TRAFFIC INFORMATION
BASSETERRE St. Kitts, May 21st, 2014 -- The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force takes this opportunity to inform the general public of certain sections of the Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 15.06 of the Revised Laws of the Federation, 31/12/2009, which it deemed necessary and important so to do at this time.
Commissioner C G Walwyn therefore encourages all motorists to abide by the Traffic Laws of the Federation which are in place to ensure road safety for motorist and pedestrian alike, and to comply with the officials who are charged with the responsibility to enforce the laws.
The following sections were specifically selected for this first in a series of publishing sections that are deemed necessary and important to address in this current context.
Section 59. Duty of person in charge of vehicle involved in accident on a road
(1) A person riding, driving or in charge of any vehicle of any description shall, if an accident occurs by reason of the presence of such vehicle on a road,
(a) immediately stop;
(b) give to any person interested in the accident
(i) his or her name and address,
(ii) the name and address of the owner of the vehicle,
(iii) the registration number of the vehicle,
(iv) the name of the insurance company with which the vehicle is insured, and
(v) the names of all persons in the vehicle at the time of the accident; and
(c) report the accident at a Police Station as soon as reasonably practicable but before the expiration of a period of 24 hours after its occurrence.
(2) Paragraph (c) does not apply if a report is made, at the time and place of the accident, to a member of the Police Force.
(3) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with this section commits an offence and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of two hundred and fifty dollars or to imprisonment for a term of three months or both.
Section 60. Power of police to test or cause motor vehicles to be tested after accident
(1) Where an accident occurs owing to the presence of a motor vehicle on a road, a member of the Police Force may inspect and test the motor vehicle or cause it to be inspected and tested by an inspector or examiner and may, for this purpose, require that the motor vehicle shall not be driven or taken away from the scene of the accident until it has been so inspected and tested.
(2) Any person who
(a) obstructs an inspector, examiner or a member of the Police Force in the performance of his or her duty under this section;
(b) contravenes or fails to comply with this section; or
(c) fails to comply with a requirement by a member of the Police Force made under subsection (1);
commits an offence and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term of three months or both.
Section 62. Tinting
(1) In this section, “restricted motor vehicle” means any motor vehicle, other than a motor cycle, where the whole or part of the glass of the windscreen, side or rear windows of the vehicle is obscured by either
(a) the application of any film, tint or other device; or
(b) is custom-tinted by the manufacturer;
that less than sixty five percent of light transmission is possible.
(2) In this section, the expression “custom-tinted by the manufacturer” means that the glass of the windscreen, side or rear windows of a vehicle has been obscured by a process other than by the application of any film, tint or other obscuring device.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, no person shall import a restricted motor vehicle into the Federation.
(4) The provisions of this part shall not apply to a restricted motor vehicle
(a) that has been custom-tinted by the manufacturer on or before the date of the coming into force of this section;
(b) ambulances;
(c) hearses;
(d) such other classes of motor vehicles as the Minister of National security may designate by notice published in the Gazette.
(5) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or agricultural tractor, shall be fitted with a windscreen that provides ample protection to the driver of a motor vehicle and it shall be kept in such condition as to allow an unobstructed view of the road at the front of the vehicle.
(6) The windscreens, side or rear windows of a motor vehicle shall, if tinted, allow a minimum of sixty five percent of light transmission, whether the glass has been custom-tinted by the manufacturer itself or applied by any other person.
(7) The degree of light transmission shall be determined by a measuring device known as the Mars Window Transmeter or any other device which is approved by the Licensing Authority for the measurement of light passing through the glass windows of motor vehicles.
(8) Notwithstanding the light transmittance, the interior of a motor vehicle shall be reasonably visible from the exterior.
(9) No person shall drive or being the owner permit any other person to drive a motor vehicle with any sign, poster, or other reflective or sun-screening material upon the windscreen, side or rear windows of such motor vehicle, other than the licence or other label required to be displayed by law.
(10) No motor vehicle registered as a self-drive vehicle shall be used on a road if the windows or windscreens are tinted, whether the glass has been custom-tinted by the manufacturer or applied by any other person.
(11) A person who acts in contravention of the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term of six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
(12) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (2) and (3), no person shall be prosecuted for driving a restricted motor vehicle during the sixty day period after the coming into force of this section.
Section 65. Repairing vehicle in street
Any person who, on any road, carries out repairs to any vehicle (except in cases of accident where repair on the spot is necessary) commits an offence and shall, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars.
Section 76. Power to detain vehicles and enter premises
(1) It shall be lawful for any member of the Police Force to stop any vehicle on a road with a view to ascertaining whether such vehicle is being used in contravention of this Act or any regulations, and in the event of any vehicle being used on a road in such manner, such member of the Police Force may take the vehicle or cause it to be taken to any police station there to be further examined or to be detained until the vehicle and driver can be identified, and the violation corrected, as the case may be.
(2) A person who refuses to stop his motor vehicle when requested to do so pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section commits an offence and is, on summary conviction, liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.
(3) Any person authorised in writing by the Licensing Authority may, at all reasonable times, enter any premises for the purpose of inspecting any vehicle on such premises.
Section 93. Traffic Wardens
The Licensing Authority may appoint traffic wardens to undertake such functions under this Act or Regulations in connection with the control and regulation of, or the enforcement of the law relating to traffic including pedestrians or vehicles.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
