Justice Minister Wants Licences of Delinquent Drivers Suspended

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, is proposing the suspension of licences of drivers with five or more outstanding tickets for traffic violations.

“I think it is important to send the message… that you cannot just collect tickets and feel that you can accumulate them without any sanction and without any enforcement of the rule of law,” he asserted.

The Minister was speaking at the opening of expanded facilities at the Kingston Traffic Court on Melbourne Road in Kingston on Thursday (November 30).

He said while he understood that persons may have up to three unpaid tickets, it is unacceptable to amass as many as five or more, which shows the disregard many motorists have for the system.

The Minister said the Government will no longer tolerate this practice, and therefore, urged all drivers with outstanding tickets to “deal with them now”, by taking advantage of the ongoing Traffic Ticket Amnesty.

He warned that 100,000 warrants have been prepared for traffic violations, and all that have not been settled during the amnesty period will be executed.

The Minister also advised that arrangements are being made at ‘Red Fence’ at Up Park Camp to put in place detention centres for those traffic violators “who feel they can get away”.

“If you are in Hanover, Westmoreland, St. Mary or Portland and there is no space for you in the jail cells over there, you will be brought to Up Park Camp until you can be dealt with in the traffic courts. The message has to be sent…. that the road code must be obeyed, that the rule of law must be enforced and that there must be discipline and proper behaviour on the roads,” he said.

In the meantime, Mr. Chuck said the provision of additional courts is in pursuance of the Government’s objective of enforcing the rule of law, and for timely justice.

It is also in keeping with the Ministry’s mandate to improve efficiency at courts islandwide and to deliver a high standard of justice.

For her part, Chief Justice, Zaila McCalla, welcomed the facility, which she said “will provide for a smoother running of the traffic court”.

She said the original location of the Traffic Court on Camp Road has become severely overcrowded and unable to handle the volume of people and activities, and, therefore, the more spacious and comfortable setting is welcome.

The new facility, located at Sabina Park, comprises two additional courtrooms and two judges’ chambers, and has parking facilities for approximately 150 vehicles.