In a major shift aimed at easing court congestion and improving road safety, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced the full implementation of a new Minor Traffic Offences Enforcement Framework effective 1st June 2026.
In a statement released on Thursday, May 28, NTSA noted that motorists who commit minor traffic offences will no longer need to appear in court. Instead, they will receive a Police Notification of Traffic Offence directly via SMS, email, or approved digital traffic enforcement platforms.
NTSA said that the framework, developed in collaboration with the National Police Service (NPS), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, and other agencies, operationalizes Sections 117 and 117A of the Traffic Act (Cap. 403).
“Motorists who commit certain minor traffic offences will no longer need to appear in court immediately. Instead, they may receive a Police Notification of Traffic Offence,” the statement read.
Offences will be detected either by police officers during routine enforcement or electronically through traffic cameras and other digital monitoring systems.
Once sufficient evidence is gathered, the registered vehicle owner or driver will be notified with full details including the nature of the offence, date, time and location it occurred, the prescribed penalty, payment instructions, and response deadlines.
“Upon receiving a notice, motorists have two options: they may admit liability and pay the prescribed fine within the stipulated period, or they may dispute the allegation in court. If the motorist chooses to pay the fine, the matter can be settled without the need for a court appearance,” NTSA added.
NTSA clarified that the court retains the authority to reduce or refund penalties based on mitigating circumstances and may administer demerit points to a driver’s licence as appropriate. Failure to respond, pay fines, or appear in court when required may result in harsher penalties imposed by the courts.
The authority reiterated that the primary objectives of this framework are to enhance road safety for all users, increase compliance with traffic laws, reduce congestion in traffic courts, and promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in traffic enforcement.
