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The way is now clear for Jamaica's new road traffic laws to be implemented.
This after the new Road Traffic Act was approved in the Senate on Friday afternoon with 161 ammendments.
The new laws will impose severe measures on digressive users of the nation's roads.
The new legislation will repeal and replace the existing 1938 Act.
Among the new provisions is the removal of the grace period for presenting a driver's licence.
Leader of Government Business Kamina Johnson Smith in addressing the amendments explained the reason for the removal.
"It's not only identification. It is more than one fold and it is not a new concept, but we're taking out the grace period because it is abused and exploited by person who refuse to adhere to the law, and a little bit of discipline will not hurt us," she purported.
Opposition Senator Lambert Brown questioned the removal of the grace period, arguing that Jamaicans have been mislead by the government to believe that with the proposed National Identification System (NIDS), there would be no need to carry several different forms of identification, including the driver's licence.
"It's important in light of what the public have been told that we won't need all this multiplicity of IDs that now we are being told by this legislation that that is not true," he argued.
Penalties
Heavy penalties have been included in the bill for a range of activities like driving without a licence or permit, which attracts a fine of $40,000.
There is a fine of $20,000 for driving without required motor vehicle insurance coverage.
The fine for driving a motor vehicle without a permit entitling the driver to use the vehicle is $30,000.
Exceeding speed limits will cost motorists from anywhere $6,000 to $15,000, while loud noises and failure to wear protective helmet attract a fine of $5,000.
The fine for failure to comply with traffic signs is $10,000 and failure to stop at pedestrian crossings will cost $12,000.
The new legislation also bans drivers from using hand-held electronic devices and any electronic visual device outside of GPS, radio, and reversing cameras.
That offence will attract a fine of $10,000.
Schedule Six of the new Road Traffic Act outlines several offences that attract demerit points, which could lead to the suspension of drivers' licences.
These offences include reckless or dangerous driving, racing on the roadway and driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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