The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gen. Said Chawul Lom, has cancelled controversial traffic directives issued by the Director General of Traffic Police, Maj. Gen. Kon John Akot, following public and parliamentary criticism.
The move follows directives issued on Wednesday that banned tinted vehicle windows, right-hand-drive vehicles, and public transport vehicles with left-side sliding doors.
The measures required motorists to remove window stickers,
replace tinted glass with clear glass, switch to left-hand steering, and ensure
public transport doors opened on the right.
Members of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) criticized the measures, saying the rules were meant to extort money and
reinstate annual vehicle renewals abolished by parliament.
In a statement broadcast on state-run television on Thursday
evening, General Chawul announced that all the directives had been revoked, except
for restrictions on tinted vehicle windows, which will now only be allowed
under special consideration.
Chawul said the decision was taken to ensure compliance with
existing laws and to prevent the enforcement of measures that had not received
legal approval.
He emphasized that right-hand-drive vehicles and public
transport vehicles with left-side sliding doors will continue operating until
parliament passes a law regulating them.
The Inspector General rejected claims of changes to license
renewal, saying driver’s licenses remain valid for five years under the law.
He further emphasized that any future amendments to traffic or vehicle regulations must be approved by both the Council of Ministers and the National Legislature before implementation.