Marvin Gonzales
As head of the Legal Services Unit in the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT), I felt duty-bound to respond to the article published in your newspaper headlined—“The Tolerant Trini Motorists”. Unfortunately, I am of the view that Mr Sudama's article last week contained many misrepresentations and gross distortions on the holistic work programme of the MOWT in the discharge of its statutory duties under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act.
He deliberately gave the inaccurate impression that over the years, the State has singled out motorists to be the recipients of harsh policies and laws that are very punitive in nature and perhaps, to facilitate the collection of increased revenues in these economically challenging times. He referenced as an example, the recent challenges faced by motorists to have their vehicles inspected to comply with the regulations concerning roadworthiness of vehicles. Mr Suduma, in my view, also issued an indirect call for organised protests in this country against, what he sees, as punitive policy measures against motorists.
It will be professional malpractice on my part to allow these assertions to go unchallenged since it is clear to me that Mr Sudama's remarks were more premised on emotions rather than facts. Mr Sudama, quite respectfully, may be unaware of the many initiatives being implemented and pursued by the ministry.
The TTPS issued its recent road safety statistics for the year ended 2018 and reported that T&T recorded its lowest road fatality rate since 1958. This achievement did not occur by mere happenstance. It is the result of a coordinated and well-planned strategy which began in 2007 to modernise the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act 48:50. Many of those laws were passed when Mr Sudama, I suspect, served as a distinguished MP in T&T. My recollection is that these initiatives received the overwhelming support of the Parliament when they were passed.
Since 2007, the ministry introduced laws dealing with the use of seatbelts, child booster seats, breathalyser, mobile phones, and speed guns, to name just a few. Recently, laws were passed to introduce Red Light Camera Enforcement Technology, a Demerit Points System, and a reformed Fixed Penalty Ticketing System. These initiatives will allow motorists to pay their tickets online or at any TTPOST centre as opposed to lining up at Magistrates' Courts. The new system will decriminalise many traffic offences and remove the possibility of a motorist going to prison for a simple traffic violation and non-payment of tickets. The system will empower the Transport Commissioner to impose administrative sanctions against motorists for failure to pay fines or suspend a driver's permit in the event that a motorist accumulates demerit points over a stipulated threshold. It will reduce approximately 20,000 new traffic matters that are filed each year in our courts for non-payment of traffic tickets.
The MOWT also introduced amendments to regulations 27 of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations in July 2018 to allow “T” registered vehicles up to a maximum gross weight of 3,200 kgs the option to undergo inspection at any approved private inspection centre around the country. Previously, the law allowed these vehicles to be inspected only at a Licensing Office by a transport officer. This amendment benefited over 120,000 vehicle owners and the State decided to forego the potential revenues that could have been received if those vehicles were inspected at the Licensing Office. Additionally, the ministry approved over 63 private inspection centres to inspect these vehicles in addition to private cars and motorcycles. To conclude on this point, I emphasise that the laws on vehicle inspections have been with us for well over 20 years. It is not a new legislative initiative introduced by the ministry by the grant of a moratorium.
It is now public knowledge that the five-month moratorium was introduced to allow vehicle owners the opportunity to have their vehicles inspected under more ethical circumstances. Unfortunately, thousands of citizens failed to use this grace period and waited till the last week which, quite expectedly, overwhelmed inspection centres. It is not the fault of the State that many citizens did not clench this opportunity to ensure their vehicles complied with the law.
Finally, in 2017 the MOWT launched, for the first time, a free online drivers' permit and vehicle registration and verification system. This system provides a free online platform whereby citizens can access and verify the data on their driver's permit and motor vehicle registration records. Since its launch, over 120,000 citizens utilised the system, which means they were able to verify their data without having to join a long queue at any Licensing Office. The ministry is set to launch another online service allowing citizens to request a certified copy and pay using the Govpay platform. They can collect their certificates at any Licensing office, TTconnect centre, or a TTPOST courier can deliver it at a requested address.
The statistical data is clear. Our roads are becoming safer and we are determined and committed to rid our roads of lawlessness for the benefit of all. Gradually, we are changing the culture and we are on the correct trajectory. T&T has a positive story to tell by the reduction in our road fatality rate from the astonishing figures of 267 in 2008 to 112 in 2018.
Marvin Gonzales is director of Legal Services Division, Ministry of Works and Transport.