THE Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) has revealed that 14,281 motorists have surpassed the demerit points threshold on their driver’s permits, barring them from driving on the nation’s roads for a specified period.
However, the ministry faces significant hurdles in notifying these offenders, as disclosed by Permanent Secretary Sonia Francis-Yearwood during a Joint Select Committee (JSC) meeting to review the demerit point system on Wednesday.
Francis-Yearwood provided statistics showing a steady increase in fixed penalty notices issued over the years:
55,570 in 2020;
107,440 in 2023; and
103,329 already issued in 2024.
Despite this, the current notification process, primarily conducted through TTPOST, yields only a 25% response rate from recipients, prompting the JSC to label the situation as “a developing problem.”
The Permanent Secretary highlighted that many motorists fail to update their addresses at licensing offices, complicating the delivery of notices. To address these issues, the ministry is exploring alternative notification methods, including publishing names in daily newspapers.
“We are having some challenges with the process,” Francis-Yearwood said. “Even though the law states that you need to inform the licensing office of any address changes, compliance has been low, making deliveries difficult.”
In addition to enhancing notification methods, the ministry is working on a digital platform that will allow motorists to pay their fixed penalty fines online, expanding payment options beyond TTPost offices.
Moreover, the MOWT is tackling the issue of fake license plates, with proposals submitted to Cabinet to permit only approved suppliers to produce plates equipped with technology for immediate identification. This initiative has garnered support from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).
TTPS Road Safety Coordinator Brent Batson underscored the challenges posed by the prevalence of fake plates, stating that their ease of acquisition hinders police investigations. “The public often wonders how criminals evade capture, but the ability to easily obtain false plates complicates our work significantly,” Batson noted.
As the MOWT seeks to enhance road safety and compliance, officials urge the public to ensure their mailing addresses are up-to-date to facilitate more effective communication regarding driving infractions.
