Department of Transport

(1) There shall be established under the Ministry for the time being responsible for Transport, a Department of Transport for 14 the registration, licensing and control of all vehicles in Belize, and in it shall be vested the administration of this Act. CAP. 4. (2) The Department of Transport shall be headed by a public officer to be known as the “Chief Transport Officer” who shall be appointed by the Public Services Commission in accordance with section 106 of the Constitution. (3) There shall be appointed by the Public Services Commission such other traffic wardens, transport officers, inspectors and other staff as may be necessary for the due carrying out of the provisions of this Act and the regulations made thereunder. (4) There shall be appointed by the Public Services Commission such number of traffic wardens as may be necessary for the enforcement of traffic laws. (5) The functions of the traffic wardens appointed under this section shall be as follows– (a) direct the flow of traffic; (b) to enforce the parking regulations; (c) to enforce the traffic violation ticket system; (d) to investigate and prosecute traffic accidents, including the enforcement of provisions relating to driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and (e) perform such other duties as may be assigned to them by this Act or any regulations made hereunder. (6) In exercise of his functions under this Act or any regulations hereunder, a traffic warden shall have the authority and powers of a member of the Belize Police Department and Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic [CAP. 230 15 may exercise all the powers conferred on a member of the Belize Police Department by this Act or any regulations made hereunder. (7) All traffic wardens while on duty shall wear distinctive uniforms and badges approved by the Chief Transport Officer. CAP. 238. (8) The powers conferred on a traffic warden by this section shall be without prejudice to the functions of a member of the Belize Police Department as contained in the Police Act to enforce all laws, rules and regulations. (9) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section or any other law, the power to appoint and remove, and to exercise disciplinary control over traffic wardens within the municipality shall vest in the municipal authority. (10) The municipal authority shall appoint such number of traffic wardens as may be necessary to enforce traffic laws within the municipality. (11) The functions of traffic wardens appointed by the municipal authority shall in respect of municipality be the same as those set out in sub-section 5. (12) Sub-section (6) shall apply to traffic wardens appointed by the municipal authority. (13) All traffic wardens appointed by the municipal authority shall, while on duty, wear distinctive uniforms and badges approved by the municipality. (14) The municipal authority shall pay the traffic wardens appointed by it such salaries and allowances as may be approved by it, but the same shall not be less than those payable to traffic wardens appointed by the Department of Transport. 16