Dear Editor,
During the festive season I travelled around Georgetown and the West Coast Demerara and was very pleased to see the police presence around. Because of their presence, there hardly seems to have been any traffic congestion, and I was extremely pleased at that. I spend a lot of time at the various parks and notice the traffic officers suddenly appearing and catching errant drivers who were hell bent on causing confusion. Apart from that I also was able to observe at different locations the traffic ranks making the drivers using the breathalyzers. I am quite sure that as a result of that, many accidents were avoided and lives saved, so kudos to the Guyana Police Force for making our lives peaceful during the holidays.
I believe that the fines are too small for drunk drivers because recently the Stabroek News published the photographs and names of a few drivers charged from the different districts, and whilst in the Leonora Magistrate’s court I have seen way too many drivers charged for driving under the influence of alcohol. It seems as if they don’t understand the dangers of DUI or they just don’t care because the fines are way too low. What is amazing is listening to some of the excuses the drivers give in court.
Editor, one night I was looking on whilst the traffic ranks were conducting random breathalyzer tests in front of the Leonora Police Station and a few drivers were charged. What amazed the officers and myself is that one driver started to inquire where he was and which area he was in because he was so drunk he didn’t even know he was on the West Coast of Demerara. I would like to encourage the lawmakers to explore the possibility of requiring an additional fine of $5,000 for vehicles that have to be impounded because of drunk drivers. It doesn’t make sense that the police have to guard a vehicle the whole night free because a driver broke the law. If we don’t start taking serious steps to avoid accidents, our roadways would not be safer because the drivers will always get the impression that they could get away with anything. Let it be a burden to them.
Yours faithfully,
Sahadeo Bates
