When drivers commit a traffic offense like beating the traffic lights, for example, you can be arrested by either a traffic cop or J.P.J. official.
For you information, it is a RM300 fine for doing the above offense.
Until and unless a driver has a good reason, beating a traffic light contravenes traffic regulation of the Road Transport Act 1987 K17 and K18 TS (LN167/59). The amount a driver will be charged is a hefty RM300.
Have I ever, in my over forty years of driving ignored a traffic light at all? To tell you that I have never done it at all would tantamount to telling you a lie.
Ask yourselves truthfully, sincerely if you like, have you ever lied at all in your lifetime?
I’m sure you know the answer to the question above.
Some may claim they are extremely honest and maybe they do not lie, but have you ever at least told a white lie to get yourself out of a sticky situation at times.
I once attended a Christian assembly meeting, held at the Goldcourse Hotel located in Klang a few years ago. The guest speaker was a well known Chinese pastor from Singapore. He surprised the audience by asking them “is there any one in the audience, who has never lied?” No one actually put up his or her hand.
Now, let’s come back to the question that asked have I ever ignored a red traffic in my over 40 years of driving. Bearing in mind I am a driving instructor, one responsible for tutoring potential students in the art of driving.
The answer, as I already answered was in the affirmative.
It has happened a few times. The instances, I beg to say, has been forgotten. But there was one instance in which I had no choice but to beat the red light. Read on and decide for yourself if what I did was wrong. I promise to accept whatever your verdict for what I did was right or wrong.
It happened way back in 1971. That eventful morning on the September 16th, my wife, who was then in heavy labour, being 9 months pregnant and about to deliver at any moment, surprisingly informed me that her water bag had broken.
Mothers and those ladies who have given birth before would surely know what this means.In case you’re not a husband yourselves, this indicates a baby will be born soon.
Doctors or medical personnel would be able to verify what I’m saying is the truth.
As my wife had he prenatal check ups done at the University Hospital at Petaling Jaya, I felt I had have little choice, but to send my wife to the hospital there for her first delivery. Being a father for the first time, that’s my contention.
Let’s forget about the above episode and come back to the question of what happens when a driver should commit a traffic offense.
In normal circumstances, a driver I assume would stop his vehicle and ask the good officer what he or she has done wrong. When told of his or her mistake, would usually say “sorry”.
The driver would then go on to ask to be excused if possible. This can usually lead a driver to plead or appeal for his or her mistake. Reasons, I’m sure would also be given.
Various request would invariably also be put forward. If pleadings, explanations and request should all fail to get the traffic officer or J.P.J. to waive the traffic infringement that you have committed, some might be forced to resort to unfortunately “bribing”.
This is in fact a sensitive issue. I dislike bringing up this term but as this issue has to be brought up, I actually has little or no choice.
It is an offense for a driver to bribe a traffic officer or J.P.J. officer in case you are unaware.
It was reported in the Star newspaper dated 5th March 2010, whereby a businessman Wong Soo Keong, 53 from Kuala Lumpur, was jailed 12 months and fined RM50,000 for bribing a police officer.
Wong was not driving at that time but by offering a RM10,000 bribe to one Assistant Superintendent Rohan Shah Ahmad as an inducement to refrain from taking legal action against him over a raid seizure and arrest of all 11 foreign women from Indonesia and China.
A bribe remains a bribe, irregardless whether it involves traffic offenses or a business transaction.
With this interesting article being highlighted, I hope it will jolt up your senses pertaining to attempting to bribe an officer of the law should you be involved with traffic offenses in future.
The Malaysian Government is currently involved in sending a clear message to the public that it possesses the intention to curb corruption.
Regarding my claims that I broke the traffic regulations of beating the red traffic lights while sending my wife to the University Hospital for the delivery of her first baby, the traffic officer upon hearing it was an emergency chose to go astride his white 500 cc traffic motorcycle, put on his wailing siren to lead me on a 130 km/h race to the hospital in my blue Datsun 120Y on the morning of the 16th September 1971.
To end this exciting episode, I wish to inform all readers, my first daughter, Swan Nee was born exactly 1 minute upon arrival at the hospital registration counter.
One minute late, and she would have been born in the Datsun 120Y!
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