The demerit point system, penalising poor drivers, is now underway on the Island.

Yesterday three drivers were given fines as well as demerit points at Magistrates' Court for breaking various traffic laws.

Under the new law, if a person accumulates 12 demerit points, he or she will automatically receive a one-year driving ban.

All points will expire two years after the date of the original conviction.

Cevon Raynor, 30, of Suffering Lane received the most demerit points yesterday for failing to give a breathalyser when requested by Police.

The court heard that he was pulled over in Sandys on November 24 after he failed to give way to an ambulance. The officers were alerted about Raynor's behaviour and stopped him.

He was arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving but refused to give a breathalyser sample.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo fined him $800, disqualified him from driving for 12 months and ordered that 10 demerit points be put on his licence.

Marlene Jones, 57, of Lilly Lane, St. George's was fined $300 and four points were placed on her licence for speeding at 58 km/h.

And Arthur Daniels of Dundonald Street was fined $450 while five demerits points were placed on his licence for driving without due care.

The demerit system for keeping track if repeat traffic offenders was announced at the end of October and Premier Ewart Brown, who is also the Minister of Transport, said at the time: "You will recall that the Road Safety Council had proposed a legislative change aimed at encouraging the public to become more responsible for their actions when driving on our roads.

"Such an initiative has come to be known as the Demerit Point System. I am pleased to announce today that the planning stage is complete and the Demerit Point System will take effect November 1."

He said the purpose of the system was two-fold. "First, it monitors the development of poor driving records in newly licensed drivers and takes steps to improve their driving habits. Second, it protects the public from habitual offenders by disqualifying or revoking the licences of unsafe drivers."