Magistrates are warning traffic offenders to turn up to court on time -- or expect to receive stiffer penalties.

The warning came after yesterday's plea court session was congested with traffic offenders who had failed to appear at earlier hearings. Some offenders had even spent the weekend in custody after warrants had been issued for their arrest for failing to appear in court.

During yesterday's session Magistrate Edward King gave several offenders a dressing down for failing to show the courts respect.

The vast majority of defendants appearing before Mr. King had been issued tickets for minor traffic offences.

And one man was given a 300-day prison sentence for failing to pay fines handed down for numerous driving offences.

Addressing two youngsters who had failed to show when summoned to the court last week, Mr. King said: "It isn't the system that's bad. It's your system.

The time for blaming other people has stopped.

"You want to blame everyone else for this but this is the new Bermuda so change your ways and abide by the law. It isn't somebody else's system anymore.'' Following the morning session, Senior Magistrate Will Francis also reminded offenders that it was in their interests to attend court on time.

And he said a great deal of time and effort could be saved if people paid off their tickets without even coming to court.

"It happens and so many people seem to forget, particularly if they are called for a particular offence,'' he said.

"If they are ticketed for having no valid licence or for minor offences, they can pay those off without having to come to court.

"If you do pay within seven days, it also means you will get away with a lower fine. If a person is caught riding an unlicensed cycle, he can pay a $250 fine but if he is summoned to court, he will have to pay $400.

"And if they fail to show in court and a warrant is issued, that means they could also end up spending the weekend in custody.'' Mr. Francis noted that a whole stack of offences could be paid without the defendant having to come to court.

"It should be quite clear on the ticket,'' he said.