17 July 2010: The Burmese traffic police and volunteer firefighters have begun to seize two wheelers without license since early this month in Hakha town, Chin state eastern Burma.

The Department of Transportation in Hakha town had given time to the owners of motorcycles to make licenses last month. Although the registration and licensing fees are lower than before, it is still remains higher than in other states. So, most vehicle owners have been hesitating.

Traffic police officers took permission to seize vehicles which violated traffic rules from the chairperson of Hakha Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) on 10 July.

“Now traffic police and volunteer firefighters are on duty on every road junction in Hakha town. They are checking licenses and helmets of drivers. They are demanding Kyat 5000 from those without license and helmets as penalty. That’s why two wheeler riders are very careful in going out, as sometimes they even seize vehicles if a rider has no driving license,” said a local.

A source said that the authorities had seized a motorcycle (Kanbo 125) of pu Liantial on July 12 and pu Khualdal’s motorcycle (Kanbo 110) for not having a driving license on July 14. After that the authorities demanded Kyat 3 lakhs for the Kanbo 125 and Kyat 1 lakh for the Kanbo 110, to return the vehicles.

In Hakha town, it is learnt that there are 7000 to 8000 two wheelers. Of these only 4000 owners have driving license.