On Wednesday 22nd January, 2020, the Ministry of Works and Transport officially launched the Demerit Points, Red Light Camera Enforcement and new Fixed Penalty Systems in Trinidad and Tobago, which has signalled a new era of 21st century traffic management and enforcement in the country.
These systems which will take effect on March 2nd, 2020 will collectively lead to the modernization of the Transport (Licensing) Division through the increased use of ICT platforms; more efficient data collection, and greater real-time connectivity of information among organizations such as the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, TTPost and the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago.
The new system improves outdated procedures and practices for road traffic law enforcement by the use of modern technology, through a software management system called the U-Turn system. The U-Turn system is maintained and monitored for efficiency and effective operation by highly trained personnel in the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC). Officers of the TEC will process the data captured by the Red Light Camera before transmitting a ticket to be delivered to the registered owner via TTPost courier service.
Citizens will also benefit from a modernised Traffic Ticket system which allows for the decriminalization of a wide range of traffic offences into traffic violations, a new platform for the payment of traffic fines and the reduction of the backlog of pending cases before the Traffic Courts. The introduction of mobile handheld devices by law enforcement officers to issue tickets, will lead to a significant reduction in the time taken to issue and record a traffic violation, and improve the accuracy of information recorded by a law enforcement officer.
The public education surrounding the revolutionary traffic enforcement systems will be presented to citizens under the theme “Driving towards Transformation”, which embodies the goals of the Ministry at large, inclusive of encouraging and promoting safety on the nation’s road network, and improving the standard of driving thereby reducing incidents of road traffic accidents and fatalities.
Members of the public are encouraged to adhere to the road traffic laws of Trinidad and Tobago, and visit www.drivingtt.com as well as the Ministry’s social media pages for all information pertaining to the Demerit Points, Red Light Camera Enforcement and new Fixed Penalty Systems.
MORE ABOUT THE SYSTEMS:
The Demerit Points System is utilized to track the behaviour of drivers by the allocation of points to their driving records, for the commission of certain traffic violations and offences which carry demerit points. Everyone starts with zero (0) demerit points on their driving permit record. Depending on the total amount of demerit points accumulated within a specified period, this could result in the suspension of a person’s driver’s permit, as well as other consequences. Demerit points will remain on the record of a driver for a maximum of two (2) years. After two (2) consecutive years have passed without the driver accumulating additional points, the existing number of demerit points will automatically be expunged from the driving record.
The Red-Light Camera Enforcement System is a road safety technology which provides 24-hour monitoring of intersections for motorists breaking red lights. When a vehicle is captured breaking the red light, a photograph and video recording are sent electronically to the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC). A team of highly trained and certified analysts and inspection officers will then review the footage to determine and confirm if there was a breach of the red-light traffic signal. Once determined and confirmed, a citation notice will be generated and delivered to the registered owner of the vehicle via TTPost courier service.
The new Traffic Ticketing System (Fixed Penalty Notice) improves outdated procedures and practices for road traffic law enforcement by the use of modern technology, through a software management system called the U-Turn System. One of the major improvements in the traffic ticketing system is the use of mobile handheld devices by law enforcement officers to issue tickets. When a traffic ticket is issued, the information is transmitted instantly to TTPost (to receive and process payments); the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago (should a Notice to Contest by filed by the traffic violator); and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (for archiving and further action).
