Deputy National Police chief Chhay Kim Khoeun said within six days of strengthening road traffic laws, police fined 12,732 vehicles for violations, including 9,915 motorbikes and 2,817 cars.

Khoeun said on Thursday that most motorbike riders were stopped for violations ranging from not wearing helmets, not respecting traffic signs and not displaying registration plates.

Motorists were caught for not wearing seatbelts, not having a licence and using a phone while driving. The fines are being imposed to ensure the public stops such violations and respect road traffic laws, said the police.

“The police are committed to continuing enforcement of road traffic laws regardless if it is Saturday or Sunday to make people who do not respect the law start to respect it,” Kim Khoeun said.

The National Police has put forth efforts to educate traffic police to implement the law strictly, properly, transparently, without discrimination, and with gentle manners, he said.

The National Road Safety Committee said within the first six days of May, there were 36 traffic accidents in the country leading to 19 deaths and 39 minor and serious injuries.

The National Police website said traffic accidents declined in Phnom Penh over the same period and there were no deaths. The website did not mention the number of traffic accidents that were recorded.

“The increase in fines upset some people who did not agree and criticised the law’s implementation without being aware of the importance of implementing the law to ensure the safety of life and property.

There were a lot of people who supported the move to reduce death and injuries,” its website said.