Chief Justice Bryan Sykes says substantial progress has been made in clearing the backlog of traffic tickets at the Corporate Area Traffic Court.

The achievement, he stated, was attributed to the dedicated efforts of judges and the implementation of night court sessions.

“With regard to the traffic tickets under the traffic court, in particular…, they have seen improved performance largely because of the judges that we have there and the staff that’s there,” said Sykes.

The traffic court faced heightened activity leading up to the implementation of the new Traffic Ticket Management System and the revised Road Traffic Act in February 2023.

Before the change with legislation, individuals rushed to settle fines for outstanding traffic tickets, resulting in a surge of nearly 400,000 cases. To cope with the increased workload, night and Saturday court sessions were established, demonstrating the judiciary’s commitment to addressing the accumulated backlog.

Sykes reflected on the challenges faced at the beginning of 2023, stating, “Some persons had hundreds of tickets outstanding, and so what we have been doing is addressing all of those who are not yet current.” He expressed optimism, noting the court’s expectation to become current in 2024.

The Chief Justice also highlighted the effective use of the new Traffic Ticket Management System, which includes electronic issuance of traffic tickets. This modern approach has enabled the police to issue tickets more efficiently, contributing to the court’s efforts to stay current with the caseload.

Addressing past issues, Sykes emphasised the significance of timely issuance of warrants for those who fail to pay fines or attend court hearings. He expressed that the culture of impunity, where individuals ignored traffic tickets, was being addressed. Warrants are now promptly issued, ensuring that individuals are brought before the court if they do not comply with court rulings.

The chief justice noted that while the country’s traffic enforcement is becoming better, the court is still not where it should be, “because it needs to become digitised to keep pace with the digitisation that has taken place with the police; but we hope to get there in time,” he added.