Two men have been fined for drunk driving when they appeared in separate courts earlier this week.
Navindra Manbodh, a 26-year-old resident of Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was arrested over the weekend and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, contrary to Section 39 A (1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act.
Before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrates’ Courts on Monday, Manbodh pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $150,000.
And 31-year-old Rajendra Mohan of 191 Fifth Street Foulis, Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) pleaded guilty to a DUI charge when he appeared before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court and was fined $70,000 with an alternative of three weeks in prison.
Tough new drunk driving laws are in effect as the Government aims to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road and reduce the deaths and injuries they cause. Driving while above the prescribed alcohol limit attracts a charge for the offence of DUI, which carries a fine and jail time. Persons can be charged for this traffic violation if, when tested, their blood alcohol content is found to exceed the prescribed limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, and their blood alcohol concentration exceeds 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
Navindra Manbodh
Meanwhile, the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2022 has introduced harsher penalties for those caught driving under the influence of alcohol. The penalty for driving while over the alcohol limit has been changed from a fine of $7500 to a fine of $200,000, and the sentence has been increased from 12 months to 24 months.
Additionally, the penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of your vehicle has been increased from $30,000 to $60,000 fine and 12 months’ imprisonment to now $200,000 fine for first-time offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders. A 12-month suspension of licence has also been provided for persons convicted of DUI offences.
Meanwhile, a new subsection of the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Act 2022 provides that a bar owner shall not permit any drunkenness on his premises, nor sell, give, or barter; or allow another person to sell, give, or barter intoxicating liquor to a drunken person within the premises. There has been an increase in the fines for breaches of these obligations
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has launched countrywide campaigns aimed at encouraging motorists to practise safe road use. At such campaigns, drivers are lectured on the road safety theme “Arrive Alive, Stop Speeding, Don’t Drink & Drive”; obeying traffic officials, signs and functions of the traffic light; adherence to the speed limits, and maintenance of motor vehicles.
They are also advised against using handheld devices while driving, and driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Drivers are also advised to ensure that their driver’s licence and other documents are up to date before using a motor vehicle.
Police statistics show that driving under the influence of alcohol and excessive speeding are the leading causes of accidents in Guyana. (G1)
