From RCIPS

RCIPS Traffic Enforcement Efforts Continue, Resulting in Tickets and Arrests

Over the past two weeks, from Monday, 26 February, to 12 March, police officers have made 25 traffic-related arrests, 15 of which were for DUI. Six of these DUI arrests occurred over this weekend, with four of these being cases where those arrested blew over twice the legal limit.

In one instance, on the night of Saturday, 10 March, officers were directing traffic on the Esterly Tibbets Highway near Canal Point Road due to a serious traffic collision which had occurred. Shortly before 11:00PM a vehicle was observed driving without its headlights illuminated. Officers signaled the vehicle to stop and when they spoke to the driver she appeared confused and showed other signs of intoxication. She was breath tested with a result of 0.215%. The woman, aged 32 of George Town, was arrested on suspicion of DUI. She was later bailed.

In at least half of the DUI arrests this past weekend, 9-11 March, the driver had been involved in a traffic collision.

In addition, officers have been conducting proactive operations focused on road safety. Last Sunday, 4 March, officers conducted traffic operations and proactive neighbourhood patrols in North Side, in response to community concerns about speeding and other traffic violations on North Side Road and Rum Point Road. The operations resulted in 22 speeding tickets being issued, in addition to 3 tickets for tint, 1 for expired registration and 1 for failing to display license plates. Three people were also warned for prosecution for other driving offenses. In addition, two arrests for traffic offenses were made during the operation.

In one of these arrests, just before 2:00PM, officers conducting radar checks on North Side Road observed a silver BMW which was travelling at 48MPH in a 30MPH zone. The car was signaled to stop but the driver sped past the officers and subsequently collided with the median at the intersection of Hutland Road. One of the passengers of the vehicle was taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital and treated for minor injuries. The driver of the vehicle, a man aged 18 of George Town, was spoken to by officers and found to be in possession of a learner’s permit. It was also found that the vehicle had no insurance and both the vehicle registration and certificate of roadworthiness were expired. The driver was subsequently arrested on suspicion of Driving Without Being Qualified, Driving Without Insurance, and Dangerous Driving. He was later released on bail.

“We are responding to residents who are alarmed by speeding on their neighbourhood streets, but are also regularly seeing drunk driving and high levels of intoxication,” said Chief Inspector Everton Spence. “Sadly, choosing to drive under the influence very often ends with a traffic collision, and can result in major damage, serious injury, or death. You will also lose your license for a minimum of 12 months when caught.”

RCIPS traffic operations will continue to target speeding and other traffic offenses across the island, including reports of speeding in school zones during school opening and closing hours.

END

IMAGE: DUI Records