Ticket amnesty delayed

Delinquent motorists awaiting the implementation of the traffic ticket amnesty set to begin on July 1 this year, will have to wait another month before getting the opportunity to become compliant with the law.

National Security Minister Robert Montague says the amnesty will now take effect on August 2. He said that the new date has been set to allow for all systems to be in place.

The amnesty will allow motorists to pay outstanding traffic tickets without attracting demerit points, giving them the opportunity to begin with a clean slate before the new Road Traffic Act is introduced.

The updated Road Traffic Act will repeal and replace the existing Road Traffic Act of 1938 and will establish new road traffic offences, as well as provide increased penalties for current offences.

Minister of Transport and Energy Mike Henry has said that his timetable for implementing the new Road Traffic Act was by the end of July.

The transport minister opened the debate on the bill in September last year, and since that time, several lawmakers have made contributions.

Henry is expected to close the debate on the bill in July.