Prime Minister Holness - The Road Traffic Act

 

Prime Minister and other Cabinet members speak.

In the video above, Prime Minister Holness addresses the public concern about the Road Traffic Act. It is interesting to note that many public transport operators do not support the idea of having a child restraint system in place, because it will negatively impact their revenues. What should be foremost in our minds, is the safety of our children.

The real problem is that the implementation of this recently amended law, has come about without a well organized, national discussion and educational programmes about this it. This has put us in an embarrassing situation of having to contemplate changing a law, days after the law has been put into effect.

I should add that there is need to move the traffic ticketing system out of the judicial system. The only time we should go to court for traffic ticket, is if we are disputing a ticket given by an officer. We saw the massive crowds at the traffic courts this week. The court should not be a place to ensure that ticket fines are paid. If you do not pay the fines, then your vehicle should be liable to be seized. You should also not be able to do any transactions involving your vehicle if these fines are not paid. If these fines remain unpaid for an extended period of time, then your license should be cancelled.

Discretion to be used?

This idea of the police using their discretion until the law is amended gives me the impression that the political directorate is influencing the functioning of the JCF. The job of the police is to uphold the low and not to use their discretion in terms of which law to uphold and which not to. It is the same discretion that is used when one has the option to lef or to write!

Simple as that!