Three persons were charged last week for failing the breathalyser tests that were administered by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Charged are Ion Degonge, 42, of Lot 385 Swamp Section Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice; Troy Gonsalves, 33, of Industry, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and Parmanand Sharma, 33, of Area H Top Flat Cummings Lodge, ECD.
Police said all three men were stopped on the Sparendaam Public Road, ECD.
Degonge, when stopped, was found with 250 per cent micrograms of alcohol in his breath, Gonsalves was found with 189 per cent micrograms, while Sharma had 142 per cent micrograms of alcohol in his breath.
The trio was arrested, charged, and processed to attend the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
Only recently Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn noted that breathalyser kits were provided to divisions across all regions to clamp down on DUI cases. He also said that only authorised officers are allowed to conduct breathalyser tests on civilians who are suspected to be driving under the influence of alcohol.
Persons can be charged for drunk driving 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.
Under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, “A person shall not drive or attempt to drive or be in charge of a motor vehicle on the road or other public place if he has consumed alcohol in such a quantity that the proportion thereof in his breath or blood exceeds the prescribed limits”.
If found in contradiction of such, they are convicted of two consecutive offences and can be disqualified for a period of one year from holding or obtaining a licence, or a longer period if the court sees fit for any special reason.
A third conviction for a similar offence shall see the person being permanently disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence. (G9)
