Law amended to allow police to confiscate driving licenses when unpaid fines reach MVR 5,000

The Land Transport Act has been amended to give traffic police the power to confiscate and void a road vehicle driving license if the amount of unpaid traffic fines and fees reaches MVR 5,000 or more.

Previously, a vehicle driving license could only be voided if the license expired or if the holder’s credit points were deducted to zero under the demerit system.

Under the new law, a license may be confiscated if:

• authorities reasonably believe the licence holder has violated the Act or regulations made under it,  

• the licence holder no longer meets the requirements specified in the Act, or  

• unpaid fees and fines defined in the Act total MVR 5,000 or more.

Licenses can be confiscated based on a determination by traffic police or by court order. Once a license is confiscated, the ministry must determine whether the licence holder fails to meet any requirement under the Act; if so, the license will be voided in accordance with the law.

If a license is temporarily withheld, a 48-hour temporary driving permit will be issued in its place. On public holidays when fines cannot be paid, the 48 hours will be counted excluding those holidays.

Driving a land vehicle without a valid license, with an expired license, while a license has been confiscated, or without a temporary permit is prohibited. The penalties are:

• MVR 1,000 for the first offence,  

• MVR 1,500 for the second offence,  

• MVR 2,000 for the third offence,  

with subsequent offences fined at double the most recent penalty.

In addition, vehicles driven without the required license may be impounded for up to 30 days, and the vehicle owner will be fined MVR 2,000.

Illegal parking incurs a fine of MVR 500 each time, with demerit points recorded on the driver’s land-vehicle license. The Act also sets a MVR 1,500 fine for parking on curbsides, near schools, bus stops and zebra crossings.