Fines for Driving Without Insurance Could Increase to $1,000

Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh today introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to amend the Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risk) Act, increasing penalties for driving without insurance and giving traffic officers power to demand proof of coverage.

“The penalty for insurance-related offences has remained unchanged since 1999 and no longer provides an adequate deterrent,” Zabaneh told the House.

Under current law, driving without insurance carries a fine of up to $400 or six months in prison. The new bill proposes raising that to $1,000 or up to eight months imprisonment. General penalties for other offences would also rise from $200 to $600, with possible jail time extended from three to six months.

“This bill also has the recommendation of cabinet,” Zabaneh concluded.

The bill has been referred to the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee for examination and report.

The session saw the absence of all opposition representatives, who boycotted the sitting in protest over the ongoing BTL-Smart acquisition.