A total of 133 drivers last year had their breath tested for alcohol after 127 of them were involved in traffic accidents. Eighty-eight resulted positive for driving under the influence of alcohol while 39 refused the test or their test was not completed.

Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg was replying to Nationalist MP Joseph Cassar.

The minister added that in the first five months of this year, the breathalyser was applied to 64 drivers after 16 were involved in traffic accidents. Forty-four resulted positive while 20 refused or their test was not completed.

A person who refuses to do the test becomes guilty of a crime, the minister added.

Time-share touts

Legal action has been taken against 18 OPCs in the first half of this year for timeshare touting offences, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech told Labour MP Evarist Bartolo.

The accused were fined a total of Lm6,500.

Thirteen cases regarded Qawra, one Bugibba, five Sliema and one each in St Julian’s and Mellieha.

Tower crane base still there

The Malta Transport Authority is to tell the St Paul’s Bay local council that the base of a tower crane in Triq Gulju is still there despite the fact that the building works have been completed, Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett told Labour MP Joe Sammut.