Close to $100 million was collected at the traffic ticket public days undertaken by the judiciary last week in Kingston.

The Court Administration Division says preliminary figures indicate that $97,454,200 in fines was collected over the two day exercise at the National Arena.

Director of Client Services, Communications, and Information Kadiesh Jarrett Fletcher says data entry and reconciliation of the traffic ticket public days are ongoing.

The traffic ticket public days were designed to provide Jamaicans with an efficient and accessible opportunity to resolve outstanding traffic matters.

In the meantime, the Judiciary says persons who were unable to immediately pay court imposed fines were accommodated temporarily in a designated changing room at the National Arena, while arrangements were being made for their next steps.

It states that the changing room included access to bathroom facilities so that individuals could attend to their personal needs while awaiting transportation or alternative arrangements.

The Judiciary moved today to clarify the issue surrounding the detention of some persons at the recently staged traffic ticket public days at the National Arena.

According to the Judiciary, the persons temporarily held in the room were not members of the general public who attended the event, nor were they persons being indiscriminately detained based on outstanding warrants.

It says they represented the relatively small number of individuals who, after appearing before the court, were unable to pay the fines imposed.

In several instances, persons were afforded time to contact relatives or friends who could assist them with payment of the fines.

Where payment could not be made, individuals awaited transportation by the police to the relevant police stations, in accordance with established legal procedures.

The Judiciary adds that importantly, the temporary holding area was maintained in a clean and hygienic condition throughout the event.

It says the facility was regularly cleaned, and every effort was made to ensure that persons were treated with dignity and respect, while awaiting transportation or the completion of arrangements concerning their fines.

Additionally, a medical team from the Ministry of Health and Wellness was stationed immediately beside the area to ensure that, should any medical need arise, prompt assessment and assistance were readily available.

The Judiciary in a statement says preliminary data indicate that ten persons were taken into custody on Wednesday, July 8 because they were unable to pay their fines, while six persons were taken into custody on Thursday, July 9, under similar circumstances.

The Judiciary notes that these figures are preliminary and that data for both days are still being finalised and collated.

The statement adds that it should also be noted that at least one individual taken into custody on Wednesday indicated that he had attended the event prepared to serve the custodial sentence rather than pay the fine imposed.

The traffic ticket public days were designed to provide Jamaicans with an efficient and accessible opportunity to resolve outstanding traffic matters.

According to the Judiciary, thousands of persons attended and were able to settle their cases without incident.

It states that the number of individuals who were ultimately taken into custody represented a very small fraction of the persons served during the exercise.