The District Court Offices have sounded a warning over a troubling accumulation of unpaid traffic tickets, some of which have been outstanding for an extended period.
Authorities are urging individuals with outstanding fines to settle their obligations promptly to avoid severe legal consequences, including Warrants of Arrest.
Court records reveal that despite previous Notices of Conviction being issued, numerous traffic fines remain unsettled. This backlog has prompted the Ministry of Justice to launch a public awareness campaign aimed at ensuring compliance.
In a statement released Tuesday, the District Court Administration warned: “Persons with outstanding traffic tickets are urged to address these matters immediately. Failure to do so will result in arrest warrants being issued.”
Police Commissioner Verne Garde recently announced that 2025 will mark the beginning of a stringent crackdown on traffic violations and criminal activity across the nation.
Garde emphasised that law enforcement agencies are prepared to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to ensure public safety and uphold the rule of law. “This year will not be business as usual,” he declared, underscoring the importance of stricter measures to address reckless driving, unpaid traffic fines, and criminal behavior.
The initiative aims to curb escalating incidents and foster greater accountability among citizens, with enhanced patrols, increased fines, and rigorous enforcement expected to be central to the effort.
To emphasise the seriousness of the matter, the authorities intend to periodically publish a list of some unpaid traffic tickets in local newspapers. They intend the publications to serve both as a public reminder and a tool to hold offenders accountable.
To facilitate payments and inquiries, the Ministry of Justice has outlined the operating hours and contact details for its court offices:
District Court Office – Castries Ground Floor, Family Court Administration Building, Peynier Street, Castries
Tel: (758) 468-3310, 468-3311 or 468-3312
Visit on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 2pm only.
District Court Office – Vieux-Fort
First Floor, Chitolie Building, Beanfield, Vieux-Fort
Tel: (758) 454-6225
Visit on Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays between 10 am and 2 pm only.
The Ministry emphasised that this is not merely an administrative exercise but a legal obligation.
“Ignoring traffic fines undermines the rule of law and places offenders at risk of escalating penalties,” the statement noted.
WHAT REALLY HAPPEN TO THIS SLP GOVERNMENT ???…WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG SOMEONE TELL ME ?? AFTER THINGS SO HARD IN THIS PLACE .YOU ALL ALREADY RUBBING THE COUNTRY DRY SCONDERING MONEY AND THE LITTLE POOR PEOPLE TRYING TO SEE HOW THEY CAN DEAL WITH THE RISING COST OF LIVING IN FRONT OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON YOU ALL PUTTING PRESSURE ON US TO COME AND PAY A TICKET SOME TIMES THESE TRAFFIC TICKETS ARE NOT EVEN JUSTIFIED WHAT THE HELL…..ITS NOT POLITICAL PEOPLE GET UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE,WAKE UP..
I AM WAITING FOR THE HACKS ..COME FOR ME …JAH MAN..
@Bull Shitt. What you’ve said highlights a significant lack of insight and reflects poorly on your intelligence.
What does any of this have to do with SLP? And want to call people hack when you are one as well
It’s all about the money(in Alkaline tone)…they don’t really care for the ppls safety, just money. So many mad drivers on our roads especially at evening times and not one traffic officer is in sight for atleast the Castries to Gros Islet route where most crazy drivers dwell and even if you do see them they are out for only guns and cocaine and not for drunk driving or speeding or other traffic violation,they more interested on ticketing parked cars than for dangerous driving….I don’t give a rat’s bum which govt in power if you cant address this issue you are not for the ppl….in other words the govt don’t budget to have traffic officers on duty to curb this lawlessness.
Those traffic officers only come after incidents/accidents and most time they take an hour or two before arriving on seen thus delaying making inconvenience for commuters and other traffic users..we have somany incidents on the Castries Gros Islet route that atleast 2 -3 traffic units should be station at strategic points along the route at all times until about 2am…that’s how international countries secure their roads even if police have to sit there whole day changing shifts while eating donuts …any sensible govt would finance such gesture before entertaining any Jazz or Carnival..they are setting our priorities back to front.
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I’m all for offenders paying their fines but its a shame to see in St Lucia more efforts put into collection of unpaid traffic tickets than safe guarding the public from gun toting wild boys. Its governments task to curtail crime when the citizens are not equipped to stand against these hooligans. Pierre youve been better than Chas but if this is the best you can do then this country is now for criminals and the bourgeoisie. Common folks will suffer
Well while we at it let’s publish the names of those persons not in compliance with the Integrity Commission Act. And for those who don’t know, the law requires all Politicians and persons who are politically exposed to make a declaration of all their assets and liabilities with the Integrity Commission EVERY YEAR.
Why do you take info from someone you think have offended the traffic rules?
In the last 30 years, everyone has an I D.
A phone number. A license number surely.
Can the authorities find some way of contacting those people?
Yet you want the public assistance in crimes which
WE DONT KNOW A KNIFE ABOUT.
@Cow-lang-caca that problem with likes of you and your yellow cronies yu’ll think milking the government coffers is your birthright, abuse the system and don’t pay for it. Park where you are not supposed to park, have your unroadworthy vehicle traverse the streets and park and abandon for years as you please. Run unsafe mini buses, on this rag you read about daily accidents most of which could have been avoided due to the lack of discipline. Traffic departments all the world are revenue driven, but you want it to be funded by government for free .
Well people already can’t afford to pay bill or put food on their table. Why not say let’s start fresh for 2025 have mercy on the hard working tax paying citizens of the country but noooo you’ll want to arrest.
Motorists take chances and park directly below a “No Parking” sign next to Massy Supermarket by the Fire Station, instead of paying $2.50 at the car park next door! So whose fault is it if they get a parking ticket! And by the way, if you can’t pay $2.50 to park then you can’t afford the vehicle and shouldn’t be driving!
Salient point here by ‘John Public’, most times the “accident” along the four lane highway is so minor that it wouldn’t make it to the insurance companies -the damage is way less than the excess- , yet traffic is backed up, the police take statements while the vehicles are left where the collisions occur, creating long delays for commuters. Surely, there must be a better way! It would be so much more beneficial to the motorists if the police make clearing the road a priority.