MINISTER of National Security Robert Montague says that a large portion of the funds collected under the traffic ticket amnesty will be invested in upgrading the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) traffic department.

“A large portion of the funds collected will be invested in the traffic department 0f the Jamaica Constabulary Force, to acquire additional vehicles and equipment, and for improvements to the Island Traffic Authority’s offices islandwide, including the accident reconstruction unit,” he said Wednesday.

Montague was opening debate on a new Bill entitled the Road Traffic (Temporary Ticket Amnesty #2) Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives to accommodate the second amnesty for the year, which begins on November 27 and ends on January 13.

He explained that during the new amnesty, motorists would not be denied the option to contest their traffic tickets in the court. However, he said that they would have to abide by the decision of the court and could not, thereafter, seek to benefit from the amnesty.

Additionally, he warned that those motorists who fail to make use of this second amnesty would be vigorously pursued “by the strong arm of the law, after the amnesty period is concluded”.

Montague said that the previous amnesty, which ended on October 30, had recorded 40,000 telephone calls to the centre, dealt with 263,560 tickets and collected $590 million in outstanding payments.

He said that he had agreed to seek a second amnesty period, after numerous requests from motorists for an extension. However, he explained that because the time of the first amnesty had run out by then, a new Bill had to be tabled.

“But we had to treat with the concerns of the public and answer to their needs,” he stated.

Montague also stated that the ministry will be doing a new public education campaign, via radio, television and press, regarding the use of the online payment services.

“I am urging persons, especially those with millions of traffic tickets, to make use of this opportunity,” he said.

He also noted that in order to address the needs of those motorists who wanted the new amnesty, it was necessary to suspend the relevant sections of the Parish Court Act and the Justices of the Peace Act to make it possible.

There were no other speakers in the debate.

— Balford Henry