‘Committee revising Traffic Law for potential changes’

AMMAN — The Central Traffic Department (CTD) has not taken a decision to increase the ticket for crossing a red light to JD500, an official at the department said on Saturday. 

Responding to news reports that the authorities plan to increase fees for several traffic tickets, including crossing a red light and using a mobile phone while driving, Lt. Col. Muawiah Rababaa, director of the CTD’s public relations team, said no such decisions have been taken.

Rababaa said a committee is currently revising the 2008 Traffic Law in general to introduce some changes, but no final decisions have been agreed on yet. 

“The committee, which was formed nine months ago, is revising the whole law, including the regulations on tickets, but it is still too early to say whether some ticket fees will be increased or not. These claims are baseless,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Under Article 29 of the current Traffic Law, motorists who cross a red light are to pay a ticket between JD100 and JD200 and face between one week and one month imprisonment.

Rababaa said the panel seeks to update the law to account for the use of modern technology. 

“There are issues that need to be revised besides traffic tickets, like the regulations on insurance and car licences,” Rababaa added. 

“For example, when someone wants to renew his/her car license, he/she can only pay in cash, because the law does not allow for credit card payments. These issues are being taken into consideration by the committee,” he said. 

Rababaa did not provide details on when the panel will conclude its work.

“First, the outcomes will be submitted to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau for approval, and then they go through several channels before a decision is taken to amend the law,” he added.