Ravindra Deonarine, a 42-year-old driver who resides at Leguan, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) but was arrested along the East Coast Demerara corridor while driving under the influence of alcohol, was on Friday fined $190,000 by
Sparendaam Magistrate Abigail Gibbs, before whom he appeared and pleaded guilty as charged.
Deonarine was charged contrary to Section 39 A (1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act.
The penalty for driving under the influence 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 while under the influence of alcohol.
Drivers are, moreover, 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.
