BPS: 538 Traffic Tickets In Last Two Weeks
The police issued “538 tickets for various traffic offences during the last two weeks,” and “over 1000 vehicles were stopped during Roadside Sobriety Checkpoint exercises this past weekend.”
A police spokesperson said, “With Operation Vega remaining in place, 538 tickets were issued for various traffic offences during the last two weeks. That’s up from 353 in the previous two-week period.
“This brings the number of tickets issued since the July 2021 launch of Operation Vega, to 4842.
“However, despite our continued heightened efforts, speed continues to be the highest recorded offence.
“Over the last two weeks, a total of 336 tickets were issued for speeding, with speeds of between 60Kmph and 90Kmph being recorded.
“The break-down of traffic offences recorded and the number of tickets issued are as follows:
- 1. Speeding – 336
- 2. Operating an unlicensed vehicle – 56
- 3. No third part insurance – 56
- 4. No Driver’s license – 55
- 5. Driving in a dangerous manner – 15
- 6. Driving whilst disqualified – 1
- 7. Driving whilst not wearing a seatbelt – 7
- 8. Riding with an unfastened helmet – 8
- 9. Using a handheld device whilst operating a vehicle – 4
Chief Inspector Robert Cardwell of Tactical Support Unit said, “While our stepped up efforts and increased presence on the roads are resulting in more drivers and riders being stopped for speeding and can be seen as successful from a numbers perspective, our aim is to see those numbers decline. Only then, will we feel confident that people are paying attention”
Chief Inspector Cardwell added, “We cannot sufficiently stress that all road users need to take personal responsibility for their behaviour once they sit on that bike or get behind a steering-wheel. The life you save may well be your own. We will continue to enforce the traffic laws as they exist, but we also appeal for members of the motoring public to put safety first and slow down.”
“Elsewhere the number of road traffic collisions have continued to decline since the introduction of Operation Vega.”
Roadside Sobriety Checkpoints
“Over 1000 vehicles were stopped during Roadside Sobriety Checkpoint exercises this past weekend, with two arrests made for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Mr. Cardwell stated, “Roadside Sobriety Checkpoints started earlier than usual, which caught a few people by surprise. This resulted in residents using social media to get the word out about our activity. We are certain this contributed to fewer individuals opting to operate vehicles whilst inebriated.”
With so many tickets issued, is this not an obvious sign that the public is tired of the antiquated speed limit, which was set for horse and buggy in the 1920s before cars even came to Bermuda in the 40s? Roads like ours in Canada are set at a 80 kph speed limit.If the public voted, we would ask for reasonable speed limit of 60kph, and it should vary depending on the road etc.We do live in a democracy after all, and everyone is sick of driving so slow. slow driving causes people to be late, to rush, to overtake, etc. a higher limit would also increase business and profits.
If they really wanted to they could get 1000 people per week for running the traffic control lights at all these trenching sites.
And why isn’t there any tickets listed for all these illegal and illegible license plates ?
Operation Revenue Generator is humming along nicely.
Fantastic job, 2 DUI arrests, that really puts the fear of god into potential offenders.
““Over the last two weeks, a total of 336 tickets were issued for speeding, with speeds of between 60Kmph and 90Kmph being recorded.”
And so goes the funding of the Bermuda Police Service
And notice no prosecutions for anyone under 60kph. Is that the new unofficial speed limit?
Isn’t it time for a serious discussion to be had about this outdated speed limit? It is a known fact that the only persons who drive at or near this ridiculous limit are old grannies and granddads, who actually cause more chaos and congestion on the roads than anyone else. Would it not be more practical to have the speed limit set for say, 45km to 50km, and then enforce anything above that with steeper graduated fines for every range of 5km above the posted limit? For example; between 1 to 5 km above -$150; 6 to 10km -$300; 11 to 15km-$500. Disqualification can start at this stage. Just my thoughts. Would save car owners a lot. Modern vehicles are not designed to drive continuously below 45km.
And fixed penalty, pay online, tickets. No need for the farce of going to court or standing in line at the antiquitated cashiers window.