I would like a ticketing system to be put in place for speeding, illegal parking etc. I do not see why Court time must be wasted on this. Let persons, get their ticket, and go pay the penalty one time. This can also be done for littering.
IF the person wants their case heard in court, then they should be able to go to the Ticketing Office, and request that their case be on the court schedule, and then that person would go through the court system as it is now.
I would also flag persons who are repeat offenders. For example, when you get your 5th ticket for speeding, you would need to go to Court before a Judge, and then be dealt with more seriously. It would not just be a matter of paying the fine
The thing is that we want to reduce the time spent on minor matters in the Court System, and be able to bring in revenue as well.
I believe there should be zero tolerance for speeding. There should be a dedicated team of Police or Island Constables (as we are short-staffed on the Police Force) that work the various highways etc. for speeding. There is too much speeding on the roads. Speeding contributes to accidents, and to fatalities. All it takes is one vehicle to speed, and bop and weave through the traffic, to endanger the lives of many. I am tired of it. The roads are dangerous to use, as persons are impatient, and just pushing through. There is a different mentality on the road than there used to be many years ago. I found people used to be more giving and courteous, and now they are just pushing and moving.
So I would suggest a zero tolerance for speeding, and for the laws to be IMPLEMENTED so that persons would be more respectful of the road laws, and lives can be saved. Or even that persons in accidents would not be so badly hurt.
ZR Drivers, Taxi Drivers and Bus Drivers that are repeated offenders for speeding, and other dangerous driving, should be banned from having that job after a certain amount of traffic offences.
How many persons have actually ever been fined for littering in our country? This has to be taken more seriously. This is something that should be taught in schools and homes. It is part of being a good citizen in our nation.
Why do we have laws, and they are not respected? Because we do not implement them. IF we had a zero tolerance policy in our nation, then people would have to respect the laws more. There is a reason for laws. It is to keep order, and protect lives.
There are things I do not understand in our country. Why are people allowed to squat in the Belle, in Zone 1 water area? Why is this allowed? If we had zero tolerance, it would not happen. Why do some people have to pull down their structures, and other people are turned a blind eye to what they are doing? I do not understand the disparity of this.
It is also time for the Breathalyzer testing to come in. Persons should not be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We need to have responsible driving. Why is it taking so long for this testing to be used?
As a driver of many years, I know you have to make quick decisions when using the roads. Sometimes you make poor decisions and you are very fortunate when you are not in an accident. It is only by God's Grace that I use our roads.
Submitted by K. Smith
Agreed. The current system as it is wastes so much time. A schedule of fees should be published for driving offenses. People ticketed immediately. Tickets can be mailed to homes of reported by camera. Repeat offender visit the court for a judge to determine their punishment.
Everything K. Smith said should be considered.
- R. Weekes.
I agree with Paul Mayers and R Weekes. If we continue to have laws but no law enforcement then we are breeding this kind of attitude that people do not respect the law and do what they want. If we create laws we MUST enforce them.
Traffic in Barbados reminds me of the "wild west" everybody does what he/she wants. Not signaling, changing lanes without even looking out for traffic, no mirrors, stopping a car in the middle of the road to either have a chat or let someone out/in is just unacceptable. I could go on and on here but I believe that law must be enforced if not obeyed by the citizen.
Furthermore, the drinking/using and driving is another subject that should be addressed more seriously.
Fines should not be made up in Court. Fines for any offense should be cataloged and ticked should be handed out to people at the time of the offense (traffic violations) or if cameras are installed they should be mailed out including a proof of the offense in form of a picture. If offenders are not paying on time, a suspension of drivers license should be the consequence.
We should look for guidance in other countries who have a good working system in place.
I am pretty sure fines for building violations etc can also be set and cataloged and when in breach the building must come to a stop until remedied and then can be continued. We just need firmer "follow-ups" than what we have in place right now.
There is no reason why our court system should be so clocked up with minor things which can be dealt with on a daily base.
Agreed. Implement fines. Update or institute online payments. Have apoints system where repeat offenders will see increases in insurance cost and suspension of driver's license. Have a traffic clerk who can arbitrate appeals.
On another note we should a diversion program that works will juvenile AND their families, dependent on the severity of the crime. It is time that there be a Family and Juvenile court with specialized staff who are equipped with the skill sets needed.
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