AKASH SAMAROO
The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has passed in the Senate with the support of eight of the nine independent senators.
When the bill was put to a vote around 8.30 pm yesterday, 23 senators voted in favour, six voted against, and there was one abstention.
Independent Senator Dr Desiree Murray, who had earlier recommended extending the grace period for motorists to address vehicle defects to 21 and 42 days instead of the Government’s proposed three and seven days, was the sole abstention.
All Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) senators voted against the bill.
With passage in the Upper House, the legislation now awaits assent from President Christine Kangaloo before becoming law.
The primary goal of this bill is to shift from a “fine-first” approach to one that encourages compliance through warnings or a “grace period” for minor mechanical and administrative defects.
Motorists will be given a three-day grace period to correct offences including the absence of identification lights for licence plates, missing “Tare” or “MGW” markings on commercial vehicles, vehicles without a horn or silencer, missing reflecting mirrors, and excessive smoke or visible vapour emissions. A seven-day grace period will apply to defective fittings, including cracked or damaged windscreens, as well as noisy vehicles, particularly those with faulty mufflers or excessively loud exhaust systems.
If a motorist repairs the defect and reports to a police station or Licensing Office for verification within the prescribed time frame, they will receive a certificate of compliance, and the matter will be resolved without a fine or demerit points.
However, if the defect is not remedied within the allotted period, the warning will automatically convert into a Fixed Penalty Notice, making the motorist liable for the full fine.
