Motorists to receive traffic fines via SMS, email as NTSA rolls out minor offences system

National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) vehicles/Handout

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has unveiled a new enforcement framework that will allow motorists to settle certain minor traffic offences out of court.

The new initiative comes months following the withdrawal of a notice of an earlier proposal for an instant fine traffic system.

The reforms, set to take effect on June 1 2026, will be implemented jointly by the National Transport and Safety Authority, the National Police Service (NPS), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and the Judiciary.

In a statement on Thursday, NTSA said the new policy shift is aimed at streamlining traffic enforcement and reducing pressure on the judiciary.

Under the new system, motorists who commit specified minor traffic offences will no longer be required to appear in court immediately.

Instead, they will receive a Police Notification of Traffic Offence, which will serve as formal communication of the alleged violation.

"Offences can be detected either by police officers during routine enforcement or electronically via traffic cameras and other digital monitoring systems," NTSA said.

"Once sufficient evidence is gathered, the notification will be issued to the driver or the registered vehicle owner."

According to the statement, the notification may be issued through multiple channels.

These include physical service by police officers, affixing the notice to the offending vehicle, or electronically via SMS, email, or approved digital enforcement platforms. 

NTSA has urged motorists to ensure that their contact details in the vehicle registration database are accurate to avoid missing critical notifications.

"Each notification will contain key details such as the nature of the offence, the date, time and location it occurred, the prescribed penalty, payment instructions, and response deadlines," the statement added.

Upon receipt, motorists will have two options: to admit liability and pay the prescribed fine within the stipulated period, or to dispute the allegation in court.

Where a motorist opts to pay the fine, the matter will be concluded without the need for a court appearance, effectively introducing an out-of-court settlement mechanism for minor offences. 

"However, the court retains the power to reduce or refund the penalty based on mitigating circumstances (if any) and administer demerit points against the driver's licence where appropriate," NTSA clarified.

Failure to respond to a notification, pay the applicable fine, or appear in court when required may result in harsher penalties being imposed by the courts, according to NTSA. 

The authority has also emphasised that motorists will retain the right to access supporting evidence, including photographs or video footage, before making a decision on whether to settle or contest an offence.

The system is expected to rely heavily on digital enforcement tools, including traffic surveillance cameras and other monitoring technologies, which will complement routine police enforcement on the roads. 

Authorities say this will improve transparency, reduce human interference, and enhance accountability in traffic law enforcement.

NTSA stated that the reforms are intended to enhance road safety, improve compliance with traffic laws, reduce congestion in traffic courts, and promote efficiency in the handling of minor offences.

In addition, the authority assured the public that all personal data collected under the system will be handled in compliance with the Constitution and the Data Protection Act.

The authority formally withdrew the public notice that had announced the operationalisation of the Instant Fines Management System on March 27, 2026.

The authority said it needs to further clarify the procedural and operational aspects of handling minor traffic offences.