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Do you know how much is the fine for speeding? What about beating the red light? Or misusing the emergency lane?

How about something (you think) as harmless as using your mobile phone while driving? Not only are these traffic offences extremely dangerous and risk not just our safety but other road users’ as well.

Can you imagine that some people are not even aware how much these summon rates are until they receive one.

Here’s a quick look into the 8 most common traffic offences and the summon rates in Malaysia:

1. Speeding

One of the many reasons why deadly road accidents happen and lives are lost is due to speeding. Ah, the Fast and Furious wannabes...

The saman for speeding more than 40 km/h above the speed limit is a whooping RM300 for all vehicles (including motorcycles below 250cc) with no discounts even if you pay the fine early!

2. Driving on the emergency lane

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It’s the festive season. You can’t wait to balik kampung with the family but you’re caught in a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam on the highway! You see speeding vehicles along the emergency lane. And you’re tempted to join the bandwagon.

Emergency lanes are called emergency lanes for a reason and if you don’t have a solid case, be prepared to fork out RM300 if you are caught by the authorities.

3. Beating the red light

Driving schools teach you to hit the brakes when you see the yellow and (especially) the red lights! But some already qualified Malaysian drivers seem to have forgotten what they have been taught.

Remember, green = clear to go, yellow = get ready to stop and red = STOP. Beating the red light incurs a hefty fine of RM300.

4. Using a mobile phone while driving

If you think that drinking and driving is the most dangerous traffic offence, think again. Many of us text and drive these days.

Caught using a mobile phone while driving costs a fine of RM300. Even if your phone is on handsfree mode, you will still be fined if you are caught holding it!

5. Drink and drive

A definite no-no. Yet many of us still do it (especially when weekends swing around). It remains one of the highest occurring traffic offences in the country.

Well, risk paying RM300 if you are caught driving under the influence. Worse, spending a night in the police lockup. Be safe. Just Grab or car-pool with that non-drinking friend.

6. Oops. Sorrylah, forgot to wear seat belt

Seat belts are there to save lives, which is why they also command a heavy fine of RM300 if you don’t use them.

7. Illegal parking

Don’t you just hate it when someone illegally parks the car and ends up blocking your way? Being a hazard on the road is a traffic offence, even if it was a quick stop at the ATM or an iced teh tarik take-away from your favourite mamak stall!

So, instead of paying RM2.40 for your drink, you could end up paying a maximum fine of RM100 to the authorities.

8. No Parking Ticket? No Problem, Just Pay Fine-lah?

We may have many reasons to park without a valid ticket; parking machine rosak, the next machine is too far to walk to, or… never mind, take the risk because we will only be a minute.

Although this offence costs as little as RM30 if paid within the first 14 days, it increases to RM100 after. If you keep ignoring the payment, JPJ may include you in their blacklist.

While the summon rates for PDRM, JPJ, MBPJ and DBKL are often quite standard, there are times these rates could change without an official announcement.

So, always check if you have unknowingly (or knowingly!) committed an offence every once a while.