Commentary

Make traffic offenders pay

FORTY THOUSAND JAMAICANS are being sought for outstanding traffic tickets. That's the information gleaned from yesterday's STAR lead story which said several entertainers and footballers were among the 40,000 being sought.

Although entertainers and footballers with outstanding traffic tickets is no longer a new trend, the fact that stood out for THE STAR was that many of the warrants are still outstanding because persons have supplied the police with wrong addresses.

What should be interesting to find out is how long some of these tickets have been outstanding and how much money the government is owed by traffic offenders.

If the tickets were outstanding for more than three years then it is time more stringent measures are enforced to ensure that motorists comply with the law. A drivers' licence expires every five years and the offender has to renew it. Hence, at the date of renewal the offender could be asked to pay the fine.

But, although THE STAR is suggesting a way to collect outstanding money for traffic tickets, it must be noted that our policemen sometimes scare away motorists by failing to turn up for court which ultimately frustrates everybody.

However, at the end of the day, a way must be devised to make payments easier as well as punishing those who are delinquent.