Thousands of commuters were left stranded this morning (November 14), some even forced out of vehicles, as public transport operators withdrew their services as they demanded a new traffic ticket amnesty ahead of the full implementation of the new Road Traffic Act.

The islandwide strike was agreed to during a meeting held at the Half-Way Tree Primary School, where public transport operators voted to stay off the road until the Government gives in to their request for the amnesty for drivers with outstanding tickets.

Last month, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck warned members of the public that the authorities would be devising a major plan to deal with the thousands of tickets clogging the court system.

Chuck had said approval was being sought from Cabinet for significant changes relating to the issue of how outstanding tickets are treated.

“The disrespect that you get on the road now is causing chaos, confusion and, sadly, a lot of injuries and deaths on our highway,” Chuck had said.

“The Government intends to take a firm stand. We have been slow to bring on the new Road Traffic Act fully, but, in a matter of weeks it will be out fully and persons who cannot obey the road code will be duly punished.”

The minister added: “Many of them are now getting away because, when they get their tickets, they feel it is confetti, they throw it in the garbage bin. But every single road ticket that has been issued over the last five and more years is now being put on the computer, because they are in the courts, and every single one is now being put on a computer and it will be on the website, so anyone who has got a ticket and who has not paid, look out. Warrant coming for you… .”

Chuck had also indicated that persons who have outstanding traffic tickets would now find that when they go to the tax office to renew their licences, they will not be allowed to do so until they have paid the fines.

In addition, for those persons who have not paid and therefore have to go to court, they are finding that their cases are being set for next year.

With that in mind, the minister said that, for those who have not paid and are therefore overburdening the court system with their cases, plans are being considered to take further punitive action.

“The only thing that is being left to be done, which we intend to do, is that those who feel that they must tie up the court, we may well urge the court, and give them the discretion, to suspend their licence while the matter is being dealt with,” Chuck said.

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