An MBJB enforcement officer using a hand-held device to check if the parking fee has been paid. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) is reminding offenders to settle their parking summonses as soon as possible or face being hauled up to its magistrate court.
MBJB has its own magistrate court, located at Jalan Garuda 1 in Larkin.
Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said MBJB was currently the only local council in Johor with its own local council court.
“The MBJB magistrate court has been in existence since Nov 1, 1998.
“It hears cases involving local authorities such as MBJB.
A printed reminder is issued to a motorist to settle outstanding parking summonses immediately to avoid being taken to court.
“The court also hears the cases handled by Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) and Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG),” he told StarMetro.
He said cases heard at the MBJB magistrate court mostly involved offences under the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171), Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172), the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133) or Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) including by-laws and road traffic orders made under the Act.
“The MBJB court also hears cases involving applications for ‘Orders to Dispose of Articles’ under Section 407A of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593),” he added.
Mohd Noorazam said the majority of cases being heard at the magistrate court involved unpaid traffic summonses.
“About 80% of the cases heard at the magistrate court are for traffic offences, particularly unpaid parking charges.
Using handheld devices, enforcement officers can also check how many parking summonses a vehicle owner has accumulated.
“A single offence, regardless of the amount of compound involved, can result in the offender being charged in court,” he warned.
For local authority cases, he said MBJB magistrate court had the same judicial authority as a typical magistrate court.
Magistrates hearing the cases at the court would be determined by the Johor Baru Court system, he explained.
“The Putrajaya Palace of Justice agreed to approve the expansion of the e-Court system to MBJB magistrate court last Oct 1.
“This helps to strengthen the role of the MBJB magistrate court through the digital reform of the court’s management and administration system,” he noted.
Mohd Noorazam said the prosecution proceedings in the MBJB magistrate court were handled by prosecuting officers consisting of MBJB officers who had been authorised by the Deputy Public Prosecutor.
“A person accused of an offence at MBJB magistrate court can bring a lawyer to represent him.
MBJB is currently the only local council in Johor that has its own local council court.
“When an offender pleads guilty to the charges against him, he will be sentenced with a fine.
“However, if the accused fails to pay the fine by the due date, he will be taken to prison to serve a duration determined by MBJB magistrate court,” the mayor elaborated.
Fines meted out by MBJB magistrate court must be paid in cash.
However, Mohd Noorazam said once the e-Court system was fully operational at the end of the year, payment could be made using debit cards.
He urged the public, especially those who still have traffic compound arrears, to pay up as soon as possible to avoid prosecution in court.
Mohd Noorazam said there was no time limit on prosecution.
“MBJB can, at any time, initiate prosecution in court against traffic offenders, especially those who have accumulated a high number of arrears.
“Besides sending warning letters or reminders to such offenders, MBJB offers discounts on compounds to encourage the public to settle their arrears with the city council.
“When MBJB offered 80% discount on compounds from August to September, the city council collected more than RM4.3mil in compound arrears,” he disclosed.
Mohd Noorazam said compound payment was one of MBJB’s sources of revenues.
He added that the city council spent its revenue on the development, maintenance and provision of public facilities.
