debated in the House of Assembly today.

Transport Minister the Hon. Ralph Marshall has tabled the legislation in response to Judge Stephen Tumim's 1992 Report of the Criminal Justice Review Board.

The Tumim Report, which has been debated in the House over the last three sitting days, said the Island's road traffic legislation "needed fundamental reform''.

"It was pointed out to us that for certain traffic offences, such as driving whilst disqualified, prison sentences were mandatory for a second offence,'' Judge Tumim said.

"The suggestion was that the mandatory requirements should be abolished ...

so as to remove the situation whereby young motoring offenders were locked up with dangerous criminals.'' The practice of imposing consecutive periods of disqualification, which has some young Bermuda drivers off the road beyond the year 2000, should also be stopped, the report said.

Mr. Marshall's Traffic Offences (Penalties) Amendment Act 1993 incorporates both those recommendations. It also provides for a clean slate for drivers who are currently disqualified, provided they have no further convictions for six months after the bill becomes law.

The changes are aimed at convictions for speeding and the like, and would not apply to impaired driving, for which a mandatory jail term is to continue for repeat offences.

The PLP broadly supports the UBP reforms, but it is expected there could be considerable debate on how they are implemented and on other details.

National Liberal Party leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell has said he is not sure he supports an end to the mandatory jail terms.

The Bermuda International Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1993 is also to be dealt with, and debate is to resume on a proposal by Government to purchase a strip of land adjacent to the Port Royal Golf Course.