BEIRUT: A new traffic law will fine people who throw rubbish out of their cars and drivers of vehicles that emit polluting smoke or irritating noises, Beirut MP Mohammad Qabbani said Tuesday after announcing that a parliamentary committee has finished revamping the current legislation.
“This law is strict in several points of which I will only mention two: throwing tissue paper, empty bottles and other waste [on the street] … will be fined by LL350,000 to be paid within 15 days, and if the deadline is not respected, it will go up to LL450,000,” Qabbani said, adding that any person refusing to pay would be referred to judiciary.
“Similarly, [owners] of cars that emit polluting smoke or noises that annoy other people on the street and surrounding neighborhoods will be fined up to LL350,000 and the vehicle will be confiscated,” added the lawmaker, who addressed reporters at the Parliament after chairing the parliamentary subcommittee that reformed the current traffic law.
The draft law will be referred to the joint parliamentary committees before the end of the year, Qabbani said, adding that he hoped it would be endorsed by the Parliament in early 2011.
“We have honored our promise of deciding on the final formula of the traffic draft law and delivering it as a gift to the Lebanese on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year after exhausting work that lasted for three months, during which the committee used to convene six days a week,”Qabbani said.
Qabbani added that anybody found to be driving under the influence of alcohol will receive a sentence of between one month and two years and a fine of between LL3 million and LL5 million under the new legislation.
Motorcycle drivers who “perform acrobatic moves with their vehicles” could receive a sentence of between one month and two years, and will be liable to have their motorcycle confiscated, Qabbani said.
“All these examples indicate that the law matches or even outweighs any modern traffic law in the world … starting from the upcoming year, we will hold specialized meetings with concerned parties to discuss the mechanism of implementation,” he said.
Drivers who exceed the permitted speed by around 90 kilometers per hour will also be fined, he added.
“But if the permitted speed was exceeded by more than 100 kilometers per hour, then the driver will face a sentence ranging between one month and two years of imprisonment.”
“The same thing applies for cars that race on streets without receiving a permit … Taxi drivers who do not have a taxi sign will face a sentence ranging between one month and two years,” added the Beirut MP.
Qabbani has said that the new law will also punish people found vandalizing the speed radars which were activated throughout Lebanon in November this year.
Earlier this month, the Internal Security Forces reported that road accidents dropped by 10 percent in October and November, with the rates of deaths down 43 percent and injuries down 12.5 percent.
