P.M. Kamla Persad-Bissessar RESPONDS To Criticism About Doubling Traffic Fines

Prime Minister the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, is defending her Government’s decision to double fines for dozens of traffic offences under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, effective from 1st January, 2026, despite criticism and claims that the move contradicts promises made during her 2024 election campaign to reduce road traffic fines. She said some people are “making a habit of mistaking leniency and kindness as a licence to keep breaking the law.”

Speaking on Saturday (27th December, 2025), Mrs. Persad-Bissessar noted that the increased penalties would have no impact on law-abiding motorists and would only affect those who choose to break the law. “The only people who will be affected are people who break the law. If you don’t want to pay the fines, simply drive within the law,” she said.

She acknowledged that while in Opposition she had argued for lower fines, but stressed that her comments at the time were made when drivers were subjected to both monetary penalties and the demerit points system. “At that time, people were being doubly punished — paying fines and accumulating demerit points,” she said. “The demerit points system has since been removed, except for drunk and reckless driving, and only the fines remain.”

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— Kejan Haynes (@KejanHaynes) October 14, 2025

The Prime Minister added that the decision to increase fines was taken after some motorists interpreted the removal of demerit points as a licence to flout traffic laws, similar to what she described as widespread disregard for fireworks regulations over the Christmas period.

She maintained that the Government’s priority was public safety, noting that reckless drivers often endanger innocent road users.

Under the changes, several fines have been doubled, including $1,000 to $2,000, $750 to $1,500, and $300 to $600, with higher penalties and fines for repeat-offences also increased.

The amendments will take effect on 1st January, 2026.

More on this as it becomes available. 

[Source: Ian Alleyne]