Government is set to impose a series of tough new measures to clear up the fiasco over hundreds of unpaid parking tickets.

And Transport Minister Wayne Furbert claims he is also planning to introduce a points system for driving offences in a bid to stop courts from being jammed with offenders.

Speaking exclusively to The Royal Gazette last night Mr. Furbert said a motion would go before Parliament tomorrow which would amend administrative procedures concerning the payment of parking tickets.

The move will close a legal loophole which has allowed hundreds of parking offenders, issued with tickets in the first half of last year not to be taken to court.

And because the amendment will be retroactive the Attorney General will now be able to go ahead with prosecutions -- saving the Government an estimated $250,000.

Last month the Attorney General was set to appeal a Magistrate's decision that parking tickets issued more than six months ago were no longer valid.

But at the last minute he dropped the appeal, fuelling speculation that hundreds of offenders would be let off the hook.

"We will be introducing a piece of legislation which will validate all tickets,'' Mr. Furbert said.

"Basically there was an error in that part of the administrative procedure was not carried out. The law's already there but we are now making the procedure.

"The tickets are not valid right now but this will validate them.'' The Transport Minister also said a White Paper will be introduced in the House of Assembly later this session to discuss the possibility of a points system for offenders.

And he also dismissed a claim made by lawyer Philip Perinchief in yesterday's Royal Gazette that, because traffic wardens had not been sanctioned by Parliament, every ticket ever issued was illegal.

"We have taken legal advice and I'm sure those advisors have advised us correctly,'' he said.

"I don't know what Mr. Perinchief is talking about but those are only his opinions.

"But there is a White Paper going forward that will recommend a points system for traffic offences.

"I am not saying it will apply to parking offences but it might.

"Basically there could be one point for overtaking on a yellow line and so on. If you get an accumulation of points then your licence could be revoked.'' COURTS CTS