TRAFFIC OFFENCES: Police Moves To Recover Shs8bn Express Penalty Scheme Arrears
"We remind all road users to check the EPS status of their vehicles to avoid inconveniences while on the road and before buying second-hand cars. In case of any complaint, contact the nearby traffic office,” ASP Nampima advised.
Uganda is taking steps to recover a hefty sum of Shs8bn from motorists who were issued Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) tickets for traffic offences they committed while on the road but have since not paid up.
Addressing journalists in Kampala on Friday, ASP Faridah Nampima, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, explained that the EPS was introduced under section 165 of the Traffic and Road Safety Act 1998 to help police manage minor traffic offenders.
The primary objective of the scheme, ASP Nampima said, was to deter road users from committing offences and also intended to decongest courts.
The offenders have 28 days within which to pay the ticket and failure to comply attracts a surcharge of 50% of the prescribed amount, ASP Nampima further explained.
“Currently, the EPS ticket has 25 codes for offences. These codes range between Shs20, 000 to Shs200, 000 depending on the offence committed on road,” ASP Nampima said.
She revealed that to effectively enforce and improve the collection of the outstanding EPS fines, the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety has introduced measures to collect arrears with effect from Monday 22 August 2022.
These measures include carrying out operations on vehicles with unpaid EPS tickets, use of cameras to track all EPS defaulters and once your vehicle is captured by the cameras and it has EPS arrears, it will be impounded and parked at the nearest police station until when you clear the tickets.
The police will also publish EPS defaulters in the three local newspapers in the country.
ASP Nampima said one can check the status of their EPS status through the UPF Mobi APP, inquire from a nearby traffic office or ask any traffic offer with a gadget to check if you have pending EPS payment.
Also, you can make the EPS payment to the bank and pay using the EPS ticket, pay using mobile money using the Payment Registration Number, or use PayWay or agent banking.
While paid, the police say the EPS ticket will automatically reconcile in the system
“We remind all road users to check the EPS status of their vehicles to avoid inconveniences while on the road and before buying second-hand cars. In case of any complaint, contact the nearby traffic office,” ASP Nampima advised.
