The Assistant Inspector-General for Traffic Police, Lieutenant General Majak Arol Kachuol during an exclusive interview with Eye Radio Monday August 23, 2021 - credit | Eye Radio | Alhadi Hawari

The assistant Inspector-General of Police has warned traffic police officers against subjecting licensed drivers to the driving test assessment.

“We cannot examine a person holding a license, because he is already certified,” Lt.-Gen. Majak Arol told Eye Radio on Monday.

He clarified that any motorist with a driving license should not be forced to do a practical examination on driving.

Juba motorists have raised concerns over what they called ‘continued harassment’ by traffic police officers in the capital, Juba.

Most of them say the officers from both national and Central Equatoria state have ‘descended hard’ on them along the main roads.

They complained that the traffic officers now stop them on the roads and ask for documents such as ‘driver’s test’ assessment.

According to the motorists, the traffic police officers claim that the document should be obtained by every driver.

Those who spoke to Eye Radio expressed their frustrations with the move, saying it was another business scheme by the traffic police to extort money from the public.

The police said in a statement last week that the exercise was meant to crack down on those without driving licenses, and vehicle number plates.

The assistant Inspector-General of Police said the exercise does not target those already issued with licenses.

“If there is doubt on the ability of the person driving a car, he or she can be subjected to a test assessment, if he or she does not provide a license,” he added.

In 2019, the traffic police department detained 85 police officers and expelled others over abuses against motorists in Juba.

The force admitted that it had been infiltrated by those not to be belonging to the traffic police department.

Many impersonate the service to wrongfully generate money.