SUVA, Fiji: The Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport, Honourable Ro Filipe Tuisawau, has announced that five Land Transport regulatory amendments were recently tabled and successfully endorsed by Cabinet, marking a significant milestone in strengthening Fiji’s transport regulatory framework.
Hon. Tuisawau welcomed Cabinet’s decision to endorse the following regulatory amendments, which would come into effect upon gazetting - Land Transport (Traffic Infringement Notice) Regulations 2017; Land Transport (Vehicles Registration and Construction) Regulations 2000; Land Transport (Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2000; Land Transport (Driver) Regulations 2000, and; Land Transport (Fees and Penalties) Regulations 2000.
He said the approved five amendments would give legal effect to six key Transport Policies endorsed by Cabinet on 18 June 2024, including the introduction to payment plan policy, temporary suspension of transfer of permits through sales and purchases, re-introduction of temporary road permits, introduction of provisional licence stage 1 (P1) and provisional licence stage 2 (P2), introduction of penalty for failure-to-stop-and-weigh policy, and increase in speeding penalties policy.
“These policies are designed to benefit the public in several ways, including allowing customers to renew their driver licences and vehicle registrations after 90 days, subject to entering a payment agreement plan with the Land Transport Authority,” the Hon. Minister said.
The current regulatory framework amended in 2017 provides individuals issued with a Traffic Infringement Notice (TIN) three avenues to address their fines, including electing to dispute the TIN in court; or submitting a statutory declaration to transfer liability within 90 days.
“Failure to take any of these actions within the prescribed 90-day period resulted in the suspension of both driver licence renewal and vehicle registration renewal. The recent amendments introduce added flexibility by easing the rigid 90-day statutory timeframe for fine payments,” Hon. Tuisawau said.
With this change, customers, particularly those with long-outstanding fines between 2017 and 2022, will be able to enter into a structured payment plan with the Authority. However, to qualify for the payment plan, customers will first be required to clear all outstanding fines issued from 1st January 2023 to date.
The initiative provides a more manageable pathway for individuals and businesses to settle their dues while supporting greater compliance and financial relief.
“The Payment Plan will strictly apply only to the range of TINs covered under the signed agreement. Any TIN issued outside of the approved list must be cleared separately, regardless of the date the TIN was issued. Defaulting on scheduled payments will result in the cancellation of the agreement,” Hon. Tuisawau said.
He says the amendment is expected to reduce unrecovered penalties, streamline administrative processes and generate increased revenue for the Government.
Additionally, he said the Authority would no longer accept the transfer of Public Service Vehicle (PSV) permits through sales and purchase agreements.
“Transfers will now only be permitted under specific circumstances, including love and affection, migration, medical grounds, and in the event of death through probate or letters of administration. This change aims to uphold public interest, ensure fair access to permits, and prevent commercial trading of public transport licences,” he said.
He further stressed that any individuals or businesses currently in the process of completing sales and purchase arrangements for PSV permits must move quickly to finalise their transactions. Once the amendments are gazetted and enforced, the Authority will strictly prohibit transfers based on sales and purchase agreements, and any incomplete transactions will no longer be recognised.
Hon. Tuisawau says the regulatory amendments will also allow LTA to exercise discretion in issuing temporary permits for Road Route Licences (RRL), supporting improved operations and service delivery in bus networks and related public transport services.
“This amendment will ensure uninterrupted bus services if a licensed operator cannot meet its obligations under its RRL, while allowing LTA to effectively manage the transition period and evaluate long-term solutions for a permanent bus service operator to provide transportation access in affected areas,” Hon. Tuisawau said.
To ensure novice drivers develop appropriate skills before progressing to full licensing, Hon. Tuisawau says the Authority will transition to a two-tier Provisional Licensing system (P1 and P2), reinforcing structured and supervised driver development.
“Road safety remains a significant challenge in Fiji, with alarming rates of traffic accidents and fatalities. The introduction of the P1 and P2 licensing system will promote safer driving behaviours and enhance road safety,” the Hon. Minister said.
In support of enhanced road safety and enforcement, he says new penalties will be introduced for failure to stop and weigh vehicles, targeting evasive behaviour by drivers who refuse to comply with mandated weighing processes. These measures ensure compliance with safety regulations and protect public road infrastructure.
“Given recent increases in road fatalities, with 72 deaths recorded as of 28th November 2025, compared to 56 for the same period last year, and speeding identified as the leading cause, the amendments will also bring into effect higher penalties for illegal parking, stopping, and exceeding speed limits across Fiji’s roads,” the Hon. Minister said.
“These stricter penalties are intended to deter high-risk behaviour and improve overall road safety as the persistent issuance of TINs indicated that the current penalties are not sufficient to act as an effective deterrent.”
Hon. Tuisawau said the implementation of these measures aligned with broader national priorities on transport reform and public safety, and reinforced the Government’s commitment to safer roads, fairer permit processes, and the protection of public infrastructure.
