The statistic for 2011 alone for traffic was 699 cases. Photo: VINO

A recommendation has been made by Hon. Fraser to take away privileges from ticket offenders rather than having them brought before the Court.

According to Court Manager (CM) of the Magistracy Mrs. Eunice Crawford, the statistic for 2011 alone for traffic was 699 cases while the 103 was the amount submitted at that time for processing for 2012.

Mrs. Crawford explained there has been an increase in traffic cases coming before the Court.

The member for the Third District Hon. Julian Fraser RA, asked if there were two functioning full time Courts to which the CM replied in the affirmative. The Magistrate Court sits at both John’s Hole and Prospect Reef.

However, she stated that they were still having backlogs due to the amount of traffic cases. She had explained that the night courts still takes place as may be required whether it be twice or trice per month. However, she said it is the aim of the Magistracy to phase out the night court as far as possible with the fact that they now have two courts working simultaneously.

She also stated that they are of the belief that they can eliminate the backlog that previously existed and schedule other matters that would accommodate a lot of the traffic matters that would come before the Court.

Meanwhile, Hon. Fraser expressed concern with how ticketed offences were being dealt with.

Mrs. Crawford had told the SFC that some of the cases that goes to the night court were persons who failed to pay the ticketing sum. She had explained that if someone failed to pay the sum, the next step would be for them to appear before the Court to answer to a charge.

However, Hon. Fraser believes that such a move for them to come to court was futile. He said he thought it was the person receiving the ticket who would be requesting that the matter be brought before the Court in order to contest the charge.

He felt something was wrong with the process and that if someone was issued a ticket for speeding and did not pay then he should lose the privilege, have his driver’s license revoked or suspended. Hon. Fraser said the person should not be brought before the Court but there should be some way to take away points from such persons whether they don’t get to re-register their vehicle or something of that sort.

Territorial Member Archibald Christian agreed with Hon. Fraser stating that he thinks that such matters clogs up a lot of the Court’s time.