News Desk
MALÉ — Police here have imposed fines and impounded motorbikes following public outcry over reckless stunt riding across the Sinamalé Bridge, raising broader questions among residents about traffic enforcement in the congested capital.
Videos circulated on social media over the weekend showed motorcyclists performing dangerous manoeuvres along the bridge linking Malé to Hulhumalé, sparking alarm among commuters.
The Maldives Police Service initially announced that the vehicles involved had been impounded for 30 days. However, the update triggered swift backlash online, with residents criticising authorities for seizing the motorbikes while failing to take immediate action against the riders themselves.
Roughly five hours after the public outrage began mounting across social platforms, the police issued a second statement confirming that financial penalties had also been levied. Two of the riders received fines of MVR 2,000 (around USD 100), whilst a third rider was fined MVR 4,000 (USD 200) for repeat reckless driving offences.
The incident highlights growing public frustration over traffic enforcement and public safety in Malé, one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world, where enforcement often appears reactive rather than proactive.