Interior Minister Sar Sokha has ordered authorities to take action against individuals who modify the lights of their vehicles.

“At least 15 or 16 provincial police departments have conducted enforcement operations to remedy this issue. I thank you and encourage continued enforcement and public awareness,” he said.

“Some modifications, particularly those related to a vehicle’s lights, are not permitted as they can affect traffic safety,” he added.

Sokha emphasised that the governors of the capital and provinces must enforce this directive without waiting for instructions from higher authorities.

Authorities stop a driver who uses modified headlights to cause a nuisance and potentially endanger other drivers. Supplied

“There are modified motorcycles and other vehicles on our streets, but some officials wait for orders — I don’t understand why. If people are violating the law, authorities must take action. They should arrest offenders, not release them without consequence,” said Sokha.

“They should find the mechanics responsible for these modifications and make them restore the vehicles to their original state, then have the perpetrators sign contracts agreeing not to modify their vehicles again, and then release them without further punishment,” he explained.

The minister noted that he recently observed several groups of young people riding modified motorcycles with lights designed to resemble cars or even animals, in Battambang.

This tuk-tuk, decorated with colourful lights, was stopped by officers in Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh police

Danh Eng Bunchan, commissioner of the Battambang Provincial Police, led a crackdown on the evening of March 9, at Battambang town’s Veal Bek Chan Airport, a popular place for young people to display their motorcycles.

Authorities detained two individuals who were riding modified motorcycles.

According to a social media post by the provincial police, a total of 22 individuals and 18 motorcycles were brought in for questioning.

Among them, 12 individuals belonged to a group calling themselves “Rok Rak”, while five were from another group named “Pink Pink”. The remaining five individuals were not affiliated with any group.

The police quoted some of the young riders as saying: “These modifications are for gathering in groups, taking pictures and videos, playing loud music, and posting on Facebook or TikTok to gain more views and attract others to do the same”.

According to Article 31 of the Road Traffic Law, installing acoustic signals, lights or decorative features that deviate from a vehicle’s technical specifications is prohibited.