Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Wednesday; New Traffic Law, Dennis Brown, Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Wednesday, February 1, 2023 New Road Traffic Act in effect! The new Road Traffic Act with its far more punitive fines for traffic breaches [takes effect today]( after many years in the making. The police have long clamoured for the regulations, which will allow them to apply the penalties laid out for various offences in the 2018 law. Among the [schedule of updated fines]( are up to $150,000 for defacing or mutilating certificates of fitness, licence certificates, licence decals or certificates of title or obliterating entry or making an entry or addition; reproducing or duplicating these documents. People could also be fined up to $250,000 for advertising for sale, selling, using or installing a device which gives inaccurate odometer readings, or altering their odometers. Travelling in a vehicle with part of the body protruding, or allowing a passenger to do so will attract a $10,000-fine, according to the regulations. Also, driving a motor vehicle which causes a sound exceeding the noise limit could cost motorists $10,000. Under the new law, motorcycle drivers are limited to carrying one passenger and driving on one wheel (Wheelie) is prohibited. Additionally, all motorcycles must be sold with a helmet, and a motorcycle learner must be accompanied by a licenced driver on another motorcycle within six metres and must not carry a pillion at any time or operate for commercial purposes. Aware of the more stringent measures, thousands of Jamaicans with outstanding traffic tickets descended on the traffic courts in recent weeks in an effort to secure a date to pay their outstanding traffic fines in order to avoid prosecution under the new law. 7-member Road Traffic Appeal Tribunal in place for new law A [seven-member Road Traffic Appeal Tribunal]( that will adjudicate matters related to traffic breaches under the new Road Traffic Act will come into existence today, the same day the new act and its regulations take effect. The tribunal will afford aggrieved motorists an avenue to appeal decisions of the Island Traffic Authority (ITA). “The members of the tribunal have been identified and approval granted for their appointment,” said Audley Shaw, the Minister of Transport during a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Shaw also said that motor vehicle owners and holders of drivers’ licences will have an obligation to provide updated contact information to the ITA. “In addition to the physical address, email address and telephone number will be required so that contact can be made readily in the event that a notice is to be served on the person for any reason under the Act. Notices may be traffic tickets, notices of suspension, or directives to bring vehicles in for inspection,” Shaw outlined. All hail the Crown Prince of Reggae Today marks the 66th anniversary of the birthday of Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Brown. The singer's contribution to music is being commemorated as a part of the [2023 Reggae Month celebrations](. Brown, who died in 1999 at age 42, left behind some of the all-time greatest reggae hits including ‘Revolution’, ‘Here I Come’, ‘Money In My Pocket’, and ‘Promise Land’. On Wednesday, a gathering will be held to commemorate Brown’s birthday at his tomb at the National Heroes Park. The event is to be hosted by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange. The first Reggae Wednesday to be held in Emancipation Park is also being hosted in his honour. Ewan Simpson, chairman of Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) said that the event will include tributes from various artistes including George Nooks, Christopher Martin, Miguel and some emerging acts as well. "We intend to present Dennis Brown songs along with original songs from the artistes in a solid tribute to Dennis Brown,” Simpson said. On New Year's Day, January 1, Rolling Stone released its selection of greatest singers of all time, [ranking the Crown Prince of Reggae at #67, the highest placed Jamaican artiste](. Brown finished ahead of more renowned international singers, including Michael Jackson (No 86), Johnny Cash (No 85), Dianna Ross (No 87), and Barbara Streisand (No 147). Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals was placed at number 94, finishing four places ahead of the King of Reggae, Bob Marley, who was ranked at No 98. Advertisement Jamaica could send troops to Haiti Prime Minister Andrew Holness says [Jamaica stands ready to send members of the security forces to Haiti]( as part of an international effort aimed at restoring stability to the violence-torn French-speaking Caribbean nation. Holness gave the commitment during a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. “Jamaica will be willing to participate in a multinational security assistance deployment to Haiti under the appropriate jurisdictional parameters to support a return to a reasonable level of stability and peace, which would be necessary for any inclusive democratic process to take root,” shared Holness. “Both the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) and the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) have been alerted to this possible course of support and they would have started to plan for such eventualities as part of their routine situational awareness and response readiness,” the prime minister added. He told the House that the Jamaican Government and Jamaicans are “deeply concerned about the humanitarian and security crises being experienced by Haitians”. He also noted that “the people of Haiti continue to have their human rights threatened by powerful gangs and militias which perpetrate heinous crimes, including killings, kidnappings and acts of violence against women and children”. Football Transfer Deadline Day: Chelsea dominate January window The spending power of the Premier League was underlined as English clubs dominated the [January transfer window](. No team was more active than Chelsea, which continued its record-breaking business right up until the deadline by making Enzo Fernandez the most expensive player in British soccer history in a deal worth US$131 million. In total the London club spent around US$357 million during the midseason window as American owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital continue to make their presence felt in the transfer market. Their January outlay follows on from US$305 million-worth of signings in the summer after buying the club for US$2.5 billion last May. Chelsea spent more than top-flight teams in France, Spain, Italy and Germany combined as Europe’s other major leagues were modest in their dealings this window. According to soccer data website Transfermarkt, English teams paid out around US$831 million, not including loan payments, while the other four leading leagues spent around US$263 million. January is traditionally a difficult month to get major deals done, with prices inflated as desperation grows for teams in the hunt for trophies, European qualification or survival. Chelsea’s business was evidence of its determination to secure a place in next season’s Champions League after a troubled campaign so far has left it in 10th place in the standings and 10 points behind the top four. Even an influx of new players, including Mykhailo Mudryk, who signed from Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth US$108 million, might not be enough to see Graham Potter’s team make up the ground. The move for Fernandez came after the midfielder’s outstanding performances in Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar and represents a significant increase in his valuation after moving from River Plate to Benfica last summer. Just how well teams have invested will become clearer in the remaining months of the season. Premier League leader Arsenal strengthened its title bid with Brighton forward Leandro Trossard and a surprise deadline day move for Chelsea midfielder Jorginho. Despite links with Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, Arsenal will have to wait at least until the summer to complete that deal. While the majority of the money was paid out by English clubs, one of the most intriguing signings of the window was completed by Bayern Munich with the [deadline day loan capture of Manchester City fullback Joao Cancelo](. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING WATCH: Driver killed by gunmen on bike in Half Way Tree area A Nissan X-Trail driver was [shot dead at the intersection of Skibo and Cargill avenues]( St Andrew on Tuesday evening. Here’s what Jamaica’s tallest building will look like With construction slated to begin in February, Jamaican-based full-service architectural firm StudiOH Core Limited on Sunday unveiled the concept design of what it says will be [Jamaica’s tallest building](. Churches call for Commission of Enquiry into Jamaica's financial sector The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) [wants a Commission of Enquiry to be conducted into the financial sector]( “to determine the true nature of its operations, motivations and the extent to which corruption may have derailed its effectiveness as a contributor to nation-building”. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Martin Luther King arrested in Selma [On this day]( in 1965, Martin Luther King Jr and 700 demonstrators are arrested in Selma, Alabama. 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