Motorists were being penalised sometimes for a situation that they had no control over.
That’s the reason given for the recent amendments to the Demerit Points System by Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke.
Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on Land and Physical Infrastructure held an Inquiry into an Examination of the Demerit Points System in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday.
JSC Member, PNM Senator Muhammad Yunnis Ibrahim, asked representatives from the Ministry of Works and Transport what fuelled the need to revise the Demerit Points System.
Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke stated after consultation with stakeholders, it was recognised that some of the best drivers could end up losing their driving permits for minor infractions.
“For example, you may stop someone and discover that the light may not be working on the vehicle. Therefore, that in itself may have carried three demerit points or two. I can’t recall the exact figure. I have to go back to the area. And a certain punitive fine. That is something that while we know, having a light and non-functioning light, could be a problem, sometimes it can happen on the basis that the driver or the owner of the vehicle may not be aware.”
The amendments to the Ninth Schedule of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2017, took effect on November 18th.
In a release, the Ministry of Works and Transport said it monitored its operation and assessed its impact on driver behaviour and compliance with road-safety laws.
Some offences have seen fines reduced from $1,000 to $500, with demerit points reduced from three to two. Other offences have been reduced from $750 to $500.
“In 2024, again, we also changed the contravention of the traffic order made by the Commissioner of Police from $1,000 to $500 to the merit points of 2. Standing for hire to place not appointed for the purpose, we had the alteration there from $750 to 2 demerit points. In the face of a defective identification plate from 450, I’m sorry, we simply changed the merit points there from 3 to 2.”