Police urge crackdown on dealers selling illegal vehicle modifications

Traffic police across several regional divisions in Guyana are calling on government authorities to intervene in what they say is a growing threat to public safety: the open sale of illegal vehicle accessories such as tinted films, coloured headlamps, and unauthorised licence plates.
During a recent Road Safety and You programme, multiple ranks voiced frustration that many of the vehicle modifications they charge drivers for are readily available on the commercial market, creating a revolving door of offences.

“We are working very hard, but I wish if there can be a conversation with those dealers that are also bringing these lights in to have them being sold… so that we can have that corrected,” said Sergeant Mitchell Caleb, who is attached to the Cove and John Police Station during the broadcast.
The discussion centred heavily on coloured lights and overly tinted windscreens, both of which are considered breaches of prescribed fitness and are chargeable offences under Guyana’s road traffic laws.
Officers confirmed that drivers caught using these illegal modifications will have their fitness certificates revoked, after which they are given a grace period to remove the offending item and return for re-examination. But the issue persists.
“We even dealt with some issues where drivers refused to take off the tint… The driver said, you’re not taking off, take me to the station… So, you got to revoke the fitness. Yes, we revoke the fitness and we proceed by charge,” Inspector Roberts, who is in charge of traffic at the Tuschen Police Station under Regional Division 3 (Essequibo Island- West Demerara), said.
Chairman of the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), Earl Lambert, added that despite enforcement efforts, drivers frequently reapply tints and replace lights within days of inspection. “They come back, they’re examined, they get back the fitness, and they go back and they put on back the tint… Most of the time, this is how many occur.” He expressed concern that without commercial accountability, enforcement will remain limited in impact.
According to the law, any alteration to a vehicle after fitness approval must be authorised and examined again by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and relevant agencies. “You just can’t up and do what you like because the law is clear… You cannot use ignorance of the law to get away with anything,” Lambert emphasised.
Police reiterated that public compliance begins with vendors not stocking items that breach traffic laws. Meanwhile, Sergeant Caleb said, “A person can only buy this light if this light is being sold… Those people who are importing things to sell need to know what is right and what is not right. I wish if there could be a conversation with those dealers that are also bringing these lights in to have them being sold and so on that it can be corrected”.
The panel urged the Ministry of Trade and other relevant regulatory bodies to review licensing for auto dealers and enforce product bans where necessary.
Meanwhile, the GPF continues its patrols and night operations targeting non-compliant vehicles, revoking fitness certificates and proceeding with charges.