Ops Sikap: More than 3,000 caught on camera

Monday October 22, 2007

By CHRISTINA KOH

TAIPING: The Road Transport Department's undercover “mission” to photograph traffic offenders at accident-prone areas has been a huge success, said its enforcement director Salim Parlan.
As of Sunday, the last day of Ops Sikap XIII, a total of 3,191 motorists nationwide were caught on camera during the operation, he said.
"Some 15% were photographed cutting traffic queues while 10% tried to beat the red traffic light," he told reporters here on Sunday.
Using digital cameras, enforcement officers have also snapped pictures of people using mobile phones while driving, crossing double lines, abusing the emergency lanes and driving dangerously.
Salim added that the last time JPJ had sent out enforcement officers in unmarked vehicles to photograph offenders had been during the last Ops Sikap in February this year.
Asked if enforcement officers would continue the undercover operation throughout the year, Salim said the department's investigative unit would sometimes patrol dangerous spots.
He also urged the public to contact the department's 24-hour hotline at 03-8886 6412 if they spot any motorist committing an offence.
Meanwhile, Salim reported that there has not been a single fatality involving an express bus during Ops Sikap XIII, and thanked the traffic police for their help during the holidays.
Altogether 10,745 summonses were issued out of the 75,661 vehicles inspected.
Out of the 35,900 motorcycles inspected, 3,448 motorcyclists were caught with driving licence offences and 2,017 motorcyclists had expired road tax discs.