The Belizean government has initiated a significant legislative overhaul targeting uninsured motorists. Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh presented a bill to the House of Representatives on February 6, 2026, seeking to amend the Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risk) Act with substantially increased penalties.
Minister Zabaneh justified the proposed amendments by highlighting that the existing penalty structure, unchanged since 1999, no longer serves as an effective deterrent against driving without mandatory insurance coverage. The legislation would grant traffic officers expanded authority to immediately demand proof of insurance during traffic stops.
Current statutes impose maximum penalties of $400 in fines or six months’ imprisonment for driving without insurance. The proposed amendments would dramatically increase these penalties to $1,000 or up to eight months imprisonment. General penalties for other insurance-related offenses would similarly rise from $200 to $600, with potential jail terms doubling from three to six months.
The minister noted the legislation carries cabinet endorsement and has been forwarded to the Public Utilities, Transport and Communications Committee for detailed examination and reporting.
The parliamentary session proceeded without opposition representation, as members boycotted proceedings in protest of the ongoing BTL-Smart acquisition controversy.