More than 39,000 traffic tickets remain unpaid, prompting plans to prevent defaulters from renewing drivers’ licences and vehicle documents through the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, outlined the planned enforcement measures during his ‘Issues in the News’ programme on Tuesday evening.
Vehicles with outstanding tickets will be denied renewal of their road licences and certificates of fitness, while persons named on unpaid tickets will be unable to renew their drivers’ licences.
Citing figures provided by Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh, Nandlall said 49,326 of the 88,332 tickets issued by the Guyana Police Force had been paid—approximately 56 per cent.
“Unpaid tickets will not go without consequences,” he warned.
Nandlall said motorists cannot expect officers to issue tickets instead of detaining them, only to disregard their obligation to pay.
At the same time, he again urged Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken and the Traffic Chief to direct ranks against detaining motorists or their vehicles for alleged offences that can be addressed through tickets.
The Attorney General said he had also discussed with Singh expanding the range of ticketable offences to reduce the need for detention.
He cautioned that officers who unlawfully detain persons or vehicles could face criminal charges and civil proceedings.
