Parliament: The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill for the Return of Points-Based License Approved

Title: Parliament: The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill for the Return of Points-Based License Approved

Content: Parliament has voted in favor of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill without amendments at the National Assembly early this Friday evening.

This bill, presented by the Minister of Transport, Osman Mahomed, proposes the reintroduction of the points-based license system, a mechanism that was abandoned in 2015, along with a series of adjustments aimed at "establishing an effective framework for better compliance with traffic laws."

A Modernized and Expanded Points System

The Road Traffic (Amendment Bill) is based on a comprehensive overhaul of the points system, now clearly defined. The new definitions included in Section 2 of the Road Traffic Act introduce three key instruments: the Endorsement Certificate, the Penalty Points Certificate — which can also be issued in a digital format — and the concept of a "permitted maximum number of penalty points."

The maximum allowed points vary depending on the type of license held:

• 10 points for holders of a provisional license;

• 15 points for holders of a valid Mauritian license;

• 15 points also for holders of an international license.

The points will remain valid for a maximum of 36 months, unless used in a disqualification decision. Section 123AG(2) specifies that points cease to be effective once they have been taken into account for disqualification or after 36 months, "whichever occurs earlier."

However, in the case of proceedings for disqualification, the points remain valid until the court makes a final ruling, according to Section 123AG(3).

A Detailed List of 33 Offenses with Points

The First Schedule, which replaces the previous list of point-related offenses, presents a comprehensive table of 33 traffic violations, each with an associated range of points. This range varies from 2 to 10 points depending on the severity of the offense.

Among the most common offenses, punishable by 2 to 4 points, are:

• not wearing a helmet;

• absence of front or rear lights at night;

• driving in a central lane;

• not wearing a seatbelt;

• crossing a solid line;

• disregarding traffic signals;

• failure to wear a high-visibility vest.

Speeding is categorized according to two thresholds:

• exceeding by 15 to 25 km/h: 2 to 4 points;

• exceeding by more than 25 km/h: 4 to 6 points.

The text reserves the heaviest penalties - 8 to 10 points - for participating in an illegal street race: "Taking part in an unauthorized road race or trial of speed between motor vehicles on a road."

Certain dangerous practices, such as using a mobile phone while driving or transporting standing passengers in a pickup truck, incur 3 to 6 points.