PN pledges relaxed penalty points for Y-plate drivers in pre-election letter

Self-employed Y-plate drivers were sent a letter on Wednesday outlining a series of proposed measures from the Nationalist Party, Times of Malta has reported. These include changes to penalty points, relaxed parking regulations, and reduced traffic fines.

The correspondence, dated 27 May and signed by PN Leader Alex Borg, arrived just one day before the end of the electoral campaign.

In the letter, Borg stated that a future Nationalist government, if elected, would introduce these measures to “create more justice” in the sector and expand opportunities for drivers. The proposals, however, were not included in the party’s official electoral programme and had not been publicly announced prior to the letter’s distribution.

Among the key pledges is a more lenient approach to the penalty points system for self-employed drivers registered with JobsPlus. Under the current system, drivers who accumulate 12 points face a two-month suspension of their licence for a first offence, followed by permanent revocation if repeated. The PN is proposing to raise the threshold for this category of drivers to 20 points, effectively allowing greater tolerance for infractions before penalties apply.

For context, common driving offences such as using a mobile phone or exceeding speed limits typically carry between three and five penalty points, while reckless driving can result in three to eleven points.

The letter also stated that European citizens, including Maltese nationals, would be prioritised in the Transport Malta tagging process for Y-plate authorisation. According to the proposal, eligible applicants would be able to sit for theory and practical driving tests within 15 days of submitting their application.

Parking rules for Y-plate drivers are also set to be relaxed. The PN proposes extending free daytime parking for licensed drivers between 7am and 8pm, effectively increasing the permitted free parking period. In addition, the party is suggesting a revision of fines related to exceeding on-street parking limits.

Under the proposed system, drivers who exceed the three-hour parking limit would face an initial €100 fine, with each subsequent infringement increasing by €100, capped at €300 within a six-month period. After that period, the tally would reset.

RSS Feed Source: Independent Malta PN pledges relaxed penalty points for Y-plate drivers in pre-election letter