File: Roadblock around the Barataria roundabout. Photo: TTPS
By Prior Beharry
A United National Congress (UNC) government will reduce high traffic fines.
This was the promise made by Kamla Persad-Bissessar, political leader of the party, at a Cottage Meeting at the Williamsville Secondary School on Monday evening.
On the day that she celebrated her 72nd birthday, Persad-Bissessar stressed that traffic fines were too high, saying, “In addition, traffic fines are too high. A UNC government will reduce traffic fines across the board and implement state-sponsored driver education programmes instead.”
She said the driving population were confronted daily by the challenges of navigating bad roads and now the heavy hand of the government in the licensing office.
Persad-Bissessar said, “Touted as a mechanism for promoting road safety and accountability, the ticketing and Demerit Points System is being abused by some police and licensing officers and has become a source of anguish and frustration for many drivers across the land.
“Instead of instilling a sense of responsibility, it has bred fear and resentment, fueled by a lack of transparency and trust in the Licensing Authority.”
She said the government should review the demerit system as people were losing their licenses and therefore their ability to earn a livelihood because of the arbitrary behavior of some licensing and police officers.
Persad-Bissessar said, “Some of these officers seem to be on a power trip, bullying and abusing our citizens regularly.”
She said, “There are many videos on the internet of officers harassing drivers with no basis in law. They insult and abuse drivers in front of their families.
“These officers must be brought to hand, my be reprimanded for their abusive behaviors towards the public. Tonight, I propose a new vision for road safety that prioritises education and rehabilitation over simple punishment.
“We must advocate for a system which offers retraining instead of imposing harsh financial penalties and suspensions, except the most egregious, worst kind of offenses like dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
Persad-Bissessar said, “Let us invest in training programmes that promote safer driving habits and equip drivers with the skills to navigate our roads responsibly.
“We must explore alternatives to fines and suspensions, such as training and education, and stop taking away people’s means to feed their families. Stop taking away people’s means to feed their families. Who will feed their families when they cannot earn a living?”
She said, “What is publicly presented as a mission for public safety is really a scheme by the corrupt and wicked government to collect more taxes or revenue collection.
“We cannot ignore that the Licensing Authority’s heavy-handed tactics, which have turned our roads into battlegrounds of daily roadblocks and traffic jams.
“This is not about road safety. It is yet another tax drive by this government, using the licensing authority to raise revenue.”
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