Maldives Police Service has taken action against 653 individuals and impounded 183 vehicles within just five days of implementing the newly amended Land Transport Act, which introduces stringent regulations and substantially higher fines.
According to authorities, the penalties were enforced between the 1st and 5th of this month as law enforcement initiated strict monitoring under the overhauled legislation. The updated Act introduces severe deterrents, including mandatory vehicular insurance, an escalating demerit point system, and steep, compounding fines levied separately against both drivers and vehicle owners for non-compliance. Driving an uninsured vehicle now attracts a baseline fine of MVR 1,000 for drivers alongside demerit points, while vehicle owners face fines starting from MVR 3,000, with amounts multiplying for repeat offences.
The revised legal framework also cracks down aggressively on dangerous and reckless driving. Handing vehicle controls over to an unlicensed individual or a minor, or yielding steering control to a passenger seat occupant, carries fines ranging from MVR 25,000 to MVR 50,000. If such reckless conduct results in personal injury, penalties escalate from MVR 50,000 up to MVR 100,000. In cases where control is handed directly to a minor, the statutory maximum fines apply automatically. In addition to monetary penalties, offenders face license suspensions spanning two to five years—with mandatory completion of retraining programs prior to resistance—alongside potential criminal charges under the Penal Code in the event of harm or loss of life.
Beyond behavioural enforcement, the Act incorporates long-term structural reforms to alleviate traffic congestion, particularly in the Greater Malé area. Key provisions mandate establishing the "Greater Malé Transport and Mobility Office," introducing vehicle quotas, implementing multiple-ownership fees, setting up a police-run traffic management center, and creating a dedicated Land Transport Mobility Fund. Furthermore, the legislation caps the operational lifespan of land vehicles at a maximum of 20 years from the date of manufacture, phasing out older vehicles within three years to modernize road safety and fleet standards.