Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - No more jail for first-time road offences

No more jail for first-time road offences

No more jail for first-time road offences

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday signed a sub-decree stipulating that first-time traffic violations will no longer be punishable with jail time, yet another softening of the ostensibly tougher Traffic Law that went into effect at the start of last year.

First-time drunk driving incidents, for instance, will now only require a fine, so long as the driver has not harmed others.

“In the past, if the driver is over 0.40 mg/L, the driver must be sent to the court, but now the police will fine them instead,” said Ty Long, of the Interior Ministry’s Public Order Department. He added that public criticism that jail sentences for traffic violations were too severe prompted the change.

Under the sub-decree, a driver can be imprisoned for breaking the law twice in six months. “If the driver commits [the crime] a second time, we will prosecute them in court,” Long said.

Ear Chariya, director of the Institute for Road Safety, said that taking away the prospect of jail for drunk drivers will only encourage dangerous behaviour. “The offender is not afraid of the fine, but of prison,” he said, though “in the past, it was rare to send drunk drivers to court”.

MOST VIEWED

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • Honda shutters Siem Reap football club

    Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, the owner of Siem Reap football club Soltilo Angkor FC, has been forced to shut the club down, after it failed to attract sponsorship for the upcoming season. Honda, the former manager of the Cambodia men's national football team, said

  • Hun Sen warns of regional tensions

    ASIA is becoming a dangerous geopolitical hotspot, with several countries announcing that they intend to send naval vessels towards Southeast Asia and on to the South China Sea, warned Prime Minister Hun Sen. “Heated geopolitical issues can easily escalate, namely to war. I am not

  • PM declares ASEAN Para Games open

    The 12th ASEAN Para Games officially kicked off on the evening of June 3 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring fireworks and performances by some of the Kingdom’s most accomplished talents. Tens of thousands of sports fans

  • Waterway job still pending for Kampot tourism port’s opening

    The search is still on for a contractor to expand and deepen the Kampot International Tourism Port’s waterway and deliver additional enhancements allowing safe access for larger vessels, nearly a year after the main construction work on the 4.25ha site was completed on June 30, 2022.