Tougher penalties for speeding, more ticketable offences coming – AG
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He made the revelation on Tuesday evening during his programme ‘Issues in the News’ in response to concerns raised about the government’s new tint policy.
The policy, announced by Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond on Friday, will see a $75,000 fine for persons found in breach.
However, persons were swift in criticising the penalty, pointing out that the fine for speeding, one of the leading causes of road fatalities, is just $7500.
But Nandlall said the fine for speeding will be increased.
“Harsher penalties will be imposed for speeding among other legislative reforms,” he noted.
In fact, the Attorney General explained that all necessary reforms will be made to ensure greater road safety across the country.
“The government has already signalled that reforms are going to be made in relation to road traffic laws and regulations because the spate of accidents on our roads, the spate of fatal accidents on our roads. The great misuse and negligent use of our public roadways continue to be matters that greatly concern our government. And these are matters that we will continuously monitor very closely and make reforms when we think that it is in the public interest to do so,” he said.
Under the tint policy, which has taken effect, there will be a universal provision for basic tint without waiver, which stipulates that all motor vehicles will now be allowed tint with no less than 35% light penetration; windshields will be allowed 70% light penetration.
This applies across the board and does not require any tint waiver. However, restricted waivers for high security categories will be introduced. Categories one and two will apply strictly to diplomats, government officials, high profile security related persons, and other specific categories expressly approved by the Minister of Home Affairs.
To support an orderly transition, motor vehicle operators are granted a compliance period up to December 31, 2025. After this date, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will commence aggressive nationwide enforcement operations.
The necessary legislative changes will soon be made to give effect to this policy.
Meanwhile, Nandlall said the government will also be expanding the list of offences for which traffic tickets may be issued.
“We have other reforms that are in the pipeline. We will review regulations and necessary statutory provisions relating to motor vehicle licences, driver licences, driver licences for motor vehicles, in particular for different classes of vehicles like lorries, etc…We will add more offences to ticketed offences. So…you will get tickets now, e-tickets (too) for a larger number of offences,” he stated.
Currently, the e-ticketing system issues tickets for offences relating to speeding and failure to wear a seatbelt.
In 2020, the GPF had published the following list of offences for which traffic tickets may be issued:
* Driving Uncertified Motor Vehicle – Section 15
* Driving Motor Vehicle Without a Driver’s Licence – Section 23 (1)
* Failing to Produce a Driver’s Licence – Section 23 (2)
* Refusing to Declare Present Address – Section 23 (3)
* Breaching of Conditions of Provisional Licence – Section 25 (2)
* Speeding (Exceeding Speed Limit) – Section 34 (1)
* Permitting More Than One Trailer to be Drawn – Section 41
* Failing to Stop When Required by Police in Uniform – Section 43 (3)
* Leaving Motor Vehicle in Dangerous Position – Section 59
* Driving Motorcycle without Safety Helmet – Breach of Reg. 3 (1) and (3) of the Motorcycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations – Reg. 19 of 1972, Cap. 51:02)
* Driver Carrying Pillion-Rider without Safety Helmet – Breach of Reg. 3 (2) and (3) of the Motorcycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations – Reg. 19 of 1972, Cap. 51:02)
* Failing to Exhibit Certificate of Fitness – Reg. 13
* Failing to Exhibit Licence for Motor Vehicle – Reg. 16 (1)
* Unlighted Motor Vehicle (front) – Reg. 34 (1) (a)
* Unlighted Motor Vehicle (rear) – Reg. 34 (1) (b)
* Unlighted Motorcycle/Bicycle (front) – Reg. 35 (a)
* Unlighted Motorcycle/Bicycle (rear) – Reg. 35 (b)
* Unlighted Animal Drawn Vehicle (front) – Reg. 36 (a)
* Unlighted Animal Drawn Vehicle (rear) – Reg. 36 (b)
* Failing to carry Lamp on Hand-cart during Hours of Darkness – Reg. 37
* No Parking Brakes – Reg. 52
* No Reflecting Mirror – Reg. 57
* No Warning Appliance on Motor Vehicle – Reg. 59
* No Silencer – Reg. 60
* No Efficient Automatic Windscreen Wiper – Reg. 64
* No Efficient Speedometer (hire car, motor lorry, motor bus) – Reg. 65
* Unnecessary Sounding of Horn – Reg. 108
* No trailer to be drawn by Bus/Hire Car – Reg. 119?
* Carrying more Persons than the Permitted Number – Reg. 164 (1) (a)
* More Persons on the Front Seat than the Number Fixed to be carried thereon (hire car/motor bus) – Reg. 164 (1) (b)
* Conductor (overload) – Reg. 164 (1) (a), (b) and (2)
* Conduct of Driver and Conductor (breach) – Reg. 166
* Stopping within 30 feet from any Corner – Reg. 190 (e)
* No Efficient Brakes on Bicycle and Tricycle – Reg. 194
* No Warning Appliance on Bicycle and Tricycle – Reg. 195
