2 Bartica drivers plead guilty to DUI charges, fined $200,000 each

Two Bartica residents appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohammed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court earlier this week, where they pleaded guilty to separate charges of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol. Both individuals were fined $200,000 each or face an alternative sentence of three months in prison.
In the first case, Joel Sumrah, a 50-year-old driver and resident of Fourth Avenue, Bartica, admitted to driving a motor vehicle while his breath alcohol level exceeded the legal limit. Sumrah’s charge was filed under Section 39A (1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, as amended by Act 17 of 2022.
Shortly after, 25-year-old Nathaniel Burrowes, a labourer of Agatash Village, Bartica, also faced the court on an identical charge. Like Sumrah, Burrowes pleaded guilty and accepted the penalty set by the law. His charge was similarly filed under Section 39A(1) of the amended Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act.
The charges stem from the legal requirement for drivers to maintain breath alcohol levels within the prescribed limit to ensure safety on the nation’s roads.
Both men have the choice of paying the $200,000 fine or serving three months of imprisonment.
The penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) have seen a significant increase, with first-time offenders now facing a $200,000 fine, up from the previous $30,000, and repeat offenders subject to a $300,000 fine. Additionally, those convicted of DUI offences will have their licenses suspended for 12 months, a harsher consequence than before.
In tandem with the revised penalties, amendments to the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act of 2022 have placed greater responsibility on bar owners. They are now legally obligated to prevent drunkenness on their premises and are prohibited from selling, giving, or bartering alcohol to individuals who are already intoxicated. Failure to comply with these rules will result in increased fines. (G9)