Police will now detect the speed of public service and commercial vehicles in the last 72 hours using a newly acquired gadget.

According to National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director of Motor Vehicle Inspection Engineer Gerald Wangai, the Universal Policing Unit Gadget has been piloted leading to arrest of several drivers found to have tampered with their speed governors.

Motorists found exceeding speed limits will pay fines ranging from Sh500 to Sh10,000. Traffic Amendments Act 2014 states that motorists will be fined Sh10,000 if found driving 5-10 kph above speed limits.

Offenders will pay Sh15,000 for driving 11-20 kph above the limit, Sh20,000 for exceeding the limit by 21-20kph and Sh25,000 for exceeding by 31kph.

Some of the minor offences are:

1. Driving without identification plates – Sh10,000.

2. Failure of driver to conform to indications on any traffic sign- Sh3,000

3. Failure to stop when required to by police officer in uniform – Sh5,000

4. Failure to obey any directions given, whether verbally or by signal, by a police officer in uniform in the execution of their duty – Sh3,000.

5. Driving without a valid licence endorsement in respect of the class of the vehicle – Sh7,000.

6. Failure to review the drivers licence – Sh1,000

7. Failure to carry reflective/warning sign – Sh2,000

8. Failure to wear seat belt while motor vehicle is in motion – Sh500

9. Driving PSV while being unqualified – Sh7,000

10. The driver of a motor omnibus or matatu picking or setting down passengers in a place that not authorised as a bus stop or terminal – Sh3,000

11. Touting – Sh3,000

12. Travelling with part of the body outside moving vehicle – Sh1,000

13. A passenger alighting at an unauthorised bus stop or terminal – Sh1,000

14. Failure to fit prescribed speed – Sh10,000

15. Failure of a conductor to keep seat belts in a clean, dry and generally wearable condition – Sh2,000

In October last year, the transport body had expressed concerns over the rising number of fatal accidents caused by private vehicles, saying there had been a 5 per cent increase in 2015 compared to 2014.

NTSA attributed the increase in number of accidents to human error, speeding, overtaking, drunk driving and the use undesignated areas to drop passengers.