No mercy for motorists past January 31

As the deadline nears for motorists to pay outstanding traffic tickets, presiding judge Peter Wilson warned that there will be no leniency for people who attend the Corporate Area Traffic Court after February 1, when the new Road Traffic Act takes effect.

"The party is almost over. Come February 1, I'm putting in back my chompers dem. Come February 1, I'm going to start bite. They asked me not to bite. I am being very kind and I will be emboldened by the fact that I have a new legislation with some big fines," judge Wilson said on Monday at court. His comments came after a defendant, who hid from the court for several years, tried to attain leniency from the judge on behalf of his friends, who face a similar fate. They did not attend court.

"Your Honour, I have some friends wid some tickets but dem fraid fi come a court," the man said, after being fined $74,000 for his 17 traffic offences. But Wilson, perturbed by the man's utterances, referred to a STAR article last December, where he spared a serial traffic offender from suspending his licence.

"Tell dem to come before February 1," Wilson urged.

A similar warning was issued for persons who have warrants issued for their arrests. Carlington Bernard, a taxi operator who was taken into custody on January 20 for missing his court date two years ago, was not spared the wrath of the judge in sentencing.

Bernard pleaded guilty to failing to wear the prescribed uniform and not having his badge affixed, offences he committed in 2020. In 2021, he was charged for failing to wear the prescribed uniform again and not having a taxi globe attached. He also pleaded guilty to those offences. On each offence, Wilson imposed a fine of $15,000 or 30-days' imprisonment.