NEW

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This system seeks to improve outdated procedures and practices for road traffic law enforcement using modern technology – a software management system called the U-Turn System.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:

1. The migration from a paper-based ticketing system to Electronic tickets (E-tickets);
2. A significant reduction in the time taken (from 25 minutes to 2 minutes) to issue and record the details of the traffic violation;
3. 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.

The reason court lists are saturated with traffic cases are due to unpaid traffic tickets, which automatically become traffic matters to be settled via the court system. This high number of traffic cases continues to clog the system and therefore, results in a backlog of pending cases.

The chart below shows a snapshot of the composition of matters filed at the Magistracy during the 2018/2019 Law Term. It is clear to be seen that traffic cases comprised the majority of matters before the court over other offenses, at 60.4%.

Statistics, in the graph below, from the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago also show that during the period 2017- 2018 over 102,000 traffic related cases appeared before the Magistrates’ Court. 

If you have received a traffic ticket, you have two options:

• Pay the ticket fine due within thirty (30) days from the date of issue; or
• File a notice to contest within fifteen (15) days from the date of issue and request a court hearing.

Prior to the amendment to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, traffic offenders had to pay or contest a ticket at the Magistrate’s Court, in the district where the traffic ticket was issued.
Under the new system, payments will no longer be accepted at the Magistrates’ Courts. Payments can be made at approved TTPOST locations nationwide, by cash, debit card and soon, credit card. Please refer to the table at the end of this booklet for a listing of authorised TTPOST payment locations nationwide.
The new system provides a traffic offender with thirty (30) days in which to pay their fine, unlike the previous system which only allowed fourteen (14). You will need the traffic ticket number, your driving permit number and the vehicle’s registration number to make the payment. The payment must be made in full and in one transaction. No instalments or part-payments will be accepted.

Detailed instructions on how to make a payment are also printed on the reverse side of your traffic ticket.

Under the new traffic ticketing system, matters only reach the court’s list when a motorist files a notice to contest their traffic ticket. If you decide to contest a traffic ticket, you may seek the assistance of an Attorney-at-Law. You can file a notice to contest with the Court within fifteen (15) days from the date of issue via the portal on https://contest.ttlawcourts.org or by visiting a Magistrates’ Court.
Detailed instructions on how to contest a traffic ticket are printed on the reverse side of your traffic ticket.
You will need the traffic ticket number, your address, telephone contact and email address. You also may also provide your reasons for challenging the traffic ticket. Upon filing the notice to contest the traffic ticket, the matter will be initiated for a court hearing. You will be informed of the date, time and location you will be required to appear.
After filing a notice to contest, and the thirty-day period has not elapsed, if you no longer wish to contest the traffic ticket, you are still allowed to pay the fine. You can pay the fine within the prescribed thirty (30) days at any authorised TTPOST location.
If you are found guilty by the court, this can result in the maximum fine under the law. For example, the stipulated fine on a traffic ticket may be $1,000.00 whereas under law, the fine for the same traffic violation may be $6,000.00.