77 drivers held in city swoop

Seventy-seven persons were yesterday charged with various traffic offences during a joint police/licensing office traffic exercise on Independence Square, Port-of-Spain. Thirty-three persons were charged with breach of traffic signs, two for defective tyres, 22 for defective identification plates, five for unauthorised use of the Priority Bus Route, two for driving a private vehicle as a taxi, two for unnecessary obstruction and several others for various traffic offences.

Several drivers were forced to remove heavy tints from their vehicles. In another exercise yesterday, two vendors were charged with illegally vending on the Uriah Butler Highway. Between September 17 and yesterday, 13 vendors have been charged with illegal vending, and seven have pleaded guilty to the offence. Yesterday’s exercise was coordinated by ACP Mobile Nazamul Hosein and led by ASP Jackson and Insps Gookool and White. ACP Hosein told Newsday laser guns were soon to be introduced for speed-tracking during speed traps. Up to yesterday, 140 persons had been killed in road accidents for the year. During the same period last year, 152 persons died due to road accidents. ACP Hosein yesterday called on the motoring public to adhere to the traffic laws. He also called on employers who utilise drivers to initiate defensive driving courses.