And while there's tobacco smuggling in the Free Zone, there's extortion happening on the roads. On Wednesday you heard the ComPol talk about lessening the penalty for the new seatbelt law so that those in violation could be ticketed, rather than arrested. However, as it turns out, the offense is already a ticketable one, it's just that sometimes the police choose to arrest - or threaten to arrest - drivers. But should it be just one standard penalty, preferably a ticket, to deter extortion? Here's what Minister Musa had to say.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"In terms of scaling back the penalties, I quite like the fact that we are putting in place laws that benefit our people, you should not look at it as you're getting a ticket or you're getting fined, you are saving you life, the police department, the transport department are putting laws in place and enforcing laws that will help you to save your life and I think that's how we have to look at it."
Courtney Menzies:
"But I think what Vejea is trying to say is that officers are arresting persons when could just simply issue a ticket."
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"Again, I would have to get particulars of that instance so that I can investigate it."
Reporter:
"The deputy chief transport officer has explained that there are three possibilities, you can get a ticket, you can get summoned to court or you can actually be arrested and charged. The question is why don't authorities altogether consider we'll just ticket you, he did say if that ticket expires, you're going to court and have to pay $500 because the $50 fee will expire, so why not just standardize it because then how will be fair Courtney gets $50 and I get $500."
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I agree with you and again it will have to be a close examination by the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Home Affairs to see the instances that you're speaking of because as far as I'm aware, you are ticketed, and thereafter if you do not appear by the date that is contained in that ticket then in fact it's an automatic fine so that is the policy and that is a procedure as I understand it so if there are other instances or maybe an individual committed some other in fracture, that's a different story."
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