BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – JUST days after conducting an early-morning operation, the Traffic Department teamed up with the Delta Squad and followed up with one in the evening that saw a number of vehicles being stopped, searched and checked for breaches in the law.
The operation – according to SGT Calvin Amory of the Traffic Department – took place on Friday evening (Nov. 9) with a number of vehicle checkpoints being established in the Basseterre and surrounding areas.
One was located on the Bay Road in the vicinity of RAMS Trading Ltd., one was at the junction of Fort and Cayon Streets, one at the F. T. Williams Highway and the another at the Frigate Bay Road.
According to the SGT, the aim of the exercise was “to target vehicles being operated with one headlight and vehicles that had additional lights affixed to them, which are not authorised by the Licencing Authority.”
Commencing at about 6:30 p.m., the operation ran for approximately two hours, during which time some 60 vehicles were stopped and checked and 20 tickets issued for various traffic infractions.
Eight individuals were ticketed for operating vehicles fitted with only one lighted headlamp, five to persons who were operating vehicles when they were not wearing seatbelts as the law prescribes, five for unauthorised lights, one for defective number plate and one to an individual whose vehicle had no rear lights.
Additionally, the SGT explained that two vehicles were stopped and searched, along with its occupants on suspicion of possession of illegal substances. However nothing to satisfy the suspicion was found within the vehicles or on their person.
In indicating the reason for the operation, SGT Amory explained that it was conducted partly because of complaints the Department received about motorists operating vehicles with non-functional lights.
“We at the Traffic Department are using this opportunity to remind drivers that it is important for them to check their vehicles on a daily basis before they venture on their journey. We are vigorously tackling the situation, especially the one-lamp issue.
“We have been receiving lots of complaints about that and it is our duty to enforce the law and to ensure that we listen to the public’s cry. One of the ways to do that is to do patrols and be vigilant to see if we can get it under control. So we are asking for the assistance of all road users as we work together to make the streets safer.”
He said such operations would take place on a weekly basis.
An appeal was made to persons who use bicycles as their means of transportation to maximise their safety by having them fitted with the appropriate visual and audio aids.
“We are also appealing to persons who are using bicycles. If they are in use they should be equipped with a bell and a white light at the front and a reflector at the rear of the vehicle. Once persons are caught and they are not conforming to the law, they will either be ticketed or summonsed to appear before a court of law.”
