Government announced yesterday that those breaking the seatbelt law will face a maximum fine of $200.

Originally residents were told breaking this law could cost them $2,000.

The change came as Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown gave a second reading to The Traffic Offences (Penalties) Amendment Act 2004 in Parliament yesterday.

The legislation marked the third section that needed to be passed in order to make the offence ticketable.

Residents had expected to be ticketed for not wearing seatbelts at the beginning of the year after passage of the Motor Car Amendment (no 3) Act 2001.

However, in February it emerged that a loophole in the legislation made ticketing a mountain of paperwork for Police officers and, therefore, unlikely.

Dr. Brown at the time said the matter would be rectified quickly.

The Traffic Offences (Penalties) Amendment Act 2004 passed yesterday in the House of Assembly. The legislation enables people who drive without seatbelts to be fined. It allows for those who admit guilt to pay a $50 fine without going to court. It also allows those who plead not guilty to go to court.

If found guilty in court, a maximum fine of $200 can be levied.

Transport Control Director Kevin Monkman yesterday explained that the maximum fine fell from $2,000 to $200 because to make the offence ticketable it now comes under the Traffic Offences Penalties Act and not the Motor Car Amendment Act.

Schedules set out in each Act clearly dictate the maximum fines that can be levied.

While the Opposition voted for the amendment, they complained that Government has taken too long top get the legislation right.

?This is the third piece of legislation it has take to get a simple thing done that started over a year and a half ago,? said Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell. ?If you can?t get the simple things done then what about the more important??

But Cultural Affairs Minister Dale Butler countered that Government had achieved its goal and is more interested in educating people than in penalising them.

?More people have begun to use their seatbelts. That?s what we wanted so it?s worked,? he said.

The Act now has to pass the Senate and be signed by the Governor, whereupon it will take immediate effect.