From Barbados Free Press
August 4th, 2006 by BFP
Drinking And Driving Still Legal in Barbados
Folks, we would love for someone to step up and prove us wrong… but we believe that even with the implementation of the new Barbados Road Traffic Act, it will still be legal to drive a motor vehicle while having a blood alcohol level of, say, 180mgs…
… as long as the driver is carrying his new licence.
Are we wrong, Public Works Minister Gline Clarke?
This is clearly not the case as way back in 1985 the Road Traffic Act stated clearly that it was illegal to drive while under the influence.
Laws of Barbados 1985
ss.8586 CAP. 295 Road Traffic L.R.O. 1985 66
85. (1) Any person who drives, attempts to drive, or is in
charge of a motor vehicle on a road while under the influence
of drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of
having proper control of the vehicle is guilty of an offence and
is liable on summary conviction
(a) to a fme of $1000 or to imprisonment for a term of
12 months, or both, in the case of a first conviction; and
to a fine of $2 500 or to imprisonment for a term of
2 years, or both, in the case of a second or subsequent
conviction.
(2) A person convicted of an offence under this section shall,
unless the court for any special reason thinks fit to order otherwise,
be disqualified from the date of the conviction for a period
of not less than 1 year and not more than 5 years from holding or
obtaining a driving licence.
(3) Where there is an appeal against a conviction under this
section, a period of disqualification runs from the date of the
conviction if the appeal is dismissed or allowed; but, if the
appeal is discontinued, a period of disqualification runs from
the date ofthe discontinuance of the appeal.
(4) For the purposes of this section, a person is unfit to drive
if his ability to drive properly is for the time being impaired.
(5) Any member of the Police Force may arrest without a
warrant any person whom he suspects on reasonable grounds of
committing an offence under this section.
No misunderstanding this at all.
9 responses so far ↓
Hants // August 4, 2006 at 8:54 pm |
Is there a test for “under the influence” in Barbados?
In Canada you take a breathalizer test and people of average size will pass the test if they drink no more than 1 beer or 1 shot of Liquor per hour.
Fortunately Bajans do not cause a lot of drunk driving accidents yet.
Jason // August 5, 2006 at 12:44 am |
Barbados Free Press changed the title to “Drinking Driving” like you ask an say
“At your request, I haveI changed the title of the piece although I believe it was accurate as ŇdrunkÓ is a very subjective term without the unbiased opinion of a breathalizerÉ which is why they are used.
It is a shame that with all the work that goes into a new piece of legislation, that Minister Clarke and the government didnŐt see fit to bring us into the 1970Ős insofar are drinking and driving laws go. The breathalizer takes away any doubt and is very effective at detering drinking and driving.
A culture change would soon follow the introduction of a flying breathalizer traffic squad. It really wouldnŐt take much to implement it William. The law could be modeled on any number of jurisdictions, and the training and equipping of a few police officers would not be terribly expensive – especially in relation to the lives saved.
How about it? “
RRRicky // August 5, 2006 at 12:49 am |
What about that Gline Clarke drive a big wine-colour Mercedes? He never had no busness or rich papa. Where he get money for a big Mercedes like that?
cat eyes // August 6, 2006 at 5:52 pm |
Hants, how do you know Barbadians do “not cause a lot of drunk driving accidents yet?” There is no test to tell whether a driver is drunk or not. When police come to the site they may ask if you were drinking, and sometimes the paramedics in the ambulance will ask and sometimes put it on their report for the hospital should you have to be admitted.
But I say sometimes because I have been the person to run to the hospital in the case of four accidents to date, three of which involved drivers who drank. Two were written off cars. And there were no investigations, charges, nothing. Luckily no-one died.
Bajan men take great pride in telling you the car knows the road and all types of rubbish.
One night at an after jazz lime my girlfriend and me witnessed about six in a group of 11 of us who were drunk. Three were doctors. She had just returned from studying in the UK and admonished the fellas not to drive home. In England, you guys would be legally drunk. One could hardly stand up straight. They all drove home. Not one hit hit his car, and there were women who got in those cars so obviously its the norm.
But back to my first point. I am sure there are accidents and deaths caused by drivers who drink. Our authorities very often just do not enforce what laws there are, and of course, we have no breathyliser tests. It would have been an ideal opportunity to do so with this most recent legislation (pass the laws for the tests) but then if they did you know how many politicians would get booked?
Trueblue // August 6, 2006 at 10:21 pm |
Where you think Glyne get it from? You think the PM put him there just to fix roads?
TBA77 // August 7, 2006 at 5:02 pm |
How much does a Mercedes cost. What about the car tax that is 100%?
Where did a politician get that kind of money on a politicos salary?
Don’t pass the smell test at all!
Hants // August 9, 2006 at 11:37 pm |
Tba77…It is easy to buy an expensive car if you get a travel allowance and a decent salary in Barbados.
Banks and car companies will create favourable terms for some upwardly mobile people.
Focus on what politicians do not what they have.
Maybe he bought it in Canada or the USA
http://www.luxurycarcanada.com/
Royalrumble // August 10, 2006 at 3:14 pm |
It is really a shame that in 2006 we still have DLP suppoprters who find it offensive when black working people drive second hand luxury cars. What does Trueblue, TBA77 and RRRicky think were the reason that Barrow expanded on free secondary education for, so that people can continue to drive around in donkey carts?
I have repeatedly made the point that Barrow lead the DLP but the DLP knew him not. The Dems did not understand then nor do they understand now what vision Barrow had for his countrymen and for that purpose the Dems continue to face insurmountable challenge with their identity and a difficulty convincing the electorate that they are ready as a political party.
I find the comments made about the Minister’s car absolutely begrudging. You can spend your money however you like in this country. Some spend theirs on women, drinks and gambling. Maybe you might want to examine a little more carefully how you spent yours and maybe with the right mental attitude you can drive more than a Mercedes.
Trueblue // August 11, 2006 at 5:48 am |
Who are the Dems that are within your ambit? The critics might be Bees. For example, who do you think it is that told the Clyde Mascoll and Dems that Rommel Marshall had a brand new mercedes in his garage? And asked the question: how did he pay for it? Which Dem did Rommel confide in? It was his own back-stabbing colleagues who leaked it to the Dems.
Why do you think they did it? They wanted to connect Rommel to the big insurance premium at the Transport Board and the kickback Clyde Mascoll said he received. The Bees told Clyde.
Who do you think asks about Lynch’s big house in Gregg Farm? This information is fed to the Dems by jealous, self-serving BLP negrocrats who don’t like their own member’s success. And, of course, the Dems will use it as is their right.
Read on your own site how jealous the BLP is that David Thompson is a successful lawyer and does not depend on Owen Arthur – like his 23 lackeys – to survive. Why do you think Owen Arthur attacks successful Engineers like Richard Sealy? They can’t be found drunk in a gutter on one day, and three months after getting into office refurbish a house, own a mercedes and shop til they drop!
Did it ever cross you mind to ask how Rodney Wilkinson now owns the second-largest hired car business in Barbados?
Put up or shut up, Royalrumble.