Petitioners 'should ignore tribunal summons'

The Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs said yesterday that the Board of Petitions has noted that there are instances where during the processing of a petition for the revocation of traffic contraventions, the petitioner still receives the summons to appear before the Local Tribunal.

The ministry said that Legal Notice 144 of 2007 published earlier this year specifically lays down that: "Following the presentation of a petition in the Registry of the Board, the Tribunal proceedings referring to such contravention shall be suspended for all effects and purposes of law, until such date when the petition is decided upon".

The ministry said that the petitioner should, therefore, ignore any summons to appear before the local tribunal if he or she has lodged a petition with the Board of Petitions.

The ministry said that should a person pay the fine, such action would render his petition null.