The motorist, a former salesman in his 30s, was stopped during a routine operation by Penang police in George Town yesterday, with media present, The Star reported.
He was asked to pull over for stopping in the yellow box. That was when police discovered he had 102 unpaid traffic summonses. All of the fines were said to be for illegal parking, with the total amount due being RM5,000.
The man later claimed that he had paid traffic summonses before for beating the red light, as a traffic cop had advised him to pay those first to avoid being blacklisted by the Road Transport Department when he wanted to renew his road tax and driving licence.
“Since the total amount was too big, a policeman told me to settle the summonses for running the red light first.
“I was told that the illegal parking summonses could be kept temporarily. Since I didn’t face any problems renewing my road tax, I just let them be,” he was quoted as saying by the daily.
According to police, 97 of the summonses were issued in Penang while the other five were issued in other states.
A quick check of the motorist’s vehicle registration number revealed that he had 40 outstanding summonses issued by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) since 2014.
The man explained that his job as a salesman previously forced him to stop his car in front of retailers to deliver goods.
“That was why I got so many illegal parking summonses.
“Although the total fines are a lot, I will settle them and I promise not to park illegally any more,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.
He said traffic police had promised to help him lodge an appeal with Bukit Aman for a reduction.
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