The number of traffic wardens is expected to double under a reform which plans to improve their reputation and ease pressure on them to dish out fines.
Though to many drivers the green-uniformed officials seem ubiquitous, there are only between 45 and 50 wardens on the beat at any one time from among the 70 in service.
The reform of the local enforcement system, introduced a decade ago, aims to at least double the number of wardens thus easing pressure on them, allowing them time to take more of an educational role.
An analysis report of the present system, seen by The Times, concluded that there were too few wardens, who were almost entirely focused on traffic contraventions. About 98 per cent of the 1.76 million contraventions issued over the past 10 years were traffic related. The drive is pushed by local councils, which, the report determined, were looking at the system as a way to pocket more funds.
These reasons and the fact that the system is very expensive to run (each warden costs between €22 and €25 an hour) are pushing wardens to dish out as many fines as they can. Last year alone, the 50 wardens on the beat on average issued over 207,350 tickets, that is, more than 4,000 each a year.
The result is a negative reputation which, warden companies complained, was leading to them having problems recruiting people.
The government is planning to change this but it hopes to pay for this surge without adding more costs. The plan is to reduce the joint committees which run tribunals, from the present nine to just five and to restructure the way the system is managed to make it more efficient.
The reform, therefore, had to focus on how costs could be reduced and how to ease the pressure on wardens, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said, who is spearheading the reform, said.
He said the new system would lay stress on education. The wardens would also be expected to cover other infringements, including those related to animal welfare, and some offences specific to heavy vehicles, among others. However, they would be given more training and there would be a drive to improve their working conditions, even through the European Social Fund.
Among other recommendations, the reform proposes the introduction of on-the-spot payments and discounts for those who choose to pay there and then.
Warning tickets are also on the cards. Wardens will be able to issue a warning rather than an actual booking for the first offence on the less serious types of contraventions. However, the same system will see fines increasing each time the same infringement is committed. The same incremental system already applies to speeding tickets, which, according to recently-released data, tops the list of infringements.
The changes form part of a document, seen by The Times, which should be discussed by Cabinet by the end of the year with a view to implementing the new measures early next year.
The 40 recommendations follow consultations with two companies operating the system, the joint committees and the wardens themselves.
The setting up of a centralised customer care unit is being proposed. People will be able to phone and report infringements and make complaints on the system.
On the IT side, the reform proposes having a centralised system where people can input their car's number plate and see all of their pending fines. As things stand, such access is only given to local councils, insurance companies and the Malta Transport Authority.