Cabinet Approves Dedicated Night Court to Tackle Growing Traffic Offence Backlog

Traffic offenders in Antigua and Barbuda will soon face a faster path to accountability, after Cabinet approved the establishment of a dedicated night court to hear traffic-related matters — a move aimed at addressing a deepening backlog of cases and mounting concerns over road safety across the twin-island nation.

Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant announced Friday that Cabinet accepted a recommendation from Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin to create the specialised court as part of efforts to address a growing backlog of traffic cases and concerns over road safety.

Merchant said Cabinet's decision followed extensive discussions on the increasing number of traffic offences and road traffic incidents being reported across the country, as well as the rising number of traffic matters awaiting resolution before the courts.

A Court Born Out of Urgency

Cabinet expressed concern about the frequency of traffic accidents and violations and their impact on public safety, property, and the administration of justice, with members agreeing that a more focused and timely approach was needed to ensure traffic-related offences are dealt with without unnecessary delays.

The night court will be dedicated exclusively to hearing traffic cases and is expected to provide a mechanism for reducing the existing caseload while improving the speed at which new matters are brought before the courts. The initiative is also intended to strengthen enforcement of traffic laws by ensuring that offenders are held accountable in a timely manner.

A Response to a Real Problem

The announcement comes against the backdrop of a steady stream of road traffic incidents in recent months, including the serious collision last week that left an on-duty police officer hospitalised with significant injuries after being thrown from a motorcycle on Factory Road. Road safety advocates have long argued that slow judicial processing of traffic matters has weakened the deterrent effect of enforcement — a concern that the night court initiative is directly designed to address.

No start date for the court's operations was announced at the time of the post-Cabinet briefing. Further details on the sitting schedule, presiding magistrates, and operational framework are expected to be released by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in the coming weeks.