The Editor, Sir:

I am writing to express my frustration with the inefficiency and absurdity of our traffic court system, and to suggest ways to make it less so.

When I went to court in April to contest a ticket I had received in March, a new trial date was set for June, as the officer who had charged me did not come to court. The same thing occurred when I went to court in June - the trial was deferred to August.

In August, the judge told a police officer to tell me to come back in October because I was wearing a sleeveless blouse. Since it was the middle of August in this tropical country of ours, I had decided to wear that to work that day. It is not the same as a spaghetti-strap top. The court in St. Ann's Bay, for instance, quite smartly makes this differentiation, and specifies that the latter is prohibited.

When I went to court in October for what was now the FOURTH time, I took work with me to do, as I knew there would be at least a 45-minute wait before my name would be called.

I was told that reading and/or writing are not allowed in the courtroom. So I wasted time by staring into space. My case was dismissed because, once again, the officer was a no-show.

It seems to me that the traffic court system is mistaken in thinking that we, the citizens of this country, are here to serve it. But, it is the reverse: The system, whose employees our tax dollars pay, is here to serve US.

So, perhaps it can start to live this truth, and more efficiently and effectively work for us, by:

Dismissing a case on the first day, if the officer (who is required to be there), does not show up. It is ludicrous that police officers have three chances to make an appearance (at the expense of our time), and we only have one - and if we don't show up for that date, a warrant may be issued for OUR arrest! Furthermore, this current way of doing things does not a productive nation make. Imagine the hours of lost productivity incurred when each person contesting a ticket has to twice-spend one to three hours at court!

Developing a dress code that is practical, is consistent nationwide, and is accessible to the public before one comes to court (by outlining it on the back of the ticket, for instance, along with the other rules).

Let's stop the nonsense, please!

I am, etc.,

ZAHRA ORANE