17/06/2023
Tonga Parlianment House Structure Movements New Changes Planning Management Family Organization With the Lower Parliament House of Representatives Against the Upper Parlianment House of Representatives Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Separation of Power of Attorney With the Notary Notarized Stamps Family Organization Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Separation of Role and Responsibilities and Purpose Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Oval Office Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Separation of Power of Attorney With the Notary Notarized Stamps Family Organization Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Separation of Role and Responsibilities and Purpose Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Leader League of Legends Legacy Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Separation of Power of Attorney With the Notary Notarized Stamps Family Organization Against Each Other Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Separation of Role and Responsibilities and Purpose Against Each Other Against Each Local and International New Forming Government Federation (Fatu Fonua Fo'ou Family Organization) Traditional Culture Generation Heritage Family Organization Impeachment Petion Letter Appealing Cases in Court Submitted from the South Pacific Islander Federation and Each Colony Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Separation of Power of Attorney With the Notary Notarized Stamps Family Organization Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Separation of Role and Responsibilities and Purpose Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Privy Council Seal Office Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Separation of Power of Attorney With the Notary Notarized Stamps Family Organization Against Each Other Against Each Local and International Separation of Role and Responsibilities
PARLIAMENT APPROVES TRANSFER OF LICENSING AND REGISTRATION BACK TO LTA
By: Jasmine Netzler - Iose
It is official, the Licensing and Registrations of vehicles is now transferred back under the management of the Land Transport Authority from the Samoa Police.
This comes after Parliament passed the Miscellaneous (Principal Licensing Authority) Amendment Bill 2023 debated in Parliament over the past few days.
The Bill also sought to clarify various functions under the various legislations relating to licensing and registration of vehicles.
Minister of Police, Faualo Harry Jeffrey Schuster told Parliament at the introduction of the Bill that four Acts: The Land Transport Authority Act 2007; Police Powers Act 2007; Road Traffic (Payment of Fines) Act 2009; Road Traffic Ordinance 1960 were involved under the Bill.
According to Faualo the transferal back of these services to LTA was necessary because the licensing and registration of vehicles were unrelated to the duties and functions of the Samoa Police.
The Polices’ main duties and responsibilities were; the enforcement of the law, safeguarding of government assets, private properties of the general public and safety of the people of Samoa and reducing criminal offenses.
The licensing and registrations of vehicles was unrelated completely to these functions and this was mainly why these amendments were being sought.
The majority of Members of Parliament that rose to express their views were mainly for the transfer of the licensing and registration of vehicles back to LTA.
Many cited that LTA was initially the authority that had overseen these services before it was transferred to the Samoa Police during the time of the Human Rights Protection Party’ so it was only appropriate.
They also noted various suggestions to improving the amendments.
These include;
- The enforcement of reducing music blasting from taxi, bus and private vehicles,
- Outsourcing of vehicle registrations to qualified mechanics,
- Speed limitations from slow to fast (vice-versa) to address traffic congestions and accidents,
- Vehicle insurance aid in traffic incidents that involve damages to vehicles,
- Defensive driving courses and a driving school,
- School crossings, signals, reflectors
- Reducing registration fees,
- Learners’ licenses,
- Setting up eye and hearing tests as part of driver’s license requirements
- Improvement on the exams for driver’s license eligibility
- Protection of consumer rights for purchasing vehicles
- Establishment of a pedestal high enough to protect police officers responsible for directing traffic
- Drivers to fully understand parking areas for vehicles and who should enforce or direct these
- A 1-year ban on vehicle importation to address increase in vehicles in country and reducing traffic accidents,
- Enforcement on Car dealers to bring in car parts for vehicles to ensure that cars are not being left standing without being repaired (causing harm to environment) among other issues.
Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure Olo Fiti Vaai assured that all suggestions relating to the LTA were very important and announced various developments the authority will and has already been looking into for addressing these very concerns and suggestions.
Opposition leader Fonote Luafesili Pierre Lauofo said the Bill is very important and all areas pertaining to enforcement and application was essential and had to be in place.
Faualo noted that two important matters were very noticeable in suggestions and concerns raised by the members of parliament.
These were safety and licensing of drivers and their understanding of the law to ensure protection of drivers, pedestrians and especially students using the roads.
The second matter was the enforcement of the law and ensuring the application of the law in relation to modification of vehicle parts such as; additional equipment installed in vehicles that were not initially brought with the vehicle such as horns, lights and loud music from cars.
He noted that Police will enforce the law to remove modified equipment installed in commercial vehicles such as buses and taxis and private vehicles.
Parliament continues.
Caption: Minister of Police, Faualo Harry Jeffrey Schuster.
Photo: Parliament of Samoa
