Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Ramesh Ashram has issued a stern warning to his ranks about randomly stopping and harassing motorists on the roadways.
Appearing on the “Police and You” radio programme on Voice of Guyana, the Traffic Chief said traffic ranks are fully aware that randomly stopping motorists and checking for documents as well as arresting them for minor traffic offences are a breach of the Guyana Police Force’s Standard Operating Procedures.
“Since my assumption as the Traffic Officer in August 2020, my policy is clear and that of the Force, traffic ranks are being instructed not to stop drivers and check for documents, not to arrest persons for minor offences, take name and address and proceed by the way of summons. If the offence warranted a ticket, issue a ticket. And if you breach these simple Standard Operating Procedures, (SOPs) of the Force, you will be dealt with,” the Traffic Chief warned.
The Traffic Chief also said ranks must be held accountable for disobeying lawful orders. He said persons must not be afraid to lodge complaints against those ranks who they believe might have breached the law.
He also said the Force will ensure those aggrieved persons are not victimized by the offending Traffic Cop.
“The Force administration would not deal with those matters lightly or the rank would not have a tap on the risk to continue the same behavior. When we re-examine the matters and if we realize at the admin level that the rank has to be removed from traffic so be it, or remove from one location to a next,” the Traffic Chief said.
Mr. Ashram appealed to citizens not to be afraid when they get into conflict with ranks or when they believe they have been wrongfully arrested or have unjustly been issued with a ticket.
He urged road users to make the matter known so that the Force can deal with the matter at the highest level.
“In the regions, you can go to the Traffic heads or the Commander. There is an open door policy and there is zero-tolerance. So what you find on any given day, when we post these ranks on the road they are being briefed as to their duties and what they must do and not to do,” The Traffic Chief said.
A few years ago, the Top Brass of the Police Force was forced to issue a list of ticketable traffic offences after scores of complaints surfaced from drivers who found themselves being arrested for minor traffic infractions.
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