The Senate has given clearance for the 3 month traffic ticket amnesty to get underway.

The Senate today (July 14) passed the Road Traffic Temporary Ticket Amnesty Act 2017, without amendments.

The traffic ticket amnesty will take effect August 2, and end on October 31.

The traffic ticket amnesty will benefit persons who were issued with tickets from September 1, 2010, to July 31, this year.

State Minister in the Ministry of National Security Pearnel Charles Junior, who piloted the bill, says the amnesty is being implemented in preparation for the new Road Traffic Act, which will come into effect by the end of the amnesty period.

Senator Charles Junior says, the monies collected from the amnesty, will be utilized by the Ministries of Justice, National Security, Transport as well as the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

The amnesty was due to begin July 1, but was pushed back by a month, to ensure all systems are in place.

Meantime, Opposition Senator Mark Golding, has taken issue with the fact that persons who paid their traffic tickets on time, but have demerit points, will not benefit from the waiver, offered to delinquents

He says the move can be seen as awarding the delinquents in a way that persons who complied, will not be afforded the same opportunity.

Senator Golding says that aspect of the bill is undesirable and should have been thought through.