Posted as received.
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► This article advises whether it’s legal to talk on the phone while driving, gives important phone numbers and guidance on negotiating traffic offenses. We learned the following from our research:
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• It is illegal to talk on the phone while driving so don’t do it.
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• The fine for talking on your phone while driving is up to the discretion of the Magistrate and can range from Kshs 400 to Kshs 5,000.
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• If you have been pulled over for any traffic offense, you can call this phone number 020 8562263 or 020 8563515/6 to speak to a Commandant of Traffic who will answer any traffic-offense question you might have. We called and got the information for the previous bullet.
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• If you are being harassed by the police, you can call the Diplomatic Police: 020 521446 or 0735 356506.
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•If you get pulled over by the police, you have your rights:
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If You Are Stopped For A Minor Traffic Offence in Kenya, Please Follow These Simple Rules: Please find below an official statement of the Ministry of Justice, Law and Order Reform Programme (GJLOS) concerning your rights and obligations towards traffic police in case of minor traffic offences. I recommend you to make a print out and place it in your private vehicle in case of need.
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► 1. Demand that the officer identify him/herself through an appointment certificate OR through the name and number normally pinned on their uniform.
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► 2. Equally always identify yourself by a driver’s license or ID document.
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► 3. Please do not allow police officers to get into your car when you have been stopped for a minor traffic offence. (Your car is private property and technically the police require a search warrant to enter your car, but we are normally polite and allow them to look in the boot etc.)
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► 4. If you are being charged with a minor traffic offence, the paper work can normally be done on the spot – it’s called a “bail bond” or “police bail”. You make a cash payment and get an official receipt (which is also a notice to appear in court on a future date). If it cannot be issued on the spot, insist that you follow a police car to the nearest police station and then ensure that the bail bond is issued at the police station. Please also note that all minor traffic offences in Kenya are indeed eligible for “bail bond” or “police bail” - there is absolutely no justification for you to be locked up at a police station for minor traffic offences. (But this is a threat normally used to scare people.)
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► 5. Never allow a police officer to take the keys of your car from the ignition – this is illegal.
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► 6. Be polite and non-confrontational at all times.
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@Meria Mata mchizi wangu. Inakuwaje braza, ahsante sana kwa hiyo. Sasa fanya hivi; njoo hapa Kadongo bar ya watu wa kitaani Mishomoroni nikununulie kreti kimo cha urefu wako, unywe kwa raha zako. Niko na Mzee Duka zee la pufya ya mboro. Akikuchanja import unampiga kende kama vile @Jirani alimpiga mtu knock out na story ya uzee, jokes za kifala na golf Karen club.
Safi kaka, naona bahati yakupiga chenga kama hasenali na kombe la EPL. Maanake leo Mzee Duka mchawi wa mambo ya ngono leo anatoa ofa. Lakini usijali siku ipo, tutafanya kikao. Kesho narudi jiji la wakora Nairobi.
Shida moja. When they want to harass you they tell you paperwork will be done at the station. When you accompany them there, they make sure you wait the whole day for the paperwork to be completed. Imagine you were on your way to work in the morning. The best way to deal with this abuse is to make it mandatory to just issue a police bond and date to appear in court with a predetermined fine.
Hehe… I learnt that you dont follow police to the station ati “To sort the case out”. Finish business on the spot if you can. Hakuna koti police station. It is most likely you will be booked for things you didnt do.
Ati obstructing a police officer, resisting arrest, sijui nini nini. Ata drunk driving ama dangerous driving(whatever is that). Na hakuna kitu utafanya.
Ataenda hapo kwa OB aandike kidogo alafu atoke apotee. Hao karao wengine wana-man desk utaskia wamekwambia uweke valuable zako sijui wapi na utoe viatu na uingie kwa cell. Ati nini? Uingie kwa cell saa hii ama tukuweke ndani sisi wenyewe. Utaingia my friend. believe me. They have dealt with the hardest of people. Wamedeal na wale mangaa kabisa wenye wandai kupigana ata akionyeshwa bunduki. Ukitaka kujua spend a day at a busy station Nairobi.
Na watasema arresting officer ashaenda huwezi achiliwa. Saa hii ndio unajua you were arrested long time ago.
Kama ni asubuhi utaaachiliwa six ama seven jioni ama kesho kama ni jioni. Na bado watakuwa within their legal limit of custody time.
We should start like majuu. Every cop car to have a dash cam so that whatever you do or say us recorded n can be used as evidence. Si Kuongezewa makosa just to frustrate you
Mimi nauliza:how does one deal with the towing landrovers?.. Mimi huwa nashanga sana. Hivi inakuwaje gari langu linavutwa nikiwa ndani na naweza liendesha mpaka police station?.. this is illegal and harassment of the highest order!.. NKT!
towing should never be at your cost. it is a police function and you shouldn’t pay for this.
@Rene Descartes, it’s true that all that can happen. But please Kenyans let us remember these three things
Independent Police Oversight Authority
National Police Service Commission
Office of the Ombudsman
When I had an issue (failure to observe instructions from a uniformed police officer) and I was held in cell for hours, the DTO came and asked how this was possible.
I was released in seconds to go to his office to discuss the issue.
I told him I want to go have my day in court because it is illegal to hold me for a minor offence.
I told him that I would write to the IPOA and the Ombudsman and in court I would make the same complaint.
We talked for 2 hours until he released me after I said I wouldn’t.
I was very polite, so was he and I knew my rights.
Refuse refuse refuse to be treated like waste. Yes they will waste your time, but remember the law is on your side should the police breach it.
Now I have the number of a DTO in my phone and we call each other kusalimiana.