Dodoma — SEVERAL Members of Parliament have joined public transport operators and commuters in denouncing the traffic police, who motorists allege have fleeced them of cash by corruption.

Musoma Urban MP Vincent Nyerere (CHADEMA), wanted to know actions the government was taking to stop what he called embezzlement of government funds in what traffic police exercised as an on the spot fine imposed on traffic offenders by police, but done without issuing proper receipts.

Responding, the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Pereira Ame Silima said what was charged by traffic police was not a fine but an upfront notification, in which a driver is required to report to the District Police Station to pay the fine.

Mr Silima said the exercise was in accordance with the Traffic Act. 68 of 1973 and its regulations number 257 of 2011. "Traffic police are only required to write a 'notification' or Pay Form. 101, which should clearly explain reasons for penalties and amount of money which should be charged to the offenders as fine," he said.

However, Mr Nyerere persisted in his supplementary question that traffic police demanded bribes from motorists and no records of money collected from fines were kept. He insisted that he had evidence and was ready to submit it in the parliament. Mr Silima said the government was aware of the problem and was planning to use banks to collect money charged from traffic offences.

"It is true that some police officers are just illegally siphoning money from motorists. We strongly condemn that and are planning to use banks for money charged from traffic offences," said the deputy minister.