By Prior Beharry
THE Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is warning motorists that vehicles parked illegally may be towed as part of an enforcement drive aimed at keeping roads safe, traffic moving and access points clear for emergency services and the public.
In a release on Tuesday, it stated that to retrieve an impounded vehicle, the driver must produce a valid driver’s permit and certified copy. And only cash payment is accepted.
The TTPS stated that it has a duty to ensure public safety, the free flow of traffic, and the maintenance of law and order on the nation’s roadways.
Illegally parked vehicles, police said, can create serious hazards, including blocking emergency vehicles, reducing visibility for motorists and pedestrians, and obstructing entrances and critical access routes to facilities such as hospitals, police stations and fire routes.
Police also linked improper parking to worsening congestion, saying vehicles left in contravention of the law can disrupt the efficient movement of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. In some cases, the TTPS stated that the resulting bottlenecks and blind spots increase the likelihood of road accidents and expose the public to avoidable risk.
The TTPS stated that towing or “wrecking” is carried out under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act.
While acknowledging that towing can be disruptive for drivers, the TTPS said the intent is not to punish motorists but to achieve compliance and deter repeat offences. “The objective remains behavioural change and voluntary adherence to traffic regulations,” the TTPS stated.
The release stated:
- Officers should first make brief enquiries in the immediate vicinity in an attempt to locate the driver;
- If the driver is not found, the vehicle is to be removed;
- If the driver is found, officers are to lay the relevant charges for the offence and request that the driver remove the vehicle;
- If the driver refuses, the vehicle may be impounded.
The TTPS stated that where a vehicle has been hooked up, or is in the process of being hooked up, but has not yet been removed from the location, and the driver or person in control appears and claims the vehicle, police said the officer should release it.
However, the driver may still face enforcement action: officers may issue tickets for the offences committed or initiate prosecution for offences that are not dealt with by ticket.
TTPS provided clarification about towing operations in Port of Spain and the process for locating and recovering towed vehicles.
@azpnews.com Female driver stops wrecker with her car after a back wheel was locked. The wreckers then put the necessary apparatus and still carried the car away. It happened in front of the Red House. Video: Prior Beharry @ttpoliceservice #wrecking #wrecker #tow #redhouse #noparking
According to the TTPS:
- Wrecking operations in the capital are conducted through the TTPS impound yard at South Quay, Port of Spain (opposite Courts);
- Operations are carried out between 9 am and 5 pm;
- Motorists seeking the release of a towed vehicle must pay a $500 release fee;
- Where a vehicle remains at the impound yard overnight, an additional overnight storage fee of $200 per day will be charged;
- Payment is accepted in cash only;
- To retrieve a vehicle from the impound, motorists must present two key documents: a valid driver’s permit and a certified copy for the vehicle.
Drivers who want to confirm whether their vehicle was towed are being advised to contact the Port of Spain City Police Station at 299-0870, extension 2326.
