Remember the viral lorry with the horns that play out the baby shark song? Well, the driver may face fine and imprisonment now!
The Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ) has stressed that a fine up to RM2,000 and imprisonment up to 6 months awaits road users with vehicles that use modified horns. As reported by Sinar Harian, JPJ Selangor has been conducting an operation against the use of these modified horns within the state since 1 March after receiving complaints from the public.
JPJ Selangor Director, Nazli Md Taib said, the operation, named the ‘Enforcement Operation Against Horns With Rhythmic Or More Than One Tone’ was following the recent trending popularity of this modification among lorries and buses. He clarified,
“A horn is an imperative instrument for a vehicle that is used to warn, remind or signal to other road users through the use of sound.”
“However, the use of horns with multiple or rhythmic tones can cause confusion among road users regarding the message that the driver is trying to convey. Furthermore, it can also public nuisance if used in a residential area.”
Nazli then iterated that actions can be taken using Section 119(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which prescribes the following:
- Fine up to RM2,000, or
- Imprisonment up to 6 months.
Moreover, equipping a vehicle with a modified horn as an accessory or through retrofitting is also an offence under Regulation 24(i) of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) 1959 for ‘installing horn with more than one tone’.
For those that have been compounded for the said offence, they are required to visit their nearest JPJ office to make sure that the installation has been removed and corrected. A notice will only be given once inspection and removal has been made.
JPJ has vowed for continuous enforcement against any offences to make sure that road users obey with the rules and regulations on the road.
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