THE Y2K bug, the anticipated computer glitch that caused worldwide apprehension when 1999 changed to year 2000, is blamed for the failure of the police traffic tracking system.
That is the view of Sergeant Hubert Dennis of the Traffic Department.
"If you ask us how many tickets were issued for all of last year we can't tell you that," he said. Previously, the information from the computer centre would state the number of tickets issued for each offence such as speeding or dangerous driving. "Now we cannot get that".
Asked why, he pointed to the "Y2K bug. We having problems from that time, every minute it is down, it is slow numerous problems."
The Gleaner learnt that a team from the Ministry went overseas sometime last year to shop for a system to replace the existing one. But, those plans seemed to have been scrapped as Shirley Byfield, Information Officer in the Ministry, has indicated that US$3.2 million (J$150 million) will be spent to upgrade the current system.
In a written response to Gleaner questions, Ms Byfield said: "The computerised traffic ticketing system has lost some functions and for some time has not been operating at full capacity." She explained that the decision to upgrade followed consultation on the system. Funding will be provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Jamaican Government. The project was put to tender on December 31, 2001.
This, however, comes more than two years after Elaine Baker, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, told Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the new computerised tracking system would have shortly been in place. When she appeared before the PAC in December 1999, she explained that the new system would contain the names of all delinquents, and would be linked to tax collectorates.
She boasted then that it would not only make it easier for the police to detect delinquent ticket holders, but would also make it impossible for them to renew their licences.
At the time of Mrs Baker's appearance, $24.3 million had remained uncollected as at June 22, 1998, representing 118,490 unpaid tickets. Payments of $55.12 million were received for 138,344 tickets during the period in which 256,834 tickets were issued. At that time there were nearly $1 million in outstanding warrants for ticket holders and bailiffs were said to be tardy in executing their duties.
The system of ticketing motorists for traffic offences was introduced in April 1993 to cut down on the carnage on the island's roads. Despite that, 353 Jamaicans were killed last year, the result of 315 fatal accidents. The figure was 19 more than for the corresponding 12-month period in 2000.
The increased penalties for traffic breaches were announced some three months ago. For example, the fine for driving without a valid certificate of fitness has jumped from $200 to $800, while the fine for driving an unlicensed vehicle moved from $500 to $1,500. Motorists now have to fork out a whopping $20,000 for dangerous driving for a first offence, up from $3,000, and $30,000 for a second offence. However, demerit points earned under the ticketing system, which could result in the suspension of a driver's licence, remain the same.
