Action against touts

Action against touts

JOHOR BARU: The state Road Transport Department is coming down hard on ticket touts during this festive season.

Stern action would be taken against them under the Land Public Transport Act 2010.

Johor RTD director Johari Yusof said that under the Act, ticket touts would be fined up to RM50,000 or spend five years in jail or both.

He added the touts were a nuisance not only to the authorities but also to the public.

“The authorities are taking a serious actions against ticket touts as many people have been cheated by them,” he said at the launch of Ops Hari Raya 2011 here recently.

Johari added that the department would place its enforcement officers at the Larkin Terminal in Johor Baru and Bentayan Terminal in Muar.

“We want to make sure that ticket touts would not make their presence felt at these two terminals,” he said.

In relation to Ops Hari Raya 2011, Johari said the operations would commence from Aug 14 until Sept 14.

Heavy load vehicles such as trailers or lorries, he added, are not allowed to travel on the roads on Aug 27, Aug 28, Sept 3, and Sept 4.

Vehicles of such class that are found on the roads during the period would be seized.

“Up to now, the department have checked a total of 181 express buses at each of their respective depot for the upcoming festive period.

“The department would also be inspecting the express bus drivers especially buses who are traveling more than 300 kilometres and those who have a second driver,” he said.

RTD enforcement officers would also inspect log books and drivers who are found to have driven for more than eight hours are not allowed continue.

“We are also inspecting the drivers through the Kejara system where drivers who have been blacklisted or yet to pay their summons are also not allowed to drive,” he said.

Johari urged bus commuters to file in complaints on errant drivers by contacting the state RTD’s 24-hour hotline number at 07-354 3544.

~News courtesy of The Star~