Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/736806
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2016 News 3 MIRIAM DALLI A white paper launched by Jus- tice Minister Owen Bonnici is proposing to extend the penalty points system – currently in place for the first three years of driving – to all drivers. The points, which will be valid for a year, will be revised to penal- ise certain infringements by fewer points, with other infringements being revised upwards to attract higher points. Drivers who have their licence revoked the first time can reap- ply and a new licence will be is- sued after two months. Drivers who face two revocations in three years will have to sit again for their driving exam, whilst drivers will not be able to apply for a new licence before six months are up, if their licence has been revoked three times over five years. A fourth revocation will result in a two-year driving ban and it will be up to the court to decide whether the motorist can re-apply and sit for the driving exam. The white paper also proposes to give local wardens the right to administer breathalyser tests, although any subsequent action will then be taken by the police. The Justice Minister argued that the ever-increasing number of traffic accidents and fatalities re- quired the country to strengthen road safety. "Sometimes motorists under- estimate the link between care- less driving or driving under the influence and traffic accidents. A voluntary change in attitude towards road safety measures is not enough," Bonnici told a news conference. In 2015 alone, a total 15,504 traffic accidents were recorded, marking an increase of 7.1% over the previous year. 1,711 persons were injured, 11 of them proving fatal. According to the National Statistics Office, 71.5% of casu- alties were caused by passenger cars while 18.6% were caused by motorcycles. The white paper envisages harsher sanctions for people found driving under the influence of alcohol, with fines for first-time offenders increasing from €1,200 to €1,800, and for repeat offend- ers from €2,329.37 to €3,000. The courts will also be allowed to place drunk drivers under pro- bation, as well as to order them to attend a rehabilitation pro- gramme or to undergo commu- nity service. A new system of permissible alcohol limits will be adopted, which will distinguish between driving for private purposes, driving of commercial vehicles, driving of buses, coaches and other vehicles carrying commut- ers against payment and driving under a probationary driving li- cence. These categories will be subject to different alcohol limits which in certain cases can even be zero. Punishment for driving without a licence will increase and the court will have the right to sus- pend the licence without waiting for the prosecution's formal re- quest. Penalty points system to be extended to all drivers White paper proposes giving wardens right to administer breathalyser tests The main proposals: 1. Harsher punishment for driving without a licence 2. Giving wardens right to administer breathalyser tests 3. Increase punishment for driving under the influence 4. Introduce new system of permissible alcohol limits for different vehicles 5. Extend penalty points system to all drivers 6. Revise penalty points incurred by infringements The White Paper is open to public consultation on www.mjcl. gov.mt until 15 November, and suggestions can be e-mailed to trafficlawreform.mjcl@gov.mt.