“Cameras don’t lie” – Police to reckless drivers

…as technology aids Police in making motorists accountable

The rise of surveillance technology is changing how traffic laws are enforced in Guyana, with police officials warning reckless drivers that “the cameras don’t lie.”
Speaking on a recent Road Safety and You programme, Superintendent Ron Clarke, Officer in Charge of Traffic for Regional Division 4A (Georgetown), highlighted how CCTV footage has become a game-changer in road policing. “I am happy with the advent of the CCTV footage because the cameras don’t lie. So once the accident or incidents have been recorded, it will be there to confront you as the evidence in court,” Clarke said. One recent case involved a motorist who lost control while speeding along the University of Guyana (UG) Road, flipping over a median and killing another man. “We saw the footage with that accident at UG Road where that guy with a speed flipped over the medium and caused the death of that guy… he went and pleaded guilty,” Clark explained, adding that the court will decide on sentencing. The officer also revealed that offenders are often shocked when multiple tickets arrive by mail. “A lot of times they don’t realise that they’re being recorded until when they’re served with the tickets,” Clark noted. “I could recall someone called me and told me that they got like about 17 tickets.”
Clarke emphasised that the system makes it harder for drivers to escape penalties.

“You will not be seeing the police as you normally see the police under the tree… but the cameras are there and the cameras are doing their work,” he said. Police are now calling for stricter deterrents beyond flat fines. Along with the assistance from technology however, National Road Safety Council (NRSC) Chairman Earl Lambert said more should be done for enforcement. “If you have one ticket, the next ticket will not be the same seven five [$7,500.00]. Like in the US… if you get from the second to the third ticket, the fine will go up and then you will also be facing a situation where your licence could be suspended,” he suggested.
With fatalities mounting, officials urged motorists to take personal responsibility rather than blaming law enforcement. “If you don’t want to be ticketed, the onus is on you to make sure that you’re driving within the speed limit,” Lambert warned.