Gov’t committed to demerit points system despite delays – Vaz

The decision to delay follows a series of consultations with stakeholders, Minister Vaz confirmed during an update on urgent transport matters on September 4. He disclosed that a Task Force, established in August and led by State Minister in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marissa Dalrymple Philibert, has been reviewing the system to address outstanding concerns.

The Task Force includes representatives from key ministries, government agencies, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), and industry stakeholders such as public passenger transport associations.

According to Vaz, the working group has been tasked with resolving the backlog of traffic tickets and finding a workable solution that ensures timely accountability for all road users.

“Following a series of meetings and consultations with the Road Traffic Act Task Force and public passenger transport stakeholders, the government has decided to review the October 1, 2026, implementation deadline for the demerit points system, extending the compliance period to facilitate more motorists being given the opportunity to pay their outstanding tickets in order to have a clean slate,” he stated as per the Jamaica Information Service (JIS).

The minister stressed that the review is aimed at enabling the government and stakeholders to carefully consider recommendations from the consultations, while ensuring that legislative amendments and public education measures are fully in place for an orderly transition.

“Let me be clear, this review does not mean that the government is stepping back from its commitment to greater accountability and safer behaviour on our roads. The objective remains firmly the same – to reduce traffic violations, deter dangerous and repeat offenders, and ultimately save lives,” he underscored.

He also appealed to motorists to regularise their outstanding violations and adhere to all road traffic regulations. “The carnage on our roads cannot be allowed to continue, and responsible road use must become the new standard,” the minister added.

Vaz advised that he is awaiting the final draft report and recommendations from the Task Force, which are expected to be submitted to the ministry this month for review, before being forwarded to Cabinet for approval.

In a national appeal, the minister urged Jamaicans to ignore misleading information circulating on social media. “I’m, therefore, making a national appeal to all motorists to disregard the noise, misinformation, misleading and disingenuous posts being circulated, especially on social media, and await the government’s formal announcement on this matter,” he stated.

He further noted that the high number of road fatalities and serious crashes in recent years is directly linked to repeat traffic offenders who have accumulated hundreds of thousands of unpaid tickets without facing sanctions.

“This is non-negotiable and zero tolerance, going forward. Once again, I appeal for patience, while this process continues and a formal announcement is communicated on this urgent matter by the government,” he concluded.

The system is established under the Road Traffic Act 2018 and the Road Traffic Regulations 2022. Its primary objective is to reduce traffic violations, deter repeat offenders, and ultimately reduce road fatalities by adding points to a driver's licence for specified offences, which can lead to suspension or revocation.

Dalrymple Philibert’s review team is intended to address concerns, including the massive backlog of over 1.1 million outstanding traffic tickets, and to ensure that necessary legislative amendments and public education measures are fully in place. The review task force is expected, sometime this month, to submit its final report and recommendations to Minister Vaz for Cabinet consideration.

Key issues under review include the legal and policy implications of the ticket backlog, the need for robust public education, and the technical readiness of the systems required to manage demerit points accurately.

Associations such as the All-Voice Route Taxi Association and TODSS have welcomed the delay, citing the need for clarification on which infringements attract points and the resolution of issues such as the inaccurate recording of cleared tickets.

National Road Safety Council (NRSC) Vice-Chairman Dr. Lucien Jones has expressed disappointment, calling the delay "dangerous”. He noted that 225 lives had been lost in crashes as of August 31, 2026, and emphasized the need for systems to reduce fatalities.