Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has disclosed that the Guyana Government will be introducing tougher penalties for speeding, as well as a wider range of ticketable traffic offences.
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,” the AG said.
He explained that all necessary reforms will be made to ensure greater road safety across the country.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been working with the Attorney General Chambers to develop stronger penalties for dangerous driving.
“The Government has already signalled that reforms are going to be made in relation to road traffic laws and regulations because of the spate of 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.
Speeding continues to be a major offence, with some road users clocking levels as high as 180 km/h, the Traffic Chief disclosed during the Christmas Policing Plan launch.
In addition, 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, and driver licences for motor vehicles, in particular for different classes of vehicles like lorries, etc. We will also review provisions dealing with – we will add more offences to ticketed offences. So you will get tickets now; e-tickets for a larger number of offences,” he revealed.
The e-ticketing system is a key element of the Safe Road Intelligent System (SRIS) Project, implemented in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the National Data Management Authority (NDMA).
Currently, the e-ticketing system issues tickets for offences relating to speeding and failure to wear a seatbelt.
Figures released last month showed that 53 per cent of e-tickets were paid and 21 driver’s licences suspended, as GPF collected over $200M for speeding from some 32,768 cases made for speeding.
The other e-tickets, the traffic chief had explained then, are either in the process of being paid or are being contested in the courts. He said then too that the demerit point system is coming.
Under the tint policy, 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 per cent light penetration; windscreens will be allowed 70 per cent 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.
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