What is the new Traffic Ticketing System?
The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act chapter 48:50 has undergone some extensive changes to allow Transport Division to provide better service to the motorists in Trinidad & Tobago. This revised legislation modernises the present traffic ticketing system by:
- Decriminalising a wide range of traffic offences into traffic violations;
- Providing new platforms for the payment of traffic fines such as cashless transactions;
- Introducing new and convenient payment locations;
- Providing greater convenience and options for the payment of traffic tickets;
- Providing law enforcement officers with greater connectivity and instant access to data; and
- Reducing the backlog of pending cases before the Traffic Courts.
This system seeks to improve outdated procedures and practices for road traffic law enforcement using modern technology – a software management system called the U-Turn System.
Electronic traffic tickets (E-tickets) and mobile handheld devices
One of the major improvements in the traffic ticketing system is the use of mobile handheld devices by law enforcement officers. These devices automate the way in which traffic tickets are issued to allow greater convenience for recipients. The benefits of these devices include:
- The migration from a paper-based ticketing system to Electronic tickets (E-tickets);
- A significant reduction in the time taken (from 25 minutes to 2 minutes) to issue and record the details of the traffic violation;
- Improved accuracy of the information recorded by a law enforcement officer.
It is important to note that handwritten tickets will continue to be utilized by law enforcement officers until they are completely phased out. Both paper-based and e-tickets will be managed by the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC) utilizing the U-Turn software management system. When a traffic ticket is issued, the information is transmitted instantly to the following organizations for further action:
- The Trinidad and Tobago Postal Corporation (TTPOST) to receive and process payments;
- The Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago should a Notice to Contest be filed by the traffic violator;
- the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service for archiving and further action.
With the participation of these stakeholders, the new traffic ticketing system does not operate in isolation with just one organisation. This comprehensive plan involves the Police Service, Judiciary, TTPOST and the Ministry of Works & Transport working collectively to detect and deter traffic offenses as well as increase the level road safety and observation of law.