The United Bermuda Party has condemned Government's handling of the seatbelt law which is currently unenforceable.

Government is to close loopholes after it emerged it was virtually impossible to ticket people for not buckling up.

The act came into force on January 1 with fines of up to $2,100 for those not wearing seatbelts. Few, if anyone, has been ticketed because the process is now so complicated, say Police insiders.

The Act cannot be used as it was intended because it is not linked to the ticketable offences legislation, so offenders cannot be given a moving violation ticket. Regulations will change this in April.

The law also stipulates that children up to one year and 20 pounds must be in a rear-facing infant seat while children from and 20 to 40 pounds must be in a forward facing child seat.

Shadow Transport Minister Jamahl Simmons said: “On December 12, 2003 the United Bermuda Party called on government to postpone the penalty phase related to the use of seat belts and car seats in Bermuda until July 1, 2004.”

Instead Government brought in the penalty phase on January 1 this year.

Mr. Simmons said the postponement would have allowed Government to introduce duty relief on the importation of car seats and reduce the financial burden on families with children and allow more time for both the public and the Police service to adjust to the new law.

“Unfortunately the government was unwilling to see the value of our argument,” said Mr. Simmons.

“The continuing failure of this Government to address the myriad flaws in this legislation 16 months after the legislation was first tabled in the House of Assembly back on November 14, 2002 is disgraceful.

“Furthermore, the government missed a golden opportunity to relieve the financial burden this law places on the working families of Bermuda.

“As the PLP unveiled their Budget last month in the House of Assembly we expected this Government, which professes to care about the people, would introduce duty relief on children's car seats. Unfortunately this never happened.”

He said child seats can cost as much as $189 and Bermudian families would have appreciated Government compassion.

“We hope the Minister of Transport will address the flaws in the seatbelt legislation as quickly as possible and take all necessary steps to insure such gaffes are avoided in the future.

“The United Bermuda Party will continue to seek duty relief on children's car seats as a means of reducing the financial burden on parents seeking to obey the law and protect the safety of their children.”

Transport Minister Ewart Brown could not be reached for comment.