Gov’t targets huge increase in collection of traffic fines
Published:Tuesday | February 17, 2026 | 12:09 AM
The Government, through the Ministry of National Security and Peace, is signalling that it intends to collect a whopping $1 billion in traffic fines in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This compares with $450 million that was set as the target to collect in fiscal year 2025-2026.
The increase is set out in the Estimates of Expenditure, which was tabled in Parliament last week by Finance and the Public Service Minister Fayval Williams.
With the more than 120 per cent projected increase year-on-year, the Budget document indicates that the sum, among other things, will be used for the general maintenance and minor repairs of police stations across the country.
Under the heading ‘Rehabilitation, Maintenance and Repairs’, a sum of $600 million for 2026-2027 from traffic ticket fines, reflected as appropriations-in-aid, is to be used for the maintenance and refurbishing of courthouses.
The similar activity in the 2025-2026 fiscal year included a provision of $400 million from traffic fines to carry out repairs and maintenance to courthouses.
A portion of the proceeds from traffic ticket fines has also been earmarked for the purpose of formulating effective policies to promote and develop the transport sector. The sum of $136 million is set aside for this activity.
Under the caption ‘Public Relations and Communication’, the Ministry of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications is to get $45 million from traffic fines to carry out public education exercises aimed at promoting the Government’s policies and programmes.