MP demands licence renewal after speeding fine appeal

Opposition MP Anton Refalo yesterday called upon the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) and the Sliema Joint Council to immediately renew his car licence.

In a judicial protest filed in the First Hall of the Civil Court, Dr Refalo said he had been charged with having exceeded the speed limit on Regional Road, St Julians, last November.

He had contested the charge before the Sliema Local Tribunal but, on January 24, he had been found guilty and fined Lm30 for this contravention. Dr Refalo had appealed to the Magistrates' Court on February 7, that is within the 30-day time limit established by law. But, Dr Refalo said, when he applied to renew his car licence (which lapsed at the end of January), the ADT informed him this could not be done until he paid the Lm30 fine.

Although the ADT was told that an appeal had been filed, it still refused to renew the licence on the basis that it had not been informed by the Sliema Joint Council about the appeal.

Dr Refalo said in his judicial protest he had submitted a parliamentary question on the issue but was not satisfied with the reply he obtained. The minister responsible for justice had replied that when an appeal was filed, the relevant paperwork was sent to the company responsible for the electronic system of local enforcement. This information would then be sent to the Licensing Department. In this case, the minister said it did not result that Dr Refalo had filed an appeal.

Dr Refalo said the Minister of Justice had been misinformed, adding that this was a clear case of discrimination and negligence on the part of the ADT and the council, and that it was causing him to suffer damages.

He concluded by calling for the immediate renewal of his car licence and held the ADT and the council responsible in damages.

Lawyer Vincent Galea signed the protest.