BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE growing trend of motorists sporting posters on the windows and windscreens of their vehicles has prompted the Traffic Department to issue a stern warning against this practice or face possible prosecution.
Speaking exclusively with SKNVibes, Head of the Traffic Department, Inspector Cromwell Henry explained that as of late, the department has recognised that quite a number of motorists have a film affixed to their windows and or windscreens, which from the outside appear to be posters.
He said Section 62a (5)(d) of the Vehicles and Roads Traffic Amendment Act Number One of 2009 forbids this and states, “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 rare windows of such vehicles other than the license or other labels required to be displayed by law.”
It further explains that “A person who acts in contravention of this section commits an offence, and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $5 000 or to imprisonment to a term of six months or to both such fine and imprisonment”.
The Inspector said the Traffic Department will be embarking on a sensitisation programme which it hopes could curb the practice.
“We want to bring this to those persons who are carrying these particular types of posters on their windscreens that it is an offence and they ought to have them removed…It wasn’t so prevalent. There were one or two persons who did it, but now I think the technology is available to print these posters on the windscreen and now it is more prevalent.
“As of now, we are taking the opportunity to sensitise motorists on this particular provision in the law and give them an opportunity to bring their vehicle in conformity with the law voluntarily.”
Motorists who neglect to take heed, however, would be penalised under Section 62a(5)(d) of the Vehicles and Roads Traffic Amendment Act Number One of 2009 and could also have their vehicle impounded until the infraction is corrected or until the matter is taken before the court.
Meanwhile, the Traffic Department continues to bring to justice those persons who are found to be in contravention of the nation’s traffic laws.
At the most recent session of Traffic Court (Apr. 15), three individuals pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them and were ordered to pay fines.
Shaw Avenue resident Kelvin Anthony Taylor was ordered to pay a total of $1 000 in one week or serve seven days at Her Majesty’s Prison for April 8, 2010 incidents of driving without a driver’s license and driving without insurance.
Ross University’s Jennifer Neal was fined $500 for a December 5, 2009 offence of driving without due care and attention. The fine is to be paid within one week or serve seven days in prison.
New Road resident Trevor Fraites, for the offence of driving without due care and attention, was fined $500 to be paid in one week or face a five-day custodial sentence. The offence was committed on October 15, 2009.
