Driver fined for reversing out of garage

Stop! You could be charged when you reverse your vehicle out of your garage onto a main road. You could be charged for inconsiderate driving. That’s exactly what happened to David Ramphal and he was fined $500 by Magistrate Deborah Quintyne.

Ramphal appealed his conviction and sentence but failed to appear in court yesterday when his matter came up before appellate judges, Justice Roger Hamel-Smith and Justice Anthony Lucky. Their lordships dismissed the appeal and affirmed the conviction and sentence, and at the same time, commended PC Sydney Gill for actually preferring such a charge. Justice Hamel-Smith noted that inconsiderate reversing out of garages was quite common and rarely result in charges being laid. He also pointed out that by not nipping these small offences in the bud, it could lead to more serious ones, especially in a time like this when crime is prevalent. He said that such action would send a signal that “we” are serious about law and order.

His comments and commendation to PC Gill were endorsed by Justice Lucky.  Senior prosecutor Trevor Ward was asked to convey their lordships’ sentiments to the Commissioner of Police. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Mobile) Deochan Gosine later suggested that the best way of emerging from one’s garage would be front first, but emphasised that this approach does not relieve the driver from ensuring due care and attention or reasonable consideration. He advised that drivers wanting to execute a manoeuvre onto a major road or any road, must at all times wait their turn and/or ensure that there are no oncoming vehicles. On March 19, 1999, Ramphal of Southern Main Road, Montrose, Chaguanas, suddenly reversed his car from his garage onto the main road when PC Gill, driving an unmarked police car,  had to pull to the shoulder of the road to avoid hitting Ramphal’s vehicle. Gill warned and later charged Ramphal for inconsiderate driving. Ramphal, in defence, contended that the only way to get out of his garage was to reverse onto the main road.

Ramphal was charged under the  Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act: Ch 48:50 section 72, which says: “Any person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road is liable to a find of $1000 and to be disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving permit for such period as the court thinks fit. On a second or subsequent conviction, for a like offence, the period of disqualification shall not be less than one month.”