The Guyana Police Force on Thursday reiterated that police ranks in plain clothes and in unmarked vehicles are not authorised to stop motorists, unless they are performing duties on the roadway in front of a police station.
In a statement, the force also said traffic ranks are not authorised to stop motorists for routine checks of documents. They should only do so if an offence is committed in their view or where there is reasonable suspicion, it explained.
The statement further noted that the law permits police ranks to stop and search a vehicle based on reasonable suspicion or if they witness an offence being committed.
The statement was issued days after the force refuted an online news report in which it was claimed that Fiyad Sattaur, the son of former Guyana Revenue Authority Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur, had been chased by a police officer in a heavily-tinted unmarked vehicle. The force subsequently stated that the rank, a Police Sergeant attached to the Traffic Department and dressed in uniform, had been driving a private vehicle when she observed Sattaur overtaking a line of other vehicles waiting at a traffic light.
It added that while the rank made a note of the vehicle’s registration number to follow up with prosecution, she caught up with the vehicle at the intersection of Lamaha and Albert Streets, where she drove up alongside and told the driver of the offence committed. He, however, reportedly drove away.
The police said the rank drove behind the vehicle and caught up again with the vehicle at Lamaha and East streets, where she approached the driver and told him of the offence committed and requested for him to go to Traffic Headquarters.
Sattaur was charged with dangerous driving on Wednesday and fined $25,000 after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
