The government has suspended the enforcement of a provision in the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026, which bans preaching and hawking in moving public and commercial vehicles, Citi News can confirm. The decision comes amid public debate over the regulation, particularly concerns about its potential impact on religious freedom and evangelism in commercial vehicles.
The provision, outlined in Regulation 141 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), prohibits activities considered a nuisance, including preaching and hawking, in public or commercial vehicles while they are in motion. Under the regulation, offenders risk a fine of between 10 and 50 penalty units, imprisonment for up to eight months, or both.
The restriction has sparked reactions from religious leaders and other stakeholders, who have raised concerns about its implications for religious activities frequently conducted on buses. However, it remains uncertain whether the suspension will result in a review of the provision or adjustments to how it is enforced. The government has yet to issue an official public statement providing further details on the suspension.
