Feb. 20 Deadline Nears for St. Catherine ‘Traffic Ticket Public Day’ Registration

Motorists with outstanding traffic tickets in St. Catherine are reminded to register by February 20 to participate in the Court Administration Division (CAD) Traffic Ticket Public Day on March 4.

The initiative aims to help motorists resolve long-standing traffic ticket matters before warrants are executed, while also supporting the judiciary’s efforts to reduce case backlogs in the parish courts.

Since registration opened on January 20, the St. Catherine Traffic Court has already listed nearly 4,000 tickets and is urging motorists to register promptly, as walk-ins will not be accommodated on March 4.

Acting Chief Judge of the Parish Courts, Hon. Broderick Smith, told a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ on February 16 that the initiative was designed to address the significant number of unresolved traffic tickets currently burdening the court system.

“We are concerned with treating with anything that [affects] the efficient operation of court matters, and addressing matters in a timely way. With a number that we are not proud of, in respect of the number of outstanding tickets, we are seeking the best way to address them,” the senior jurist said.

There are approximately 200,000 outstanding traffic tickets in St. Catherine awaiting resolution in the court.

Mr. Smith emphasised the importance of providing motorists with an orderly opportunity to resolve their cases, pointing out that the legal process inevitably results in warrants for those who fail to appear in court.

“A person who fails to attend court when required may have a warrant issued. Unless a ticket is addressed by the court, it remains outstanding. What we want to do is to give motorists an opportunity to have the matters treated without the warrant being executed. Do not sit and do nothing… you have an opportunity. We are seeking to assist motorists and we are seeking to assist the court,” he added.

Meanwhile, Director of Client Services, Communications and Information at the CAD, Kadiesh Jarrett Fletcher, stressed that the Traffic Ticket Public Day should not be mistaken for a traffic ticket amnesty.

“The Judiciary of Jamaica cannot authorise a traffic ticket amnesty. It’s an opportunity for our motorists to clear their traffic tickets in a hassle free and a more convenient way,” she said.

Mrs. Jarrett-Fletcher underscored the importance of registration, explaining that the court must retrieve the official copy of each ticket in advance.

“The court has to locate that copy of that ticket that was given by the police officer. When you register, we are able to locate that copy, have that copy in court and ready when you come into court,” she explained.

Motorists may register via email by providing their Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) and a copy of their traffic ticket to traffictickets@jamaicajudiciary.gov.jm, or via WhatsApp at 876-453-5060.

“We have just a few more days to go, and we’re encouraging as many persons as possible to register. If persons did not register or do not register by February 20, then they would have missed out on the opportunity to be listed before the court on March 4,” Mrs. Jarrett-Fletcher noted.

The St. Catherine Traffic Ticket Public Day is limited to tickets issued within the parish.

Tickets issued along the North-South and East-West Highways must be settled in the parish where they were issued.