vehicles who contravene the seat belt Regulations.

• In keeping with the provisions of the Motor Traffic Act, Regulations pertaining to violation of seat belt provide, after a summary trial in a Court of Law, for the imposition of a fine not less than Rs.1000/- and not exceeding Rs.2000/- on the first occasion, a fine not less Rs.2000/- and not exceeding Rs.3000/- on the second occasion, and a fine not exceeding Rs.3, 500/- and cancellation of the driving license on the third occasion, on conviction after a summary trial in a Court of Law.