d driver driving…

disecting parts of the 2009/10 Budget presentation…

start off with this…

This measure will require an amendment the Corporation Tax Act and will take effect from October 1, 2009.

an amendment needs to be passed but yet still it will take effect from a given date… i eh know how the constitution is but you gonna be charging me increased fees from a particular date and haven’t yet ammended the legislation… so if you never get around to ammending the act do I still have to pay the increase… what if i get charged decide to take the court date appear before a magistrate and allyuh eh get around to passing the bill… could i then charge the whole Govt and Police Service for timewasting? lastly pls inform me as to who can legally charge me for an infraction… is it a Liscencing Officer, POLICE officer, BOTH, or it depends on the infraction/charge?

Motor Vehicles Penalties and Fees

(i)Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chap. 48:52 (Enforcement and Administration

Mr. Speaker, in an effort to maintain order and safety on our nation’s roads and to deter road traffic offenders, the Government will significantly increase the penalties under the First Schedule of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Chapter 48:52 (Enforcement and Administration) for offenses with fixed penalties and to introduce new penalties.

Mr. Speaker I would like to enumerate some examples to the proposed amendments to these penalties.

Use of a vehicle without park lights;

improper overtaking on the left side of the road;

overtaking traffic at a place dangerous to do so;

exceeding the specified speed limit;

will each face an increase from a fixed penalty of $200 to $1,000.

so lemme get this straight… if meh car doh have park lights… which are to be used when parked… i go get charged… if i happen to go into the left lane and pass a car that driving slower in the right lane i could get charge cause i overtake… how do i know where is dangerous to overtake? will there be a sign? or do I use my judgement… and exceeding the speed limit… how will this be determined… will an officer be standing in the bushes counting 1, 2, 3, 4? or will there be the use of radar guns? or a speed trap camera? and will this also have to be included into legislation… cause you have to tell me how you intend to prove I was speeding… oh yeah ensure that the limit is posted as well… yuh could make real money on the PBR… 65 not 80 kph… oh dat is annoder charge…

The use of the Priority Bus Route by unauthorized vehicles will face an increase from a fixed penalty of $200 to $2,000.

driving on the PBR in an unauthorised vehicle… how will the POLICE know who is authorized or not? will every vehicle now have to have a sticker or big card displaying this authorisation? if so Private Ambulances, Defence Force vehicles, President, Prime Minister and other Members of Parliament need to get approval and from who? the Minister of MOWT or the Police Commissioner or whoever in charge of Liscencing Department? will Public Utility vehicles have to prove that they are going to work along the route to drive on it as well?

Mr. Speaker in the case of installing illegal tints on vehicles we propose to apply a fixed penalty of $2,000.

How will illegal tints be determined… is there a percentage of transparency that has to be achieved or will we still be eyeballing it? what if i change all the glass except the windsheild to some metal compound… for security reasons… you’ve seen the panel vans.. yuh cyar see through them… and some of the security service vehicles that are tank-like in appearance? with wiremesh covering the windsheild… will this measure also have to have certified equipment like the Breathalayzer equipment… will it have to be specially calibrated?

In addition, Mr. Speaker a fixed penalty of $2,000 will be applied to motor vehicles that are not fitted with seatbelts.

Honestly, in this day and age, if a vehicle doesnt have seatbelts installed the officer who Liscenced/Inspected the vehicle should also be charged… if found to be culpable…

Mr. Speaker, the Government will bring legislation to this Honourable House to make the use of child restraints mandatory for children five years of age and under.

This measure is expected to contribute an additional $40 Million to Government’s revenue and will take place from January 1, 2010.

I already asked how allyuh going to prove the child age… also do we have to certify the restraint system… or can i simply strap in my 3 month old using the seatbelts in the car…

(ii) Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chap. 48:50 (Fees and Duties).

Mr. Speaker, to harmonize the fees and duties under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act Chapter 48:50 (Fees and Duties) the Government proposes the following amendments:

i. Amend the cost of the renewal of drivers’ licences from $200 every three years to $500 every five years;

ii. Increase all other fees and duties under the First Schedule by 75 percent.

This measure is expected to contribute an additional $35 Million to Government’s revenue and will
take place from January 1, 2010.

so I will be paying $500 more for three renewals… for those who eh understand what i mean…

old scheme… $200 every 3… in fifteen years thats $1000
new scheme… $500 every 5… in fifteen years thats $1500

and I actually have to renew this year so I guess i saving some money… yeah

five years actually gives you more of a chance to lose your permit… or the way things looking get your wallet stolen…

i left out the increase in fees… not that they not important but if yuh wanna buy a car make sure you have that money anyway…

this last one not dealing with the vehicles but the Land Tax thingy… the math eluding me cause I eh really sit with it but from a renters stand point should I be worried… we already dont have a rent assessment board and no real place to air any greviance… will my rent be increased? ppl done paying outta d wazzu and now these heartless apartment owners getting another way to keep the poor poor… cause in truth Karen… all ah dem ting fuh housing and construction outta these same renters grasp…

ps thanks to Heineken for the FREE beers till year end… I think I’ll be alcohol free from January 1, 2010…