00:00As criticism comes from the opposition and others over the doubling of fines for traffic offenses,
00:06which was done without announcement from the government,
00:09Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Eli Zakour in response to TV6's question about the process used,
00:15says, quote,
00:16In matters of road safety, where lives are at stake,
00:19government has a responsibility to act decisively when data shows that current measures are no longer effective.
00:25Enforcement in public safety cannot be delayed or subjected to a popularity test
00:29particularly when dangerous behavior continues to place innocent road users at risk.
00:35End quote.
00:36The minister adds that the present fines had lost their deterrent power.
00:39Under contentious issue of it being published on Christmas Day,
00:43Zakour tells us that it is the national print tree which determines publication dates as part of its administrative process,
00:50which is not controlled by his ministry.
00:51The minister states that the demerit point system had administrative and enforcement challenges,
00:56adding that removing it does not mean that offenses should carry weak or ineffective consequences.
01:03He notes that issues such as blown lights can occur without warning and says police officers will still have the power to exercise discretion
01:10and people can still contest their tickets at the level of the court.
01:14As it pertains to the increase in driving without insurance, which now carries a $10,000 fine, up from $1,000,
01:22Zakour calls it one of the most serious violations,
01:25leaving innocent victims exposed to financial hardship after a collision.
01:30He underscores that when an uninsured driver causes an accident,
01:34the burden does not fall on the offender alone, but also on the injured party and their family.
01:39The minister says the change is about ensuring accountability and fairness
01:44and to mitigate the suffering of victims because of someone else's neglect of a basic legal and moral obligation.
01:51Finally, Zakour says, quote,
01:53These measures are not about revenue or punishment for its own sake.
01:57They are about restoring deterrence, improving compliance and protecting law-abiding citizens.
02:02If these measures work as intended, fewer offenses will occur and the state will collect less, not more, end quote.
02:10Meanwhile, the fee for using the priority bus route has increased from $300 to $600 quarterly for maxi-taxi operators.
02:18According to Zakour, this was necessary to reflect the actual requirements involved in operating and maintaining the PBR unit.
02:27Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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