U-turn proves costly for motorist

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KOTA KINABALU: A 50-year-old man was fined RM4,500, in default, four months’ jail by the Traffic Court here yesterday for inconsiderate driving.

Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie imposed the fine on Paul Mujin after he pleaded guilty to a charge framed under Section 43 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 and a jail term of up to 12 months, upon conviction.

The accused admitted to driving his vehicle recklessly at a U-turn in front of the railway station of Jalan Kepayan here on March 21.

Traffic prosecuting officer Inspector Hanif Mamyudi told the court that an accident occurred between the accused’s car and a motorcycle at the said place and upon investigation, it was found that when the accused was making a U-turn, he did not give way to the motorcycle which was on the main road heading to Putatan resulting in the accused colliding with the motorcyclist.

The court also ordered for the accused’s conviction to be recorded on his driving licence.

In a separate case, five persons, including a woman, were fined by the same court foor separate charges of driving their vehicles while under the influence of alcohol. They were arrested during separate operations here recently.

Three of them each received a RM2,000 fine, while the other two accused were fined RM1,500 and RM1,000 respectively.

They all pleaded guilty to their respective charges under Section 45A (1) of the same Act, which provides for a maximum fine of RM6,000 or with a jail term of up to 12 months, upon conviction.

The five accused were also ordered to be jailed for two weeks if they failed to pay their fines.

Meanwhile, a teenage boy was charged with driving a vehicle while still under the age of 17 years.

He was charged under Section 39 (2) of the same Act, punishable under Section 39 (5) with a maximum fine of RM2,000 or a jail term of up to six months, or both, upon conviction.

The magistrate reserved May 20 this year for re-mention of the case at the Juvenile’s Court here and granted him RM500 bail in one local surety.