Minister proposes warning tickets for light contraventions

A “warning traffic system” is being proposed by the government, empowering traffic wardens to issue warning tickets in the case of light contraventions, such as parking in restricted spaces.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici, speaking in Parliament in a debate on proposed amendments to the Traffic Regulations Act, said the focus of the amendments was on educating drivers and the public.

Drivers guilty of serious contraventions, such as running a red light, would have points deducted on their driving license under the new proposals.

Bonnici said that he hoped the proposed amendments would find the full backing of both sides of the House.

“The bill proposes harsher sentences for driving without a license or driving with license plates not belonging to the vehicle being driven,” he said.

Bonnici said that local wardens will take on the role of assistants to the police in the case of drivers suspected of driving while under the influence of alcohol – drunk drivers.

Wardens will not be able to arrest the driver, but simply administer a breathalyser test on the spot. If the test results positive, the warden would have call the police to the scene to take the driver into custody.

Sentences and fines for drink-driving and driving under the influence of drugs would also increase uner the new legislation, with sentencing including probation and mandatory attendance at rehabilitation clinics – at the defendant’s own cost.

Under the new bill, the national alcohol limit for drivers will be slashed from 0.8g of alcohol per litre of blood to 0.5g, the equivalent of one small beer and in line with the EU average. The limit will be set at 0.2g for drivers who have held their licence for less than two years, motorcyclists and drivers of large vehicles, while a zero alcohol limit will be set for bus, taxi and minibus drivers. 

The minister said that the point system will be expanded to cover all drivers, but will only affect major infractions. Drivers will lose accumulated points after 12 months, and the driving license will still be withdrawn on reaching  12 points.

Bonnici said that the Transport Authority will be organising a number of courses for people with points deducted on their license. Upon successful completion of the courses, the deducted points will be halved, he said. A driver would only be allowed to attend such courses once every two years.

Nationalist MP Marthese Portelli criticised the government for not including in the bill the full list of contraventions that would lead to a deduction of points on drivers’ licenses.

Nor was the warning ticket system presented to the Opposition, she noted.

Portelli said the Opposition would be voting on the bill as it had been presented to them, including the seven new main proposals limiting the alcohol levels, increase in fines and the authority granted to wardens to stop drivers and carry out breathalyser tests.

She recommended that the government consider increasing the enforcement powers of local councils, who were best suited to understand the problems within their localities.