By Prior Beharry
POLICE and licensing officers issued close to 700 tickets in Tobago for various traffic offences in seven days.
A release from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) on Thursday stated that during the exercises that took place from April 13 to April 19, 692 fixed penalty notices were issued to motorists for various offences.
It stated that 29 drivers were served with driver disqualification notices by the transport commissioner due to accumulated demerit points.
The exercise was a joint effort with the Tobago Division of the TTPS led by officers from the Scarborough Traffic Section, Task Force, and Shirvan Station with support from officers from Roxborough and Charlotteville Stations, TTPS Road Safety Coordinator and officers from the Licensing Division.
It stated, “The primary aim of the exercise was to improve road safety and educate drivers on traffic regulations.”
Over the seven-day period, the exercises were conducted along several key areas, including:
- Scarborough Milford Road;
- Scarborough Shaw Park;
- Claude Noel Highway;
- Crown Point;
- Shirvan Road;
- Plymouth; Mason Hall;
- Roxborough;
- Charlotteville; and
- Windward Road Studley Park.
The TTPS stated that 735 Driving and Road Safety Booklets were distributed to drivers and other road users, to educate them on road safety.
The exercise was coordinated by Senior Superintendent Jackman and supervised by Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke and ASP Joseph.
Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Farley Augustine said that licensing officers had come from Trinidad to “terrorise” drivers in Tobago.
His wife Takyana Nedd-Augustine was also held in the road block driving without her licence. Augustine said he went to her assistances and took her driver’s licenced that she had left at home. She was allowed to drive away without being charged.
Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, in responding to Augustine’s criticism of the exercises, said no one was above the law.
