Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has stated that she is not yet ready to decide whether traffic fines should be reduced but pointed to data showing a significant improvement in driver behaviour and a decline in road deaths since harsher measures were implemented earlier this year.
Speaking to reporters following the opening of the 2026/2027 Law Term, the Prime Minister pointed to the results since the measures were introduced, saying traffic violations and fatalities had fallen.
“Well, what I will tell you from the data is that the traffic offences have really decreased, tremendously decreased. So it means it worked. I remember we started when we got a lot of blowback. Road fatalities have also decreased. So yes, I haven’t looked at it in terms of reviewing, changing it. But it has worked very, very well from the data that we have. So whether we keep it or move it I wouldn’t want to pronounce that today.”
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh said the Judiciary is working with the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation to address weaknesses in the traffic ticketing system that have allowed motorists to delay their cases for years.
“With the new system, people could choose where they will go based on places of work or residence. Of course, people often look for ways to beat a system. So they began to choose locations where the lists were longer, resulting in them getting dates of hearing years down the line. An attempt to make it more convenient for the ticket recipient became a way of beating the system because in three or four years, chances are the police officer may no longer be in that district or may forget about the case.”
Justice Boodoosingh said the Judiciary and Transport Ministry are now adjusting the online system to provide shorter return dates and faster disposal of traffic matters.