Move to enforce fixed penalties
Government is looking to enforce fixed penalties when it comes to traffic offences as well as curb the public service vehicle (PSV) overloading culture.
Seven months after amending the Road Traffic Act to deal with vehicle tints, Government was back in the House of Assembly yesterday to again alter the legislation, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw stating the amendment is to make better provision for prescribing fixed penalties for certain offences.
“We believe that a fixed penalty regime is necessary, but the fact that we have had no amendments to this for such a long time is also a reflection that it is now time to pay some attention to this particular regime that allows people, once they are ticketed, to be able to pay these penalties not only a lot faster, but to avoid the situation where we are clogging up our law courts [or] we’re wasting productive time of our citizens as well,” she said.
Bradshaw admitted that the Road Traffic Act was one of the most tampered with pieces of legislation, adding the latest tinkering was to reduce the frustration encountered by traffic offenders spending long hours dealing with ticketed violations, as well as address complaints from the public.
“What we seek here to do is to make improvements, to modernise and to make the system for the payment of fixed penalties a lot more efficient than it currently is. In particular, we want to [respond to] the general public, who have been frustrated from time to time with having to have a ticketed offence . . . taking a lot of productive time out of their day.”
Bradshaw noted that most people were familiar with the $50 penalty because of the traffic wardens issuing them. She said some have asked why it has taken so long to address certain sections, given the reckless behaviour by some road users.
“But again, this is a continuum, and you will note that we have continuously tried to address a long-standing problem regarding reckless behaviour on our roads by a number of persons – and, I would say, a small number of persons – who drive public service vehicles.”
Drivers of PSVs carrying up to five people in excess of the authorised number will pay $25.
“In addition to the $25 charge, they would then be charged $25 for each passenger in excess of the five passengers, up to a maximum of ten passengers in excess of the five,” Bradshaw said, adding that the infractions of excess passengers being piled into vehicles, particularly schoolchildren, were obvious to many.
To those who asked about the ticketing and how many have been issued over the years, Bradshaw said that was a matter the legislation was seeking to address.
Under Section 121 of the Road Traffic Act, a $50 penalty is attached to exceeding the speed limit and $75 for exceeding it by up to 20 kilometres per hour.
The minister said that during one of last year’s Parish Speaks town hall meetings, there arose the question of the demerit system, which has been used by the courts, but for a number of reasons, the system, which allowed magistrates to impose points on offenders, was halted.
“We have been in negotiations and consultation with the various stakeholders to make sure that we bring the necessary reform to the demerit points system. We have the draft papers in relation to what is required from Licensing [Authority] and what is going to be required from the court system’s end to make sure that we create a system . . . .
“It allows for people to know when they commit an offence or commit several offences, that there are consequences beyond simply just a fine; that if you continue to be a habitual offender, that you run the risk of having your licence taken away or being disqualified,” she said.
While acknowledging that the fines were low, Bradshaw said that it took a long time for matters to be disposed of, but the amendment was an attempt to improve the operations and modernise systems. (AC)
The post Move to enforce fixed penalties appeared first on nationnews.com.