THE EDITOR, Sir:

I have just recently returned to Jamaica after spending the holidays abroad and was advised that I should visit the Ministry of National Security's Traffic Ticket Amnesty Online Query web page, as even though persons such as myself were sure that they had no outstanding traffic tickets, their names may still appear on the list.

On typing in my TRN/driver's licence number, I was astonished to find Ticket No. A282660 in the amount of $7,500, issued on June 11, 2004 at the Lacovia main road in St Elizabeth, listed as outstanding. THIS IS INCORRECT.

I am very upset about this, as I went to great expense, time, effort and loss of foreign-exchange income in order to fight the original unjustly issued ticket in 2004.

Then, I had to make three trips from Kingston to the courthouse in Santa Cruz, only to have my case postponed on two occasions because of the absence of the officer; had to postpone two very important project business trips to Barbados and St Lucia; had to consult with two senior attorneys-at-law; and spent several hours researching and preparing for the trial before representing myself and winning the case on November 26, 2004. Indeed, my computer records that I was up at 1:46 on the morning of the case finalising my questions, photographs, and diagrams.

Having gone to trial and having had the above speeding case against me dismissed by the presiding resident magistrate over eight years ago, I find it incredible that this matter has come up again, forcing me to dig up old boxes to find my 2004 diary, to get the correct dates, and reinforcing the fact that the system is not only unjust but obviously not working efficiently.

I trust that, based on the above, the Ministry of National Security will have this outstanding ticket expunged.

ROBERT WOODSTOCK

Kingston 10