Motorists Will Soon Face Penalties For Outstanding Tickets

Motorists can soon face penalties

Motorists with outstanding traffic tickets will soon be barred from renewing their driver’s license, among other processes. Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang says these processes, which include acquiring fitness certificates and similar services will not be permitted until outstanding tickets have been paid for.

To date, over $40 million has been spent to implement a pilot programme island-wide to remedy the traffic ticketing issue.

Dr. Chang says, “traffic disorder is a big problem,” and the Ministry is leaning towards a policy where, if a driver does not pay for traffic offences, he will not be licensed and will not be given fitness. Dr. Chang was speaking today at a sensitisation session on the new handheld device for the Traffic Ticketing Management System, in Port Maria, St. Mary.

He adds that the “Police are heavily accused when it comes to issuing traffic tickets. Nothing happens when tickets are handwritten and it is alleged that those who understand the system try to beat it. To remedy that, we have to keep them in check by implementing an effective and efficient system to hold indiscipline drivers accountable.”

Minister Chang emphasised that “this new Traffic Ticketing Management System will be accurate and readily available to support the efficient enforcement of fines and penalties, which will improve public order and public safety”.

Meanwhile, Bobette Morgan Simpson, Superintendent of Police in charge of the St. Mary Police Division, said the system would not only improve ticket issuance but assist with locating criminals. “When the systems are linked, then we just might be able to find stolen motor vehicles for example, thereby giving crime fighting a boost”, Morgan added.

“I find it quite fascinating and it is really the way we want to go, where the different arms of government have shared and linked information, making it much easier to track offenders, in comparison to what used to happen with the paper based system”, she concluded.

The Ministry’s Transformation Team will continue its sensitization sessions in Portland, Westmoreland, and Hanover, commencing tomorrow through to Monday.