A tough ask to make richer errant motorists pay more for traffic offences

A SUGGESTION by Nominated Member of Parliament Walter Theseira to peg traffic fines to the open market value (OMV) of the motorist's vehicle generated much coffeeshop chatter this week, among both motorists and non-drivers alike. Call it a "wealth tax" for richer drivers, if you like.

This effectively means that those who drive more expensive cars would have to fork out heftier sums for the exact same offence compared to another person who drives a cheaper vehicle. Dr Theseira reasoned that fines should be more meaningful to deter those who earn more and are able to afford these pricier vehicles, while being reasonable and fair to lower-income drivers at the same time.

Many are divided over whether such a penalty system would be a positive one if eventually implemented, given that it is discriminatory and could set a dangerous precedent when it comes to determining fines and punishments for other types of offences, be they traffic-related or not.