WHILE the police are promising that they will be "using their discretion" in dealing with motorists as of November 1 when the new seat-belt law takes effect, motorists in breach of the law could still find themselves paying big bucks in court and or have points taken off their driver's licences.

Corporal Hubert Dennis, of the Elletson Road-based Police Traffic Department, conceded that the police are aware that some older model vehicles came here without rear seatbelts and, as such, will deal with these on a case-by-case basis.

However, there will be no reprieve for motorcyclists or their pillions who drive around without helmets.

"They must wear helmets, there is no two ways about that," said Corporal Dennis.

He added that "a bicycle is not like a car that could provide them with some kind of protection, they have none."

But, even if the police are willing to use their discretion, there is likely to be no let up once a driver ends up before the courts.

For driving a motor vehicle without seat-belt, a driver, if convicted before a Resident Magistrate, for the first offence will be fined $2,000. For the second or subsequent offences $5,000 and two demerit points from his/her driver's licence.

And passengers and pillions are not exempt. For driving or riding in a vehicle without wearing seat-belt where the vehicle is fitted with such, if convicted before a Resident Magistrate there is a fine of $2,000 each for driver and passenger, for a second or subsequent offence, $5,000, and two points are taken off the driver's licence.

For not causing a child to be constrained in a child restraint system, a driver will be fined $5,000 for the first offence and four points taken from the driver's licence.

In the case of a motorcyclist and pillion rider driving without helmets, if convicted in the courts, they will be fined $2,000 for first offence and $5,000 for a subsequent offence along with two points off the driver's licence.