117 Arrests For DUI From Jan 1 to May 31
[Updated] From 1st January until 31st May 2023, 117 motorists were arrested for impaired driving and since the start of Operation Vega in July 2021, a total of 10,014 traffic tickets have been issued, the police said today.
In providing an update on the latest period of Operation Vega, Chief Inspector Robert Cardwell, Tactical Operations Division, said, “The Bermuda Police Service continues our efforts to reduce harm on Bermuda’s roads. As we enter the summer months, it is likely that there will be an increased number of visitors using the island’s roads. Please look out for them and each other, by making sensible decisions while driving or riding.”
A police spokesperson said, “From 1st January until 31st May 2023, 117 motorists were arrested for impaired driving – 14 in January, 27 in February, 25 in March, 21 in April and 30 in May. In comparison, for the same five month period in 2022, a total of 71 motorists were arrested for impaired driving.
“During the month of May 2023, 284 traffic tickets were issued by the BPS, down from 471 issued during April 2023. In addition, 50 motorist advice notices [official written warnings] were issued in May, down from 59 in the previous month.
“May also saw 175 parking tickets issued, down from 209 parking tickets issued the month before.
“Since the start of Operation Vega on 6th July 2021, a total of 10,014 traffic tickets have been issued. The breakdown of ticketed traffic offences for May 2023 is below. The change compared to April 2023 is provided in brackets.
- Speeding – 78 [-71] Speeds ranged from 59 kph to 86 kph
- Traffic sign – 34 [+5]
- Unlicensed vehicle – 45 [-35]
- No third party insurance – 40 [-24]
- No driver’s licence – 32 [-25]
- Manner of driving – 9 [-2]
- Disqualified driver – 1 [0]
- Seatbelt – 23 [+14]
- Helmet – 2 [-6]
- Handheld device – 5 [-13]
- Defective vehicle – 1 [-2]
- Fail to give name/address – 0 [0]
- Fail to stop – 3 [-4]
- Fraudulent documents – 3 [+3]
- Making false statement – 0 [0]
- License plate offence – 8 [-8]
- Tint offence – 0 [-14]
- Youth license offence – 0 [-4]
Update 1.30pm: Assistant Commissioner of Police Martin Weekes said, “The most recent Operation Vega Statistics indicate that between January and May 2023, there were 117 arrests for impaired driving. For the same period in 2022, there were 71 such arrests.
“To say that these numbers are concerning, would be an understatement. Remember, every time you operate a vehicle while impaired, there is the potential to cause significant damage, life altering injury or, death.
“Whilst the BPS has stepped up patrols as part of Operation Vega, police presence alone cannot prevent drinking and driving. Roadside Sobriety Checkpoints are advertised days in advance of them being implemented, yet individuals are still arrested for impaired driving during these exercises.
“This is a ‘Bermuda’ problem that requires more than enforcement to fix. We as a country must look at the drinking culture that alcohol consumption is a prerequisite for having a good time at social gatherings, be they dinner parties, a session or fete.
“That, coupled with the realisation that we must accept individual responsibility for our actions. It might be cliché, but if you plan to drink to have a good time, then you must plan to get home without operating a vehicle on the road.
“The BPS do not wish to prevent you having a good time, all we ask is that you consider your actions and those of family and friends around you, to ensure you all get safely home at the end of the day.
“While the life you save may be your own, are you prepared to live with the fact that you took the life of another person because you decided to drive drunk, buzzed or high?”
177 arrests.
How many put before court.
Next.
on a per capita basis this is one of the highest DUI rates globally i would think — and think what it would be if the sobriety checks were not announced in advance !
you just do not see such DUI numbers published in US municipalities of similar size leading me to believe this is a very high rate comparatively.
shocking and concerning most definitely.
Please note the inclusion of the last 3 words in the statement below as well as most think of only one thing when they hear the term ‘DUI’.
“While the life you save may be your own, are you prepared to live with the fact that you took the life of another person because you decided to drive drunk, buzzed or high?”
Admittedly, Wikipedia is not the best source, but it says that there is not one American city with a population less than 90,000 people.
So there appears to be no American comparable. Using a suburb of a U.S. city will skew results, because of the surrounding population. The same with a town in an otherwise populous state.
your point is well taken however on a “per capita” basis i am considering all types of municipalities: towns, villages and boroughs etc — not just cities…
The presentation of these figures is confusing. Probably deliberate. It looks like speeding tickets were down by 48% last month, and handheld device tickets were down by 73%.
Either speeding has halved in its frequency, or the police aren’t taking any notice.
“or the police aren’t taking any notice”
That would be consistent with the last 20 years or so.