BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – APPROXIMATELY 400 vehicles were stopped and searched by members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force on Wednesday (May 23) during an exercise which had seen the establishment of a number of vehicle check points (VCPs) across the island.
The operation began at 6:45 a.m. and ended at 9:00 a.m. with officers attached to District ‘A’ setting up VCPs in the Frigate Bay, Conaree and St. Peters areas while officers of District ‘B’ set up others at New Guinea, White Gate, just outside Ross University and Bourryeaux.
Sergeant Calvin Amory of the Traffic Department told SKNVibes that a total of 300 vehicles were stopped and searched at the District ‘A’ VCPs and several tickets were issued.
Seven tickets were issued to persons whose vehicles were too heavily tinted, two to persons who were not wearing their seatbelts, four for persons who drove overcrowded vehicles and two were issued to persons who drove vehicles which were fitted with one or more defective licence plates.
One individual was ticketed for using their cellular phone while operating the vehicle, five for driving their vehicle with defective tyres, one for driving off the bus route and one for driving with an expired licence.
In addition, two individuals were arrested for driving a vehicle while not covered by insurance.
SGT Amory explained that while no ticket was issued on the District ‘B’ side of the operation, 101 vehicles were stopped and searched and 19 persons were asked to produce their vehicle’s insurance information at the Sandy Point Police Station for verification.
The exercise – according to Amory – is part of the Department’s commitment to increase its on-road visibility and to promote road safety.
Expressing the Traffic Department’s observation, Amory said, “Persons are not complying with the law as it pertains to the tinting of vehicles. The law requires that if you are putting tint on your vehicle the percentage should be 35 and above. We realise that persons are putting on tint that is darker than the law prescribes.”
He added that persons who refuse to adhere to the law in this regard would be dealt with accordingly.
