SOME state governments, in their attempts to be popular, have cancelled summonses for traffic offences and reduced fines for late payments. This is definitely sending the wrong signal to citizens and making those law-abiding citizens who diligently pay their fines on time feel like fools.

I strongly feel that this practice must stop immediately before law-abiding citizens join the bandwagon and withhold payments with impunity. Instead of rewarding those who break the law, one should instead reward those who abide by the law.

It is better to give discounts to those who pay on time and even give incentives to pay in advance through further discounts.

These incentive schemes are practised in many advanced countries.

C.G.Z. , Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – May 14, 2008