Buai ban bites

 BETEL nut chewers in the National Capital District face a  K500 spot fine for chewing and spitting in public places and in motor vehicles.

Controller of the NCDC Buai Ban and deputy city manager Honk Kiap said offenders who failed to pay the fine would be charged and locked up in the police cell.

Kiap announced City Hall’s new approach yesterday, saying it targeted betel nut chewers who continued to defy the buai ban.

“The worse culprits have been the chewers who are buying betel nuts, throwing betel nut skins somewhere and spitting the red betel nut juice on the pavement and elsewhere,” he said.

“We have re-strategised after looking at all other options and decided that those who are enjoying their betel nuts are some of the major contributors to the unsightly scenes of our city in as far as betel nut-related littering is concerned.

“The NCD Betel Nut Ban is still in force and anyone selling or chewing betel nut in public places is in breach of the NCD Betel Nut Control Law of 2013.”

Kiap said the new approach would see the enforcement of the NCD Betel Nut Control Law simultaneously with the NCDC Litter Laws, which covered general littering, including the chewing and spitting of betel nuts in public places.

He said enforcement units would carry out random checks in public places and public motor vehicles (PMVs) and taxis.

He said the new approach would include random roadblocks during peak hours.

“That’s when motorists will be stopped, searched, not for personal items but for betel nut chewers in public motor vehicles like taxis and buses. 

“If anyone is caught with betel nut in his or her mouth, a K500 spot fine will be imposed,” Honk said.

“It has become habitual for everyone chewing betel nut to spit anywhere and everywhere so this approach is aimed at stopping this act before it is committed.

“People will be taken off the vehicles and charged and be jailed if they don’t pay a spot fine of K500.”

Kiap apologised for the inconvenience caused to the travelling public “but these are measures that need to be taken”.

“We will focus on the spitting aspects of betel nut,” he said.

“It may force us to the extremes to demand an explanation from the chewer on the method of disposing the spittle. 

“If it means to get rid of it by swallowing it, that must be demonstrated or if by spitting in a container or plastic bag that must also be demonstrated to the officers.”

Kiap said the NCDC reserve police would enforce the new measures.

“These harsh steps will be taken because it has taken us three to almost five years and people have not taken heed of the law that has come into place. We will not back down so I would like the public to know about it.”

He said awareness on the new approach would take place over the next two months before it was enforced. Awareness pamphlets would be distributed to all private and public vehicles.

Kiap reiterated that the buai ban had been a challenging issue since it was imposed in the capital city.