THE Government is hoping to increase revenues by $2.8 billion this year by collecting outstanding amounts owed by delinquent motorists for traffic tickets.

Minister of National Security Robert Montague told the House of Representatives on Tuesday that current data showed that outstanding traffic tickets total $2.2 billion.

Additionally, there is approximately $566 million in outstanding payments owed to the court by motorists who contested the offence and were fined after being found guilty up to December 31, 2016.

Montague said that the amnesty would seek to facilitate the total of $2.8 billion owed for tickets and fines.

“I urge members of the public to make use of the amnesty,” he told the House of Representatives Tuesday, as he wound up the debate on the Bill entitled The Road Traffic (Temporary Ticket Amnesty) Act 2017, which will facilitate the three-month amnesty period, lasting from August 2 to October 31, this year.

To support the collection efforts, the minister said that his ministry would conduct a public education programme, via radio, print and television, focusing on the target audience.

In addition, a series of briefings and meetings with key stakeholders, including members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Ministry of Justice, Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), and the Court Management Division, will be held.

The provision of additional cashier stations and security personnel to manage the large influx of motorists expected on peak days at the TAJ offices will also be instituted.

Montague said that the Bill will facilitate suspension of the section of the current Road Traffic Act to enable motorists holding unpaid traffic tickets dated between September 1, 2010 and July 31, 2017, before the courts, to pay them at the TAJ offices.

It will also suspend the relevant section of the Judicature (Parish Courts) Act and the Justice of the Peace Jurisdiction Act, preventing the issuance of warrants by a parish court judge or a justice of the peace for the arrest of traffic ticket holders.

Motorists with unpaid tickets will be offered an amnesty in relation to penalty points recorded against their drivers’ licence, and those with tickets acquired during the amnesty will enjoy a waiver of penalties, so long as the payment is made within the amnesty period.

He said that motorists who do not use the amnesty facility “will be vigorously pursued by the strong arm of the law, after the amnesty period is concluded.

“So, if they get themselves in problems (with the law) at the end of the amnesty, they can’t call any member of this House for any help,” he warned.

The amnesty, which was originally scheduled to start on July 1, was delayed to allow for “all systems to be in place”, he said.

Minister of Transport and Mining Mike Henry, who first announced the amnesty in April, had promised that it would be done before the new Road Traffic Act, which is now before Parliament, comes into effect.

He explained that the Road Traffic Act has newer and stricter provisions in relation to the imposition of penalties and traffic offences.

“In order to offer motorists an opportunity to enter this new phase with a clean slate, we will be allowing for a period of amnesty, during which outstanding traffic tickets can be paid without the (loss) of points and other related penalties,” Henry said.

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.