New Provision Introduced For Traffic Warrants
The Bermuda Police Service introduced a new process allowing individuals with outstanding traffic warrants to report directly to Hamilton Police Station before attending court the same day.
A police spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Police Service [BPS] wishes to advise the public that, with immediate effect, a new provision is in place for persons who have outstanding traffic warrants.
“With the express authority and approval of the Senior Magistrate, persons with outstanding traffic warrants may now present themselves directly to the Hamilton Police Station, where they will be received and processed by the Station Duty Officer at the front desk.
“Upon arrival, individuals will be asked to provide their personal details. Their warrant information will be confirmed, and they will then be directed to attend the Magistrates’ Court directly on the same day at 9:30 AM.
“Persons wishing to avail themselves of this provision are asked to report to the Hamilton Police Station between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM in order to allow sufficient time for processing prior to their court attendance.
“The Bermuda Police Service recognises that the traditional traffic warrant processing experience placed a significant burden of time and inconvenience on members of the public. This initiative developed through partnership between the BPS and the judiciary is designed to streamline that process, making it as seamless as possible while encouraging members of our community to come forward and address outstanding traffic matters proactively.
“The Bermuda Police Service remains committed to working collaboratively with our community and partner agencies to provide a service that is both efficient and people centred.”
I definitely agree with this and those with the outstanding warrants, avoid the embarrassment of arrest, potential loss of employment and hardship on your families because of imprisonment.
What truly baffles me is that so many are stopped and arrested for outstanding warrants but when searched, they have the money in their pockets to pay!!
Totally agree with you
Hopefully the day will come when the courts can be bypassed completely.
You get booked for an offense. You don’t contest it on the spot. Your license is scanned. The computer knows your record and assigns a penalty on the spot. You pay right then right there roadside.
Before all of the ‘ya, buts’ get started, very obviously that won’t work for everyone. If you contest the offense you go through the courts with the fine doubling if found guilty.
If there is a warrant for your arrest you get arrested and your vehicle is impounded.
The tech exists. For the seldom offender why go through all of the courts hassle when there is an easier way?
This is not a new policy, this has been in effect for years. I can say that because I have been through the process multiple times. Perhaps they have made it an official policy now but I promise you they have had this procedure in place since as long as I can remember the only difference now with the police station and the courts housed in the same building is that they no longer parade you across the street to the courts. Also they no longer take certain items from you like your belt or hold you in a cell during processing. It’s still considered an official arrest, processing and appearance before the court. It would have been something new if you didn’t have to go to court and could just pay the outstanding fine. However I noticed that the fine always increases if you have to appear before the court. For example a $250 fine for unlicensed vehicle can be paid in advance of the court date but if you appear in court then the fine increases to $350 so I advise that you pay the fine before you have to go to court. Additionally if you need more time to pay you can appear before the court to ask for an extension of your own free will so long as you have done so at least 24 hours before the deadline to pay and the fine will not be increased. To do this you must be able to go to the third floor in the magistrate court and speak with the clerk by 8:30 am so that they can process the paperwork and you can appear before the court at 9:30 the same day.