These Traffic Officers!

Nov 22, 2017

Somehow I would love to become a police officer-not so much for the lucrative opportunity to make quick cash

By Deo Tumusiime

I had been cautious enough by drinking only two glasses of wine since I knew I had to drive. I even left the function before it was midway to avoid driving so late in the night. But when I got to the Jinja road lights, my "good boy" character just didn't count. The traffic officer flagged his hand right at the Jinja road lights, and for the next several minutes I had to negotiate my release with so much difficulty.

 "Do you know what offense you have committed?" asked one of the officers. I honestly did not know the offence and for some minutes I did not respond. He asked for my driving permit, and highly obliged, I quickly handed it over. The officer majestically walked away in a boastful show of authority as I remained stuck in my driver's seat.

I was quickly reminded of one other incident when a traffic officer arrested me and decided to punish me heavily for "refusing to get out of the car to negotiate". At the time, the officer asked my wife, "Is this guy a Ugandan?" Apparently being Ugandan meant that I ought to have known just how things work here. Well, I knew, but I had deliberately opted not to offer a bribe.

On this latest occasion, I pleaded with the officer for I knew I was not in the wrong. He wasn't taking any of my pleas and asked his colleague to write me a penalty invoice. At this, I was informed that I was being charged with reckless driving, a case that would have me part with up to sh100,000. The officer reminded me that if I were to be paraded before court, I would have to pay even more or face a prison sentence. The traffic offences charge sheet booklet contains tens of potential charges, from which traffic officers often choose their preference at will. If you end up in court, it is a question of driver vs officer, no witness. So to avoid all this hullabaloo, the temptation of offering a bribe to get off the hook seems the easiest way out.

Well, I didn't want to go down easily without some lessons to learn especially for the charge-hungry officers. So I told the officer that many drivers are not aware of the traffic charges, and they only see the long list on the day they are arrested. Also the charges in the booklet are printed in English, meaning that those who cannot read and understand the language, are only expected to sign based on the officer's preference. I advised the officer that it would be a good idea to educate drivers on the various offences or better still afford them benefit of the doubt especially when the offence is not too obvious or serious. Currently, there's no room for pardon- it is either you sign the charge voucher or pay a bribe to have your way, of which the bribe can definitely mean anything. They will accept about Five thousand Shillings or more depending on how ruthless the arresting officer turns out to be.

After my interaction with the officer, which was generally cordial with a few bouts of fear, the officer asked me, "Where do you work?" adding, "You seem to be very Dee-fficult!" I told him I am an Independent writer. He then quickly interjected, "Ok then, charge yourself and go". I sourced some sh5,000, which he grudgingly received.

Oh, somehow I would love to become a police officer-not so much for the lucrative opportunity to make quick cash, but I believe I could make a huge difference towards improving sanity on our roads. Rather than be quick to charge, and assume that all drivers are happy to break the law, I would spend a few minutes educating the offender, hand him a leaflet spelling out the charges and let him go with a warning. The introduction of money in traffic offences whether paid to the officers as a bribe or to the government through the banks, has some negative effect on the system. Some people just don't give a damn about breaking the law and paying a fine, because they have their money. This erodes the human aspect and creates worse scenarios, because when there are no traffic officers to watch, drivers choose to consciously act unreasonable as seen in the way they often gesture, warning each other on spots ahead where traffic officers are pitched.

In fact, I realize that government now charges a hefty sum for driving permits and renewals, a tune of up to sh190,000 and all you get is a tiny card. How about using part of that money to print out leaflets stipulating traffic laws and guidelines as part of the package! Let us not only be interested in collecting money from drivers, and look at them instead as key partners in ensuring road safety. I believe every driver (or at least majority) care about road safety as do traffic officers. Let us tone down the animosity and have a cordial relation punctuated by human understanding.

Pope Francis' recent words about the same issue further bring it into perspective when he says, "We must take into account the limited sense of responsibility of many drivers, who often do not seem to realise the serious consequences of their distraction, such as their misuse of mobile phones or their non-compliance of safety laws. This is caused by haste and a competitiveness that have become a lifestyle, which views other drivers as obstacles or adversaries to be overtaken, transforming the streets into Formula One tracks".

The Pope appeals to police officers to show "mercy" towards the rule-breakers without associating the person with the crime. "Police should try to understand the reasons behind the person's actions."

Thanks be to God

Writer is a communications consultant

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