IPOH: Perak Road Transport Department (RTD) today issued a stern warning to street peddlers to stop their trade or face action.
Its director, Mohammad Yusoff Abustan said the department understood their need to earn a living, but not at the cost of risking their lives and endangering others.
"Their actions also cause disturbances at traffic lights and affects traffic flow.
"What they are doing is against the law and is also risky for them. We will act accordingly," he said.
Mohammad Yusoff told reporters this after attending Ops Bersepadu for commercial vehicles at the Ipoh Toll Plaza (southbound) here, between 8.30pm and midnight yesterday.
Trading on the streets is an offence under Rule 10A(1) of the Road Traffic Rules 1959. No person shall sell or offer to sell things or goods to any person who is in a vehicle at an intersection or any road.
Rule 10A(2) also states that no one whether inside or on the vehicle can purchase any goods or items from any persons at the traffic light or any intersections or road.
He added that RTD would take legal action if there are still such activities because a hawker and buyer can be fined not more than RM2,000 or jailed for not more than six months if guilty.
"We hope the advocacy programme conducted previously can be a guide to them not to cause inconvenience to the public," he said.
Meanwhile, he said a total 159 summonses were issued by the RTD against lorry drivers and their companies for various offences.
Mohammad Yusoff Abustan said they inspected 380 vehicles and action was taken against 78 for various offences.
"Among the notable offences include lorry drivers who drove without a driving license, commercial vehicle license, and road tax.
"Besides the 159 summonses, the police also issued 101 notices. The National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) has also screened 30 people and three of them tested positive for drugs.
"Five people were also nabbed by the Immigration Department for not having valid travel documents," he said.
He said many drivers were unaware that the moratorium to renew the Malaysian Driving License (LLM) and Motor Vehicle License (LKM) had expired since last January.
"If you miss it (to renew the license), quickly renew it at the nearest RTD counter. We also have a service at the post office that can help them apart from our strategic partner, MyEG," he said.
He said the operation also focused on commercial vehicles carrying loads in excess of the permitted limits under the Road Transport Act (APJ) 1987 and other technical offences.